Second Life for Retired Military Aircraft: Visit the Changhua Military Aircraft Park for Fun and Exploration

Last month, while looking for the Skywalk, we stumbled upon some parked military aircraft along the Baguashan Road. Seeing many visitors taking photos there, we couldn’t help but want to join in. But we decided to find our main destination first. Just a few steps ahead, we spotted another plane—wow~ plane enthusiasts are sure to love this place!
Checking the tourist map nearby, we saw that the Military Aircraft Park is located in the upper right corner. It seems you could easily spend a whole day exploring the Baguashan Scenic Area. Later, after asking for directions to our destination for the day, we decided to backtrack and visit the C-119 Military Aircraft Park first.
It was fully decommissioned on December 19, 1997, having served for 39 years with a total flight time exceeding 750,000 hours and transporting over two million personnel.

In its later years, it carried paratroopers for training jumps or transported cargo, and sometimes brought back soldiers returning to their bases or homes. It has now been completely replaced by the more capable C-130H. (Source: Wikipedia)
The C-119 transport plane allows visitors to enter the cabin for a look. The entrances are on different sides, so don’t go the wrong way!
Opening hours & precautions. (As shown in the picture below)
Inside the transport plane’s cabin, there’s information about the aircraft. Though the space is tight, there’s lighting and a fan, so it doesn’t feel dark or stuffy. Grandpa kept insisting I take pictures of the emblems shown inside the cabin. Even though I’d already done so before he mentioned it, I still didn’t quite get his point—emblems and medals carry some kind of special, indescribable sense of mission for people in his line of work.
Grandpa was telling Agui and Yunyun about parachute jumps. Not sure if it’s from watching too much “Garrison’s Diaries,” but Agui wasn’t unfamiliar with the idea of paratroopers jumping out of planes.
Inside the cabin, aside from vintage photos to admire, you can also climb a few steps up to the cockpit. Important note: only one person can go in at a time, and you must duck your head to avoid hitting anything. (My husband was being careless, rushing to lift the kids into the cockpit without thinking about the danger—before we knew it, with a thud and Yunyun’s cry, she’d bonked her head pretty hard. Super dangerous!)
Sitting in the cockpit, you can’t actually move the controls to simulate flying, but you can check out the instrument panel to get a bit of an idea of what’s inside.
Next to the C-119 transport plane’s entrance, there’s an art installation with an aviation theme. Can’t quite tell what it is—is it a jet engine nozzle? (God, please just tell me the answer!) This bunker isn’t a real one, but a bunker-style public toilet specially set up in the Military Aircraft Park. (Number NO.9) I’ve suddenly noticed that my recent posts all seem to feature photos of toilets. It’s not that I’m obsessed with bathrooms—it’s just that I keep stumbling upon increasingly “diverse” designs for public restrooms, and I think they’re kinda cool.
After seeing the C-119 transport plane, cross past the public toilet and head a bit further up to spot another F-5E fighter jet. This jet isn’t open for cabin visits, but it’s surrounded by a fence and has an informational plaque about the aircraft on the inside.
Take a look at this angle—doesn’t the fighter jet look super cute? It resembles the headphone-wearing carrier-based fighter from the Disney movie “Planes.”
Past the F-5E fighter jet is the connected Health Trail Park. Kids are really something—they prefer walking along low walls instead of sidewalks. Watching Grandpa holding Yunyun’s hand as they walk, I wonder if he’ll still be smiling so brightly when our daughter gets married someday. (Okay, maybe I’m thinking way too far ahead. PS: I’m actually just being practical.)
Thinking ahead, oh well—might as well mention that within the grounds of both the C-119 Military Aircraft Park and the Health Trail Park, situated on the mountainside, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the entire Changhua City. When visiting the C-119 park for photos, don’t forget to take in the city views too!
This little pavilion is a resting spot in the Health Trail Park.
Going a bit further up, there are also resting tables and chairs. The rustic wooden furniture makes you feel like you’re back in elementary school, sitting properly in class!
There are also stone chairs shaped like balls here. Can you guess what Agui is doing? Hehe—yep, he’s acting like Spider-Man. (Pretty obsessed, huh.)
While researching the Military Aircraft Park, I came across something unexpectedly.

It’s been seven years since my last trip to Xihu—Agui, who loves military equipment, is bound to be interested in checking this out. Might be time to plan the next trip!

Further reading: