Museum promotes event to celebrate Santos Dumont's birthday

Aerospace Museum (Musal) promotes, this Sunday (7), starting at 9 a.m., a free mega event to celebrate the birthday of Alberto Santos Dumont, father of aviation, which occurred on July 20, and also the Bicentennial of Brazil's Independence.

The museum's director, Air Brigadier R/1 Mauricio Carvalho Sampaio, informed Agência Brasil that the event is part of a group of programs being developed throughout this year in the Air Force, "aiming to bring the public here to participate and learn about the Aerospace Museum, the history of the Brazilian Air Force and Brazilian aviation. And nothing is more symbolic and grand than for us, Brazilians, to have Santos Dumont, the father of aviation, who 149 years ago built and made the heaviest thing in the air fly by his own means. He managed to make the aircraft fly by his own means.

According to Brigadier Sampaio, this is "a great achievement, because after this came all the development of aviation. Today we see distant continents being brought closer together as a result of aviation and the control of what is heavier than air. This is very important. We, from the Air Force and the Aerospace Museum, work hard to cultivate and disseminate this history.

Attractions

The gates of the Musal will be open to the public to visit the aircraft and exhibition rooms. Among the attractions, aerial demonstrations, ballooning, model airplanes, educational workshops, parachuting and a food court will be available. A Food Court installed on site will make it easier for families to spend the day on site and learn about aviation.

"We have a range of activities aimed at our population. These are activities that, on a daily basis, we can't find," said the Brigadier.

During the event, the public can see the replica of the new fighter jet of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), the F-39 Gripen, which will be on display until the 22nd. Visitors will be able to enter the aircraft cabin and talk to the pilot, by appointment on the museum's website. "Imagine a child having the opportunity to sit in the pilot's seat of the most modern fighter aircraft of the Air Force. It's a very remarkable moment. You can take pictures," said Mauricio Sampaio.

In partnership with the Commerce Social Service (Sesc), there will be educational workshops, exhibitions, toys and recreational activities for children. Several public agencies will be gathered, such as the Military Fire Department and the Military Police, with actions for the public.

Museum

Musal is the largest aviation museum in the southern hemisphere. Its mission is to preserve and disclose the cultural heritage of the Brazilian Aeronautics, through its collection. The unit offers the public cultural and educational activities, bringing visitors closer to themes related to aviation and to the history of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB).

Solidarity

Although admission to the event is free, Musal suggests that the public show their solidarity by bringing a kilo of non-perishable food. The food will be donated to the Casa Viva Institute, an organization that meets the needs of the socially vulnerable population.

There will be parking near the museum and special traffic arrangements, which will be announced on the museum's website. The event will last until 7pm.

The Musal is located at 2,000 Marechal Fontenelle Avenue, Campo dos Afonsos, in the western zone of Rio de Janeiro.