Like a Little Child in Aircraft Wonderland

Mural backdrop inside PAF Aerospace Museum.

The “last minute cancellation” policy of PAF Aerospace Museum is a big downer. Good thing that this museum has real planes that made my heart beat with excitement.

I always play make-believe wars when I was a child. I had toy soldiers, toy aeroplanes and toy ships. I set them to make a scene – a battlefield.

I felt like I was reliving my childhood when I walked beside the war planes displayed in PAF Aerospace Museum. I felt that they are my toys, only that they are much bigger than me!

I had to control my enthusiasm or else the museum guard might think I’m crazy and throw me out of the place.

So, I just walked and took photos and, of course, touched the war planes.

And now! Yes. As in NOW! I can now say that I touched a warplane.

The airplane at the front is the Italian-made SIAI Marchetti SF-260. Philippine Air Force acquired this plane in 1967. Airplane of this type is currently being used as trainer planes by the PAF Flying School.

The warplane that was painted to look like a shark is also cool.

It is appropriately named as the Shark of Zambales.

Hanging from the ceiling is the Cali 233. It also served as trainer aircraft of the Philippine Air Force.

The fourth airplane that is on display inside the PAF Aerospace Museum is the Boeing Stearman.

One weird vehicle that is on display in the PAF Aerospace Museum is this white conical metallic object.

It is a replica of the Apollo 11 Command Module. Apollo 11 is the space mission executed by NASA that landed the first man on the moon.

Another airplane hanging from the ceiling is the replica of Flyer, which is the first airplane built by the Wright brothers.

Of the many vehicles on display, I think that the best is the Dodge Command Car that was used by President Marcos during parades and ceremonies.

There are other big warplanes, commercial planes and helicopters displayed on the grounds at the back of the museum. Unfortunately we didn’t have time to check those out because our mission that time is to inquire about wedding reception venues.

I promise, however, that I will bring my son or even my daughter to PAF Aerospace Museum. I am sure that my child will enjoy this place. The PAF Aerospace Museum will be perfect for bonding time of our (future) family.

How to Go to PAF Aerospace Museum

I have been to NAIA Terminal 3 and passed in front of the PAF Aerospace Museum a lot of times but I didn’t know that this cool place exists!

Vicinity map of PAF Aerospace Museum.

Commuters coming from MRT – Taft Station can reach the museum by riding the jeepney with “Nichols” placard. Just alight at NAIA Terminal 3 then ride the Villamor Ikot jeep to reach the place. Just tell the manong driver that you want to go down in front of Air Force museum.

Take note that the PAF Aerospace Museum is just across the street from Remington Hotel.

Entrance Fee and Business Hours of PAF Aerospace Museum

Entrance fee to the museum is just 20 pesos. It seems, however, that this fee is not strictly collected since no one asked us to pay the entrance during our visit.

The museum is open from 8 AM to 5 PM during weekdays (Monday to Friday). It is only open from 8 AM to 12 noon on Saturdays. The museum is closed during Sundays and holidays.

Wedding Prep: PAF Aerospace Museum

Who would have thought that a museum can also be a venue for wedding reception?

I know that museums are good for educational trips or as stop-over for tourists but never as a venue for parties. So I was surprised and little bit excited, when a photographer that we met in the Wedding Summit told us about the Philippine Air Force (PAF) Aerospace Museum.

I scoured the Internet for information about the PAF Aerospace Museum and my mind was blown away by beautiful pre-nuptial photos that I found. An example would be a prenup shot in Makeup Artists Philippines. Cool photos posted by Anton Diaz on Our Awesome Planet blog enticed me more to visit this museum.

So, one Saturday, me and my Beloved visited the PAF Aerospace Museum to inquire about renting the place for our wedding reception.

I felt giddy the moment we entered the museum. Warplanes welcomed me!

These planes will be good for photos and I bet that our guests will be delighted to see this.

We were immediately informed that the function room of the PAF Aerospace Museum is not allowed for civilian use. To sidestep this prohibition, we were told to look for a backer in the military. The backer or sponsor can be an officer, enlisted man or even a retiree.

What actually enticed us to check this museum as venue for wedding reception is its 5,000 pesos rental fee for 5-hour use. This is quite cheap as compared to other places that we checked, like SM MoA's The Venue that have astronomical price. Another thing is the presence of the old warplanes, which will give our reception a unique feel.

The fee is OK. The presence of old airplanes great. Too bad that I have second thoughts in renting the place because of the horrors that I read on Maqui's blog. I read that the museum admin cancelled her reservation 27 days before her son's birthday party. What's worse is a commenter saying that their reservation was cancelled a week before the event.

Such last minute cancellation is scary and I don't want to experience that. I can't imagine the stress if PAF Aerospace Museum will suddenly cancel our reservation.

We went to the museum despite our knowledge of these horrors. We were hoping that the cancellation policy was already scrapped.

Our hope was dashed to pieces because I read in their “Revocable Permit”, and I quote:

“The PAF Museum Management reserves the right to cancel prior arrangements and to reimburse payments including reservation fee made by the renter for reasons of Command Requirements/Activities. Likewise, the management shall immediately inform in advance the renter of such cancellation at anytime the requested event come into conflict with the Command Activities”

This is disheartening. My decision was final the moment I read this condition in the permit. I will not rent the function room of the PAF Aerospace Museum.

I'd rather forego this unique setting for our wedding reception venue than take the risk of last-minute-cancellation.

Our second attempt to book a wedding reception failed. At least I got the chance to see old warplanes and I will talk about it in the next blog post.