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US Airforce Musuem Dayton Ohio

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  • Member since
    September 2014
US Airforce Musuem Dayton Ohio
Posted by rooster513 on Tuesday, September 15, 2015 10:15 AM

Hey everybody! Quick question; has anybody here been to the National Airforce Museum in Dayton Ohio (I know probably a silly question:))? I've been wanting to take a trip out for years now but it's quite a drive from where I am in NY. My brothers keep telling me to just pick a date and we'll drive out so I tentatively scheduled to go out there the end of this month. I've looked online and it looks pretty impressive but would like some feedback from someone who has been there:) Basically, is it worth a 8-9hr drive? Thanks!

-Andy

  • Member since
    February 2011
  • From: St louis
Posted by Raualduke on Tuesday, September 15, 2015 10:46 AM
Absolutely worth it. It's been several years since I've been there,so I can't speak to what's new. Everything you could hope for in the main building. Across the field they have a couple of air force ones you can walk through. They are currently restoring the Memphis belle there, and I've been told if you make arrangments in advance you can see this.might wanna check their website. Oh,forgot to mention the C 130 gunship in the hanger with the air force ones. Mike
  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Tuesday, September 15, 2015 11:25 AM

Oh, gee whiz! I have to agree- it's absolutly stuffed full of aircraft and aviation related items. You can barely see everything in one day! 

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Medina, Ohio
Posted by wayne baker on Tuesday, September 15, 2015 1:11 PM

Been there 5 times over the last 40 years.  Worth every trip.  New display to open next year when they are supposed to move the Air Force Ones to the new display area.  I'm planning on going again to see that.

 I may get so drunk, I have to crawl home. But dammit, I'll crawl like a Marine.

  • Member since
    October 2011
  • From: Lake Villa, Illinois
Posted by Chuck Davis on Tuesday, September 15, 2015 1:27 PM

I have to echo the others - I've gone multiple times over many years, and it is always worth the visit.  It's not only the aircraft - and they are amazing - but the assoiciated displays and information are incredible.  It brings home the fact that these amazing machines were flown by people.  Ya gotta go!

Chuck Davis

fox
  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Narvon, Pa.
Posted by fox on Tuesday, September 15, 2015 5:11 PM

Very timely post as I'm going on vacation soon and will be heading in that general direction to visit my stepson in Cleveland and don't have any time constraints.  A trip to the museum was on the "maybe if there's time" list and after seeing the above replies it is moved up to a "must see".

Jim  Captain

 Main WIP: 

   On the Bench: Artesania Latina  (aka) Artists in the Latrine 1/75 Bluenose II

I keep hitting "escape", but I'm still here.

  • Member since
    January 2012
  • From: Barrie, Ontario
Posted by Cdn Colin on Tuesday, September 15, 2015 6:11 PM

Yes.  Plan to stay a couple of days to really have a good look at everything.  I've been three times and still didn't get to look around at the stuff outside.

I build 1/48 scale WW2 fighters.

Have fun.

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Tuesday, September 15, 2015 6:17 PM

Remember a group of guys from here met together there one time, when Berny was still with us, to do the tour and had breakfast in the O club I think.

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Western North Carolina
Posted by Tojo72 on Tuesday, September 15, 2015 6:31 PM

Make it a roadtrip,plan some other things with it.im in New Jersey,next year I'm planning the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,an Indians game,the Football Hall of Fame and then Dayton.

  • Member since
    September 2014
Posted by rooster513 on Wednesday, September 16, 2015 7:10 AM

Thanks for all the replies guys! Sounds like something I have to see. I was thinking the same thing Tojo72, I want to make it worth the drive out but sounds like the museum itself is worth the trip. My brothers were out in Indiania earlier this year for work and stopped at an armor musuem (Ropkey I think is the name) and they said that was awesome so that may have to be added into the trip:) Thanks again guys!

-Andy

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Wednesday, September 16, 2015 8:49 AM

I used to visit WPAFB monthly, for a progress review on an R & D program.  If the meeting ended sufficiently early, compared to my return flight time, I always used to use the extra time to take in the museum.  In spite of having been there well over a dozen times, I have never failed to see something interesting I had not seen before.

If you are interested in aircraft engines, they have an awesome collection of those.  If you want more than what is in the main museum, they have a second area- used to be called the annex that had restricted access- that I believe is now open to everyone, but I forget what it is called.  Some of the big stuff outside is as interesting as what is inside.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    September 2015
Posted by TempusFugit on Wednesday, September 16, 2015 8:59 AM

As I lived in that area for several years (military brat), I had the opportunity to visit the USAF Museum many many times, and I always found something new each visit. They also have an annex (I hope it's still there!) which is a short, free bus ride from the main museum. Truly a marvelous place, but I will echo the opinions of others who recommend seeing it over two or even three days! 

  • Member since
    February 2007
  • From: Brunswick, Ohio
Posted by Buckeye on Wednesday, September 16, 2015 11:19 AM

Well worth the trip!

Mike

  • Member since
    October 2013
Posted by ajd3530 on Wednesday, September 16, 2015 8:22 PM

Absolutely, without a doubt, worth it! Went when I was 7 with dad and my brother. It has grown substantially since '95, and we still had to almost jog through it to see everything. So it is for sure at least 2 days to really get it all in now.

My little girl loves "pane-panes" so hopefully I'll be able to take her in a few years.

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: hamburg michigan
Posted by fermis on Friday, September 18, 2015 10:11 PM

I've been twice...just the main building.

The 1st time, was on a whim, traveling from Kansas to Michigan. It was just me and my 5 year old(at the time)...not a good situation for taking time to look at stuff. Started well enough, but kids get whiney...AND heavy!

The second time, also on a whim, was on the way back to MI from a vacation in Tennessee...just me and the wife. Better than the 1st trip...but still....women!

Someday, the 3rd trip will be made solo! 

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Saturday, September 19, 2015 9:07 AM

A nice solo trip for a guy is the Ford museum at Greenfield Village, Michigan, the Air Force museum in Dayton, the ACD (Auburn, Cord, Duesenberg) museum in Auburn IN, and the Indy museum in Indianapolis.  If you must restrict it, the ACD museum is smaller and more specialized, but the Ford, AF and Indy museums are must-sees if you are in the Michigan-Ohio-Indiana area.

 

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    April 2015
  • From: Detroit, MURDER CITY
Posted by RudyOnWheels on Thursday, October 22, 2015 2:53 PM

Definitely worth the trip! when I went, we got tthere at opening time (is about 4 hours from home, drive time) stayed around 8 hrs til close, then spent almost a whole second day there. That place is AMAZING.... I would plan on at least a full day there, you still wont get to see everything. There is the Hangar of Air-Force One's going back to I think FDR's or Truman's plane, and the restoration hangar. Call and check, when i was last there a couple three years ago, the restoration hangar was only open on certain days, like fridays, but this may have all changed by now. I've never been in such a big building in my life, B-36's, B-52's inside, look like model planes the place is so huge....

 

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Naples, FL
Posted by tempestjohnny on Thursday, October 22, 2015 8:24 PM
I had plans with a friend and our two teenage sons for a trip this past summer. My friends wife tore her Achilles tendon 2 weeks before. Ended up postponing the trip till next year. Can't wait. It's about 13 hours for me and wouldn't miss it

 

  • Member since
    May 2013
  • From: From the Mit, but live in Mason, O high ho
Posted by hogfanfs on Tuesday, October 27, 2015 3:12 PM

I was just there two weeks ago. It is worth the trip. To give you an idea, I took my whole family. My wife, two daughters (12 and 7) and my 10yo son. I figured my son would love it which he did, but both daughters did not want to leave. I will be going several more times, but, I only live 45 minutes away. 

 Bruce

 

 On the bench:  1/48 Eduard MiG-21MF

                        1/35 Takom Merkava Mk.I

 

  • Member since
    January 2014
Posted by Kilroy Was Here on Saturday, December 19, 2015 5:51 PM

I've been there about 12 times in th last 30 years, definetly worth going. Travel through Ohio on business (6 hour drive for me) and so try to schedule so I can stop in. The new buliding opens in June 2016 with the presidential, space and resarch gallerys.

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