Al Mahatta museum, Sharjah

[Jhieminga]

Thanks to a conference in Dubai, I suddenly found myself very near this little museum, which is based in the old 1930s resthouse/fort from Imperial Airways days. I figured some of you might be interested in seeing these photos.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4908/32272710198_7093fe95c9_c.jpg
by Jelle Hieminga (https://www.flickr.com/photos/102686263@N02/), on Flickr
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4845/46093570552_9b87422c92_c.jpg
by Jelle Hieminga (https://www.flickr.com/photos/102686263@N02/), on Flickr
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4865/46093556952_e431b5229f_c.jpg
by Jelle Hieminga (https://www.flickr.com/photos/102686263@N02/), on Flickr
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4851/44326901110_0019edcba8_c.jpg
by Jelle Hieminga (https://www.flickr.com/photos/102686263@N02/), on Flickr
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4862/46093557082_1dc9373ef9_c.jpg
by Jelle Hieminga (https://www.flickr.com/photos/102686263@N02/), on Flickr
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4902/44326901090_5919555dc4_c.jpg
by Jelle Hieminga (https://www.flickr.com/photos/102686263@N02/), on Flickr
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4819/44326903880_887e151b96_c.jpg
by Jelle Hieminga (https://www.flickr.com/photos/102686263@N02/), on Flickr
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4893/44326903730_536e8772cd_c.jpg
by Jelle Hieminga (https://www.flickr.com/photos/102686263@N02/), on Flickr

Interestingly, that Auster was flown over the site of old RAF Sharjah on 5th October 2012 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the first passenger airplane to land in the UAE. The original airplane in question was a HP42. The Auster was purchased for the museum by the Ruler of Sharjah, probably earlier in 2012.

It is a nice little museum, with additional displays in the old resthouse showing parts, some engines and memorabelia and photos from the early days. There is also a larger display on how aircraft fly and about Air Arabia. I was also treated to a private display (I was very near to being the only visitor) of a 1937 filmclip called 'Air Outpost', which I've since found on Youtube as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqnBBPAMUL4

[l.garey]

I saw this post also on the Key forum. As I said there, it's a great museum. I used to live not far away and it was a regular haunt for me.

It is on the site of the former RAF Sharjah, the first airfield in the region. The old control tower and the old fort, the passenger "terminal" for the HP42s, are still there. The main runway was where the main street runs past nearby.

There is also a long thread on RAF Sharjah at https://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/374714-raf-sharjah.html?highlight=raf+sharjah

Don't be fooled by the fake identities of several of the aircraft. I wrote up my take on them at:

https://sites.google.com/site/lgarey...lmahattamuseum (https://sites.google.com/site/lgarey/rafsharjah%2Calmahattamuseum)

Laurence

[Jhieminga]

Thanks, I actually looked at the RAF Sharjah thread and your site before I went there. As you mentioned, the VC10 isn't breaking with their tradition of using not-quite-the same types, as it was an East African Airways, later RAF, Super VC10 masquerading as a Gulf Air Standard VC10. Then again, the signs in the museum appeared to be clear about the origins of the aircraft, at least for some of them. The signs next to the VC10 nose, Comet nose and the Heron correctly described the aircraft's origins as described on your site. The DC-3, Dove and Anson signs may not have been updated yet ;) There were some other changes as well compared to your site, as the Auster tail, Prentice rudder and Dragon Rapide wing are now in the hangar, and not in the resthouse galleries. Anyway, I enjoyed my visit!

[teeteringhead]

Amazed to see the "Twineham" (sp?) accommodation blocks still standing.

Failed to visit the Museum despite visiting junior daughter in Abu Dhabi many times in the 5 years she worked there. She's now back in Teeteringshire, so I missed that opportunity ....... but never say never.....!

[l.garey]

Jh: I'm glad you enjoyed it. The people who set it up a few years ago went to a great deal of trouble. I'm glad at least some of the signage has been updated. It's one of the few aviation museums you can visit without any crowds - you may well be on your own.

Laurence