Find us on Youtube Find us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Pinterest Sign up for our email newsletter
See inside current issue of Finescale Modeler Magazine
See inside current issue of Finescale Modeler Magazine

THE MAGAZINE

        CONTACT US

          RECENT ARTICLES

          POPULAR TOPICS

          RECENT REVIEWS

          POPULAR TOPICS

            RECENT REVIEWS

            POPULAR TOPICS

              RECENT VIDEOS

              POPULAR TOPICS

                RECENT THREADS

                CATEGORIES

                  NEW PRODUCTS

                  OUR STORE

                    CURRENT ISSUE

                    See inside the current issue of Finescale Modeler Magazine

                        SEARCH FINESCALE.COM

                        Enter keywords or a search phrase below:

                        Search

                        cool aviation museums

                        10051 views
                        54 replies
                        1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
                        12
                        JGUIGNARD
                        • Member since
                          March 2003
                        • From: USA
                        Posted by JGUIGNARD on Friday, April 25, 2003 3:16 PM
                        Here in Southern California we have Planes of Fame at Chino airport. They are a working museum and a large percentage of their planes fly. They put on a great warbird show every year ( next month, in fact ). They also give rides in many of their aircraft ( if you have the $$ to pay that is ). I live just a few miles away, so am out there fairly often. Chino airport is also home to the Yanks Air Museum, as well as two warbird restoration companies - Square One Aviation & Aero Traders. Yanks has some very unusual aiplanes - a YP-47M, and a P-51A for instance. While many of Yanks airplanes are flyable, they never do fly.

                        Also in So. Cal. there is the March AFB Museum, San Diego Aerospace Museum, and Palm Springs Air Museum.

                        Jim

                        Most of us are acquainted with at least one "know-it-all". He may be as close as the mirror. [}:)]
                        Report Abuse
                        Woody
                        • Member since
                          December 2002
                        • From: Third rock from the sun.
                        Posted by Woody on Friday, April 25, 2003 12:21 PM
                        The Kalamazoo Air Zoo is a very interesting museum. They have a nice selection and they fly them for the guests. My Dad paid for a ride on a vintage Ford Trimotor! How cool is thatBig Smile [:D]

                        " I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way." --John Paul Jones
                        Report Abuse
                        murph
                        • Member since
                          January 2003
                        • From: West of the rock and east of the hard place!
                        Posted by murph on Saturday, February 22, 2003 6:16 AM
                        I lead a sheltered life...I've only been to two...the Canada Aviation Museum here in Ottawa and the Canadian Warplane Heritage in Hamilton.

                        The C.A.M. has a very extensive collection. Once they get the second building finished they'll be able to display their entire collection. Many of the aircraft there are capable of flight however it's strictly a static display. Their site is at :

                        www.aviation.nmstc.ca

                        On the other hand, the C.W.H. is a smaller collection but many of the aircraft are flown regularly. If you have the desire, and the financial ability, you can go for a flight in their Lancaster. I was fortunate enough to be able to do so. It's an experience I'll never forget. They also sell flights in their Beech 18, Harvards, and PBY 5A Canso (Catalina to our friends south of the 49th parallel). Their site is at:

                        www.warplane.com

                        Retired and living the dream!

                        Report Abuse
                        weebles
                        • Member since
                          December 2002
                        • From: USA
                        Posted by weebles on Friday, February 21, 2003 10:47 PM
                        Jim,
                        Thanks for the update on Champlain. About a year ago I heard it was sold to some interest in the east and that's where it would be moving. I think that must have fallen through. Glad to know where it's going.
                        Dave
                        Report Abuse
                        Jim Barton
                        • Member since
                          February 2003
                        Posted by Jim Barton on Friday, February 21, 2003 5:49 PM
                        I should let you all know that the Champlin Fighter Museum near Phoenix will be no more after Memorial Day. They are going to move the entire collection to the Museum of Flight in Seattle, and they hope to have them on display for D-Day 2004. If any of you will be in Arizona before then, I strongly suggest you hightail it out to Champlin before they close it down for the big move.

                        An excellent museum in California is the Castle Air Force Base museum in the small town of Atwater, near Merced (between Sacramento and Fresno). They've got dozens of aircraft, including a B-36, a B-52, an F-104, an F-101, and others. Another good one if you're in southern California is the one in San Diego (I forget its exact name) that has both airplanes and spacecraft. It's in Balboa Park, not too far from the San Diego Zoo--that'll keep the wife and kids happy!

                        "Whaddya mean 'Who's flying the plane?!' Nobody's flying the plane!"

                        Report Abuse
                        dkmacin
                        • Member since
                          January 2003
                        • From: Upper left side of the lower Penninsula of Mich
                        Posted by dkmacin on Friday, February 21, 2003 5:32 AM
                        I have been to Wright-Patterson, very nice.
                        I was at Seattle, must have been when they first opened it up. . .it was pretty bare.
                        Pensacola is a good place for not only US Navy, but US Coast Guard as well (I helped restore the USCG HH52A on display)
                        But, by far the best I have seen was in Cadillac Michigan. . .not a museum but a WWII fly in! A B17G, a B24J, a P47, a P51, a Spitfire, 10 SNJ's with various "make up" Best of all, you were allowed to view each aircraft up close and go inside the B17 and B24 with NO FEE!
                        ANGB Selfridge (MI) has a fly in airshow every other year with lots of aircraft of all eras that must fly in to participate, one exception was an Me109G being restored.

                        Don
                        I know it's only rock and roll, but I like it.
                        Report Abuse
                        coldwar68
                        • Member since
                          February 2003
                        • From: Zanesville, OH USA
                        Posted by coldwar68 on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 10:47 AM
                        Hello,

                        I have to say that I really liked Air Museum at Wright-Pat. I spent almost 8 whole hours there one day and did not get through the whole place. I was in heaven. I plan on making a trip there this spring or summer.

                        Jerry

                        I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd never expect it. -Jack Handy

                        Report Abuse
                        U-96
                        • Member since
                          February 2003
                        • From: United Kingdom
                        Posted by U-96 on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 10:20 AM
                        The Fleet Air Arm Museum in Yeovilton, UK. is well worth a visit. They have a great 1970s carrier deck mockup with a simulated arrival by helicopter and Phantom take-off, as well as lots of rare navalised aircraft on display.

                        http://www.fleetairarm.com/

                        ...

                        [edit] forgot there is also a great enthusiasts' museum at Newark Racecourse. Lots of classic British airframes of the 1950s and 1960s, and some good cockpit/component displays

                        http://www.newarkairmuseum.co.uk/
                        On the bench: 1/35 Dragon Sturmpanzer Late Recent: Academy 1/48 Bf-109D (Nov 06) Academy 1/72 A-37 (Oct 06) Revell 1/72 Merkava III (Aug 06) Italeri 1/35 T-26 (Aug 06)
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, February 15, 2003 10:17 AM
                        Going on a bit of a tangent here, but has anyone been in the small scale model display at the Milwaukee Airport? It's setup as a seperate room with TONS of model aircraft on display. I was on a connecting flight there once and I stumbled on it!! Wow, what a find! Made business travel seem not so bad!!

                        M.
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, February 15, 2003 9:58 AM
                        Wright Patterson is the best I've ever been too; they have a wealth of airplanes.

                        Fantasy of Flight, mentioned above, was also pretty cool. When I was there they were having a classic car show which made it doubly interesting.
                        Report Abuse
                        Papa-Echo-64
                        • Member since
                          February 2003
                        • From: Seattle
                        Posted by Papa-Echo-64 on Wednesday, February 12, 2003 11:42 PM
                        In Seattle.....oh Hi! new guy here!......as I was saying we have the Museum of Flight! They just installed a Spitfire mk-9, We have a B-17B, Corair, F4 phantom, Ford tri motor and a bunch of other GOOD STUFF! They have just purchased 99 more aircraft from WWI and WWII area! and they are building another place to show off all this COOL stuff!

                        UPDATE: Ok....it looks like my o'l pal qtan has beat me to it! and I was going to send him a link to this site.....anyone else from the Pacific North west here?Tongue [:P]
                        Straighten up and fly right.....
                        Report Abuse
                        weebles
                        • Member since
                          December 2002
                        • From: USA
                        Posted by weebles on Wednesday, February 12, 2003 10:03 PM
                        If in Phoenix check out the Champlain Fighter Aircraft Museum. I've been there three times and I'd go back again. All aircraft are in flyable conditioin, althought last I heard they only flew the P-51D... sometimes. Here's their web site...

                        http://www.champlinfighter.com/
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 12, 2003 9:40 AM
                        How about the National Warplane Museum http://www.warplane.org/ in Elmira, New York? I visited there in the summer of 2001. Not a large collection, kind of heavy on jets, some of it not yet restored, but pretty nice all the same. They had some financial difficulties shortly after I visited, and they were closed for a while. But that seems to be sorted out, and they're open again. Worth a visit if you're passing through.

                        Nice countryside there--I was staying in Rochester, so I got to drive down through a pleasant area called the "Lakes" region.
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 9, 2003 10:49 AM
                        The Pima Air Museum near Tucson, AZ, has some really great and rare planes. Everything from a replica Wright Flyer to an SR-71, to the first F-107A built (and 1 of only 2 left in existance!). The museum's right next to the USAF "Graveyard/Mothball Fleet", and they are able to "borrow" alot of planes from there.

                        Check it out at http://www.pimaair.org/
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, February 8, 2003 4:26 AM
                        Pretty ordinary displays, but interesting stuff. Try the Indian Air Force Museum guys. Went there some time ago and found a Hawker Tempest, a Griffon-engined Spit (post-war, I think), and a beautiful example of Dr. Kurt Tank's post-war work - the grossly underpowered but graceful HF-24 Marut, India's first home-built jet fighter.

                        And surprise, surprise, there is a 'Baka' flying bomb, all the way from Japan!

                        Bad pics, but interesting site.

                        http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Museum
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 7, 2003 8:02 PM
                        If you do decide to give the Museum of Flight in Seattle a try, I would suggest waiting until summer of 2004. By that time they should have to first of two major expansions completed and most of the WWI and WWII planes displayed. If all goes well with the financing the second expansion will be across the street from the main building and will be able to house all of the LARGE jets--such and the B-52 and the original 747.
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 7, 2003 10:46 AM
                        Fantansy of Flight on I-4 naer Disney World in Florida is also good.They are restoring a B-17 and most of the aircraft will fly
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 11, 2003 1:52 AM
                        Jugman, I liked Duxford too. I was stationed at RAF Alconbury, about 15 miles away and got to go there often. The A-10 and U-2 on display there came from Alconbury. As an added attraction, you may get to see some of these old planes flying around the area. They also put on some good airshows a couple times a year. I did not get to see the American Air Museum as it was still under constuction the last time I was there. Since you were in England, I trust you also went to the RAF Museum in London? Great place. I really liked the fact that Hannants put a hobby shop at the Colindale tube station just a couple minutes away from the Museum!

                        regards,

                        Pat
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 10, 2003 9:21 PM
                        Last May I ventured to England and made a special point of going to Duxford, the WW2 USAAF air base (8 miles south of Cambridge, 45 miles or so north of London). The Imperial War Museum has made an air museum there that has an interesting mix of propeller-driven and jet planes. The hangars are a bit more spread out than the USAF Museum in Ohio. On the day I was there they were offering short rides in a Spitfire.

                        They have a separate "American Air Museum" in which they have crammed all types of American planes (e.g., B-52, F-4, P-41, etc.). The building itself is a concrete shell, designed by the esteemed Sir Norman Foster. As an architect, I probably spent as much time studying the building as the planes!
                        Report Abuse
                        billc3207
                        • Member since
                          December 2002
                        Posted by billc3207 on Friday, January 10, 2003 11:58 AM
                        No one mentioned the Museum of Naval Avation in Pensacola, Florida. It is located near Pensacola NAS which is the home of the Blue Angels. I highly recommend this place. They have every plane and helicopter the Navy has ever used except for three and they are working to find them. Compared to the Air and Space Museum in Washington, I prefer this one. And like Air and Space, it is free. You also have the benefit on being near the most beautiful beaches in all of Florida. Check it out too.
                        Report Abuse
                        naplak
                        • Member since
                          December 2002
                        • From: USA
                        Posted by naplak on Wednesday, January 8, 2003 12:45 AM
                        These are cool... I have some links to Museums on my Links page...
                        http://www.naplak.com/modeling/museums.htm

                        And I have some photos from the Evergreen Museum... especially of the Spruce Goose...

                        http://www.naplak.com/modeling/evergreen_mus.htm

                        These are really cool places! Smile [:)]

                        http://www.naplak.com/modeling/
                        www.naplak.com/modeling ... a free site for modelers www.scalehobby.com/forum/index.php ... a nice Modeling Forum
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 7, 2003 9:09 PM
                        Hey Pat,
                        Thanks for the tip on W-P AFB, looks like another must see on my list. It's about 900 miles from where I live in Massachusetts, not to bad. I checked out your web site. Lots of great pics. I think I saw that pair of F-104's a couple years back at an airshow. What a graceful bird to see in action. I hope to see them again.

                        It sounds as if everyone has their own favorite museum they like to visit. Thanks to all who take the time to share, I hope to see them all eventually.

                        Darren
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 7, 2003 7:59 PM
                        I've never visited, but this one should probably be mentioned:

                        EAA AirVenture Museum - Oshkosh, WI
                        http://museum.eaa.org/
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 7, 2003 6:34 PM
                        A favorite of mine is the Museum of Flight in Seattle at Boeing Field. Maybe I'm biased since it's my hometown and the first aviation museum I've ever visited!

                        http://www.museumofflight.org/


                        Another museum a little closer to where I live is the Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville, Oregon (about 35 miles SW of Portland). It's the home of the infamous Spruce Goose and they are getting an SR-71 soon.

                        http://www.sprucegoose.org/
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 7, 2003 2:55 PM
                        Hi Darren - My absolute favorite place on earth is the U.S. Air Force Museum In Dayton, Ohio. I don't know where you are, but I promise the trip is well worth it. I'm lucky enough to be about a four hour drive away. I go there at least once a year to see what they've added. Check out their website:

                        http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/

                        I have some pics on my website with more being added as I have time to do so. Not only the USAF Museum, but I will be posting my photographs from several Eurpoean aviation museums and airshows. Check out:

                        http://www.bubbamoose.com/airplanes.html

                        Enjoy! Big Smile [:D]

                        Pat

                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        cool aviation museums
                        Posted by Anonymous on Monday, January 6, 2003 7:49 PM
                        I lived in northern Virginia for several years and frequently visited the Smithsonian Air and Space museum. This used to be my favorite museum until a couple of years ago. While TDY in Lincoln, NE. someone told me to check out the SAC museum. Boy am I glad I went there. This is with out a doubt one of the best aviation museums that I've seen. They have an SR-71, B-36 and B-52 under the same roof. The place is huge. I believe they have around 35 aircraft in the building and 6 or 7 rockets outside. Now granted there's not much else going on in Nebraska, but if your passing through make sure you stop in. This place is a must see for any aviation nut. Great opportunity to take lots of up close photos.

                        I'd love to hear about some other museums that people have been to. I feel a road trip coming on!!! I can hear the wife and kids groaning now.

                        thanks
                        Darren
                        Report Abuse
                        12
                        JOIN OUR COMMUNITY!

                        Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

                        SEARCH FORUMS
                        FREE NEWSLETTER
                        SIGN UP
                        By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy.
                          More great sites from Kalmbach Media
                            Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy