The history of Spanish aviation is magnificently summarized in the facilities of the Museum of Aeronautics and Astronautics (Museo del Aire) in Madrid. Created in 1981, the museum’s mission is to collect, preserve, and display the artifacts that make up the historical heritage of Spanish aviation.

The museum (which is part of the Spanish Air Force Base of Cuatro Vientos) houses airplanes, uniforms, decorations, engines, models, and other aviation-related items in seven hangars and an outdoor exhibition.

The concept behind the building of a museum that reflected the development and history of aeronautics in Spain was conceived after the Spanish Civil War and after the creation of the Air Force. The outdoor area displays a rather good collection of war and rescue planes.

The museum is located in Cuatro Vientos, and thanks to numerous additions, it has become a benchmark for aviation in Europe.