SMA extends its 'Sharjah Air Station' exhibition

The exhibition initially launched last year to celebrate Emirates Civil Aviation Day and the anniversary of the landing of the first aircraft ‘Hanno’ at Al Mahatta in Sharjah on October 5, 1932, will now remain open until July 31 of next year. 

The exhibition narrates the fascinating tale of Hanno aircraft's initial landing at the air station and traces the evolution of flights to and from Sharjah, covering multiple international destinations until 1977 before relocating the airport based on an Amiri decree by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, in 2000 that saw the airport being expanded, modernized with cutting-edge architectural and engineering features and its capacity increased. 

Aisha Rashid Deemas, Director General of Sharjah Museums Authority, affirmed that holding the exhibition is a tribute to the substantial progress made in aviation. 

She noted the seminal moment in 1932 when Sharjah's Al Mahatta Airport welcomed its first aircraft, underlining that this event transcends being a mere historical recollection as it epitomizes the leadership and expertise the United Arab Emirates has demonstrated in the aviation and air transport sector.

Deemas pointed out that the exhibition chronicles the genesis of the Sharjah Air Station in 1932 and tracks its evolution and unique attributes through an array of historical photographs, and documents, including the initial agreement that sanctioned the air station's establishment in Sharjah, as well as the various phases of its construction.

An array of exhibits at the museum include a scale model of the airport runway and its associated infrastructure, a miniature replica of a Hanno aircraft and a curated selection of photographs documenting the historic landing as well as the black box and a documentary film detailing daily operations at Al Mahatta Airport during the 1930s. 

Other notable items on display include a vintage telephone from that time, navigation and radio devices, and weather monitoring equipment that gathered climate data from 1934 to 1976.

The Authority aims to underscore the significance of this milestone event, which heralded a transformative shift in aviation and facilitated global connectivity through the diversified sections and content of the museum which include the Hangar Gallery, Photo Gallery, Aviation Techniques Gallery and Aviation Miracles Gallery.

The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions and screens a documentary video capturing the inaugural landing of the Hanno aircraft at Sharjah Air Station, as well as daily life in Sharjah during that era.

To mark the 91st anniversary of the inaugural plane landing at Al Mahatta in Sharjah, SMA is once again hosting the "Treasure Hunt Challenge" at the museum with an aim to spotlight Al Mahatta's pioneering role as the region's first airport and its contributions to the growth and development of the aviation sector in the country.

A roster of government organizations in the emirate will be participating in the challenge which kicks off on October 18 and ends on November 1. 

SMA has additionally initiated a virtual tour exclusively for the extended exhibition, granting public members an access to the museum's extensive collection and allowing for an in-depth look at the aviation history of the Emirate of Sharjah, complete with a variety of events and activities available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on week days and from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday. 

For more information about this unique landmark, people can visit the authority’s website https://www.sharjahmuseums.ae

On Thursday, October 5, in celebration of UAE Civil Aviation Day, the authority graciously opened the doors of Al Mahatta Museum to the public free of charge. 

The museum experienced a significant influx of visitors eager to explore its extensive collection, including the "Sharjah Air Station: A Historical Glimpse of the First Landing” exhibition.