Saudi Arabia: Warplanes of the Second World War preserved

Warplanes of the Second World War preserved in Saudi Arabia

The aim of this website is to locate, identify and document Warplanes from the Second World War preserved in Saudi Arabia.  Many contributors have assisted in the hunt for these aircraft to provide and update the data on this website.  Photos are as credited.  Any errors found here are by the author, and any additions, corrections or amendments to this list of Warplane Survivors of the Second War.

The Royal Saudi Air Force Museum or Saqr Al-Jazira Aviation Museum, is located on the East Ring Road of Riyadh between exits 10 and 11.

 (Mztourist Photo)

Douglas A-26B Invader, RSAF (Serial No. 612).  This Invader is one of eight that served with No. 3 Squadron, RSAF, at Jeddah Air Base from 1955 until 1964.  Saqr Al-Jazeera Aviation Museum, Riyadh.

(Mztourist Photo)

North American T-6 Texan, RSAF (Serial No. 206).

North American T-6 Texan, RSAF (Serial No. 91-713), suspended from the ceiling indoors.

Other aircraft preserved in this museum include:

Agusta Bell AB-212 helicopter, RSAF (Serial No. 1437).  Indoors.

Bell UH-1 Iroquois helicopter, RSAF.  Indoors.

Bell OH-1 Kiowa helicopter, RSAF.  Indoors.

Bell 206 Jet Ranger helicopter, RSAF (Serial No. 1220).  Indoors.

BAC 167 Strikemaster Mk. 80A, RSAF (Serial No. 1123), armed with Matra rocket launchers, hanging from the ceiling.  This is one of 20 of these aircraft that served with the RSAF from 1968 to 1997.  A previous batch of 25 Mk. 80s also served.

BAC 167 Strikemaster Mk. 80A, RSAF (Serial No.), outdoor display

BAC Lightning T.55 two-seat side-by-side training aircraft, one of six delivered to the RSAF, outdoor display.

BAe Tornado ADV.

Boeing 707, Reg. No. HZ-HM2.  This aircraft was operated by Saudi Arabian airlines as one of the Royal Flight transports.

Beechcraft T-34 Mentor, RSAF (Serial No. 619).  Indoors.

Cessna 172, used for ab initio training.

Cessna 310K, RSAF (Serial No. 131).

de Havilland Vampire FB-52, RSAF (Serial No. 541).  Indoors.  The Vampire was the first jet aircraft to fly for RSAF, entering service in 1957, retired in 1960.

de Havilland DHC-1 Chipmunk Mk. 10, RSAF (Serial No. 600).  This trainer entered service with the RSAF in 1956 as a replacement for the de Havilland DH 82 Tiger Moth biplane.  Indoors.

Douglas DC-3, painted to represent the aircraft given by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to King Ibn Saud for use as his personal transport in 1945.

Douglas C-54 Skymaster, RSAF (Serial No. 450).  Five of these transport aircraft were delivered to the RSAF in the 1950s.

Hawker Hunter F Mk. 60, RSAF (Serial No. 60-602).  Painted to represent one of four delivered to the RSAF, on display indoors.

Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star, RSAF (Serial No. 1510).  One of three with the museum.

Lockheed C-130 Hercules, RSAF (Serial No. 460).  The Hercules entered service with the RSAF in 1965, with 42 aircraft still on duty.

Lockheed L-1011-500 Tristar, Reg. No. HZ-AHP in the old SAUDIA livery (from 1972 to 1996).  This Tristar was flown by Saudi Arabian Defence Forces as an anti-terrorist training jet.

Maule STOL aircraft, RSAF Reg. No.  HZ-NC1.

McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle, RSAF (Serial No. 1315) on display outdoors.

Northrop F-5E Tiger II, RSAF.  Suspended from the ceiling indoors.

North American F-86F Sabre, RSAF (Serial No. 5518).  Indoors.

North American T-28A Trojan, RSAF (Serial No. 713).  This is one of four acquired by the RSAF in the 1950s.

Panavia Tornado ADV F3 and IDS, RSAF (Serial No. 2915).

Temco TE-1B Buckaroo (T35), RSAF (Serial No. 34470).  The Buckaroo was one of the earliest aircraft used in training by the RSAF, located at Dhahran air base.  10 of these trainers were built and delivered to RSAF under the mutual defense aid plan.

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