Brasil - October 2011
Brasil - October 2011Photos by Peter. Information from TAM Museum Displays and Wikipedia.
On January 29, 2016, TAM announced that the museum would be ceasing operations due to budget concerns. Closure actually happened on February 2, 2016 and on May 18, 2018 it was announced that it would be relocated close to the Brazilian Aerospace Memorial at São José dos Campos Airport, near the Embraer plant. Source:Wikipedia
Hangars of the TAM Airlines Service Centre have been converted into the Tam Museum.
Tam Museum - Museu Tam
Tam Museum entrance and ticket counter.
Douglas DC-3
Tam Museum - Museu Tam
Tam Museum - Museu Tam
Fokker 100
Fokker F27
Some early Brazilian aeronautical history on display.
Savoia-Marchetti SM-55 (Jahú) - Hydroplane that came onto the market in 1926, built in Italy by Savoia-Marchetti. It was used for civil and military purposes and this model was chosen by Commandant João Ribeiro de Barros to make the first non-stop crossing of the South Atlantic on 28th April, 1927, nearly a month before the crossing by Charles Lindbergh. In 2002 this example was registered as one of São Paulo's heritage.
Curtiss-Robin C2 - An American leisure aircraft produced by Glenn Curtiss, the partner of the inventor Alexander Graham Bell and a legend in American aviation. This aircraft's first flight was in 1928 and it was the first mass-produced three-seat model with a closed cockpit. This is the oldest aircraft in Brasil that is still capable of flying.
RWD-13 - Three-seat monoplane for leisure use built by RWD a Polish company specializing in the manufacture of civil aircraft. Its maiden flight was in 1935 and in spite of its commercial success, production was halted by the invasion of Poland by the Germans in 1939. Currently it is the only remaining RWD-13 and the oldest Polish aircraft that is still airworthy.
Aeronca C3 - This aircraft was produced from 1931 to 1937 as a passenger aircraft for two people. It was light, easy to transport and cheap. It was the first aircraft in the world to be designed for general aviation and to be accessible to the general public.
CAP-4 "Paulistinha"- Built in 1942 by the Companhia Aeronáutica Paulista. It was sold from 1943 to 1948 and became one of the best selling training aircraft in Brasil.
Fleet II was used for civilian and military purposes. It was manufacturered between 1931 and 1938 by Fleet Aircraft Inc. In Fort Erie, Canada. It was used to instruct pilots in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The paint work is in homage to the Lafayette Squadron of US volunteer pilots.
De Havilland DHC-1 Chipmunk with early panelled canopy. Later Canadian versions have a bubble canopy. The Chipmunk is a tandem two seat trainer. 1283 were built in Canada, Britain and Portugal between 1947 to 1956. Many are still in use by civilians as trainers, glider tugs and for recreation.
The Corsair was a carrier based fighter-bomber of World War II and the Korean War. 12,571 were built from 1942 to 1953.
Lockheed Constellation
Embraer 236GB (Xavante) jet trainer built from the 1970's. The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) used 166 of theses aircraft for advanced training and light attack purposes.
De Havilland DHC-5 Buffalo STOL transport aircraft was produced in Canada. It was in service with the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) until 2002.
MIkoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 UTI Built by the former USSR and flew for the first time in 1947 and mass produced in 1949. It is still in service in some countries such as China. This model was built under licence in the former Czechoslovakia in 1956.
Mikoyan-Guervich MiG-17 Fresco was first mass produced in 1952. First soviet aircraft to have an afterburn. This model was purchased in Poland and painted in the colours of the Polish Air Force.
Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX
Fairchild F-24
Messerschmitt BF-109 G-2 33,984 were built from 1936 to 1945. They took part in the Spanish Civil War and the Second World War.
Lockheed T33/F-80C Shooting Star
Gloster Meteor F-8 was manufactured in Great Britain by the Gloster Aircraft Company. It has one seat and two Rolls-Royce turbojets. It is the first jet fighter used by the Allies just before the end of the Second World War. The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) imported 60 F-8's in 1953, the first Brazilian jet fighter. The last one went out of service in 1974.
Grumman Tracker
Dassault Mirage III supersonic French made fighter aircraft.
Cessna L-19/O-1 Bird Dog two seat tandem military observation aircraft. 3431 were built between 1950 and 1959. It was developed from the Cessna 170. Many are still in use by civilians.
Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King helicopter was built in the 1950's in the USA to perform transport, anti-submarine and surface warfare plus search and rescue.
Piper PA-18 Super Cub had its maiden flight in 1949 and remained in production for 40 years. It has three seats and was manufactured in the USA.
The Tam Museum has a large collection of model airplanes.
Watch a Tam Airbus being serviced at the Tam Museum.
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The São Carlos train station was built in 1908 and is now used as a Cultural Centre and Museum.
An exhibit in the São Carlos Cultural Centre. Carmen Miranda promoting GE Radios.
An exhibit in the São Carlos Cultural Centre about cinema.
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