SAQER-ALJAZIRAH AVIATION MUSEUM

Civil and military aviation enthusiasts won't want to miss this museum, which boasts some twenty aircraft. Visitors are greeted by a Saudia Airlines Lockheed L-1011 Tristar, visible from the ring road. The reception hall features a permanent exhibition tracing the history of the Saudi Royal Air Force since the 1920s.

BAC Lightning T 55. This is the only 100% British-designed and built aircraft capable of reaching Mach2. The BAC Lightning was an interceptor aircraft used between the 1960s and 1980s. It is fitted with Rolls Royce Avon Turbojet engines integrated into the fuselage.

BAC Strikemaster Mk80. This small, light aircraft could be equipped with two 500-ton bombs. The Mk80 was specially developed for the 25-strong Saudi army. The aircraft dates back to the 1950s and was extensively redesigned in the 1960s, including state-of-the-art navigation and communication systems, as well as improved ejection seats.

McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle. This is a twin-engine tactical fighter whose design dates back to the early 1970s. Exported to Japan, Israel and Saudi Arabia, this aircraft has never lost a single air combat.

Douglas A-26 Invader. Construction of this twin-engine light bomber dates back to the Second World War. It rolled off the production line in 1943, and quickly became a fixture in military skies. It was loaned to France during the Indochina War.

Douglas DC-4. This four-engine propeller-driven transport aircraft made its name during the Second World War. It became famous for its airlift of supplies to West Berlin after the war.

Lockheed C-130 Hercules. This is a four-engine turbo-prop military transport designed to take off and land on unlevel runways. Developed in the mid-1950s, it was later modified to be equipped with machine guns. The aircraft is still in production and use, making it one of the oldest in continuous operation.

Lockheed T-33. A variant of the P-80/F-80, the T-33, nicknamed "The Bird", is both a trainer jet and a fighter jet.

Panavia Tornado. This defense fighter (interception, reconnaissance) was developed jointly by Great Britain and West Germany in the 1970s.