Located at an older part of Norway’s oldest airport at Stavanger, The Flyhistorisk Museum Sola sits in an old German WWII built sea plane hanger alongside Hafrsfjord, an inlet from the sea. The airport was opened in 1937 and during 1940 was captured by German forces and the seaplane base was used by the Luftwaffe in support of operations in the North Sea. The base remained under German control for the duration of WWII until liberation by British and Norwegian forces in May 1945.
The Flyhistorisk museum was founded in 1984 by local enthusiasts and displays a diverse and varied collection aircraft, encompassing civilian, military and general aviation aircraft which are mainly related to local aviation history. The collections includes some rarer aircraft types such as Arado 96 and Caproni Ca.310 alongside some of the more recent types operated by the Norwegian Air Force. The museum also holds a large collection of aviation related artifacts.
More recently a newer hangar was constructed to accommodate the ever-growing collection and now houses the more recently modern aircraft types that were previously operated by the Norwegian Air Force.
In addition a further new building was in the process of being erected during out visit which will be become the new museum welcome foyer and entrance.
Jærmuseet, a collection of 12 museums across the Jæren region has worked closely with the museum since 1997, and in January 2002 the museum overtook the operational responsibility of the museum from the volunteers.
One of the most unique exhibits is a Heinkel He.115 float plane which was recovered in remarkable complete condition from nearby Hafrsfjord during 2012 and is believed to be the only example of the aircraft in existence. This aircraft is undergoing a gradual restoration to preserve it having spent many years under water.
The location of the museum is in easy reach of Stavanger Airport terminal, only a 20 minute walk or a short taxi ride. The museum is open every Sunday from May through to November, and daily during school holidays with the exception of Monday. Details can be obtained from the museum website.
The following aircraft were noted in the museum during our visit in June 2024.
Registration | Type | C/N | Code/Markings | Notes |
060 | Westland Sea King Mk.43B | WA746 | ||
1034 | Arado Ar-66C-9 | 1034 | ||
117045 | Republic RF-84F Thunderflash | ? | [T3-N] | |
151 | De Havilland/Kjeller DH.82 Tiger Moth | 161 | ||
220 | Northrop F-5A Freedom Fighter | N.7043 | [DP-C] | |
2398 | Heinkel He.115B/C | 2398 | [8H-F] | |
28470 | Republic F-84G Thunderjet | 3250-2295B | [101161/MU-Z] | |
31082 | North American F-86F Sabre | 202-011 | [AH-A] | |
336 | SAAB SB.91B-2 Safir | 91.336 | ||
4039 | Meggitt BTT-3 Banshee | ? | ||
41266 | North American F-86K Sabre | 213-36 | [ZK-L] | |
4246 | Arado Ar-96B-1 | 4246 | [P1+OT] | Restoration Area |
501 | Caproni-Begamaschi Ca.310 Libeccio | 361 | ||
688 | Bell UH-1B Iroquois | 268 | ||
6W+AN | Arado Ar-196A | ? | ||
730 | Canadair CF-104 | 1030 | ||
75-Y | Polardykk Hang Glider | |||
BK309 | Vickers Wellington B.III | ? | Tail only | |
DT-571 | Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star | 580-5903 | [DP-X] | |
F-BDHZ | Morane-Saulnier MS.502 Criquet | 540 | [SB-UY] | |
L-857 | Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina | 928 | [KK-A] | |
LN-ABM | Lippisch Hols der Teufel (Replica) | ? | ||
LN-BDR | Noorduyn Norseman IV | 92 | ||
LN-BFY | De Havilland DH.114 Heron 1B | 14015 | [LN-PSG] | |
LN-BIO | Fairchild PT-26 Cornell II | T43-4646 | [141] | |
LN-FAD | Piel CP.301C Emeraude | L-355/67 | ||
LN-FMS | Cyklokopter | ? | ||
LN-GAR | Jacobs DFS 108-70 Olympia Meise | 527 | [LN-SCA] | |
LN-GBH | Scheibe Bergfalke II/55 | 202 | ||
LN-GBI | Elliots of Newbury AP.8 Baby | EON/B/018 | ||
LN-KLK | Convair 440-75 | 357 | ||
LN-LMD | Aero Commander 680FL | 1401-56 | ||
LN-NAU | Piper L-4H Cub | 11773 | ||
LN-SUB | Douglas DC-6B | 45496 | ||
LN-SUF | Fokker F27-100 Friendship | 10298 | ||
LN-YAC | Aerodyne Vector 610 | 1389 | ||
SE-HME | Westland-Bell WB.47G-3B-1 Sioux AH.1 | WA.583 | [LN-ORB] | |
U-1217 | F + W DH.115 Vampire T.55 | 977 |
The following aircraft are part of the museum and were not present as they were on Static display at the Sola Airshow.
14055 | Messerschmitt BF.109G-1 |
AR-114 | SAAB Draken RF35 |
South West Aviation Photographers would like to thank the Flyhistorisk Museum for their assistance in making this article possible.
Report by Gary Morris & Matt Sudol
© South West Aviation Photographers 2024