What aviation museums would you recommend in the US?
Posted by Euphoric_Ad_9136@reddit | aviation | View on Reddit | 84 comments
Hi everyone, I'm considering taking a short trip to the US sometime within the next month. From your personal experience, which aviation museum(s) in the US ranked as your favourite? Thanks in advance!
dabarak@reddit
I vote for the USS Midway Museum, the decommissioned aircraft carrier in San Diego. It's either the #1 ship museum in the world, or close to it. I volunteer there as a docent most Saturdays.
The aircraft we have range from WW2 to Desert Storm, there are flight simulators (both virtual reality and full-motion), we have a "holographic" movie about the Battle of Midway, a simulation (not scary) of shipboard firefighting, you can visit the bridge and two other spaces in the "island" (four steep ladders above the flight deck; get in line before 4 PM, earlier if you can for a shorter wait time), one of the engine rooms (below the waterline!) and a lot more.
But - and I'm biased - the best feature in my opinion are the docents. Many, like me, are former Navy, and we try hard to explain how things work, etc., in ways that are easy to understand and hopefully entertaining. (I tell guests I'm the silliest docent they'll meet, and I believe I'm one of the best when it comes to making things simple and fun.)
There's food onboard and two nice seafood restaurants within about two minutes' walking distance. You could easily spend all day at the museum, depending on your interest level. In fact, if you run out of time, you can get your ticket stamped so you can come back the next day.
If you come on a Saturday, look for me - I'm Dave with a white beard.
https://www.midway.org/ 10 AM to 5 PM, last tickets sold at 4 PM (I think).
AnotherBasicHoodrat@reddit
I'm an annual pass holder and frequent the Midway quite often. If you encounter a guest that says to you "I know more than you do" that would be me đ
And yes the USS Midway Museum thanks to all the hard work by the volunteers is truly a world class exhibit that's second to none
dabarak@reddit
Personally, when I'm giving a talk (island tours or cats/traps, usually) and I know there's someone in the audience with experience, I tell them I welcome corrections and additional information. I'd want the guests get an accurate view, and I've learned quite a bit from visitors.
AnotherBasicHoodrat@reddit
One of my favorite docents on the Midway must have been a former Marine Corps boot camp drill instructor. The way he was barking out how the cats worked in launching planes off the ship put a big smile on my face. I will never forget that experience.
My father was an engineer at McDonnell Douglas that was part of the armament group for the A4 Skyhawks. I've learned a lot of trivial things about military aircraft through him and it always makes me feel good inside when I can share some of that knowledge and answer questions with the guests and docents onboard the Midway.
dabarak@reddit
Here are some cool facts about the A-4.
The roll rate is 720 degrees per second, so 120 RPM.
The structural ribs in the rudder were originally going to be covered by aluminum skin, but it was found that it wasn't necessary, so they eliminated it and saved a few pounds.
In 1967, the USS Forrestal experienced a flight deck fire that killed 134 sailors. A Zuni rocket fired accidentally and hit the center line fuel tank. The airplane was engulfed by fire. The pilot jettisoned the canopy, walked out (quickly) along the refueling probe and jumped out past the flames onto the flight deck, That pilot was John McCain.
AnotherBasicHoodrat@reddit
Ed Heinemann the chief designer of the A4 wanted to keep the airplane as simple and economical as possible which also happened to make it popular with foreign countries.
If you notice the A4 doesn't have folding wings and that's because Ed got the specs on what the maximum wingspan would fit on the Navy carriers elevator and designed the plane to fit inside that criteria.
dabarak@reddit
Yep. Also, the leading edge slats are unpowered - they just slide in and out depending on the aerodynamic state of the airplane. I'm guessing speed and angle of attack. That saves on weight, complexity, parts and points of failure.
AnotherBasicHoodrat@reddit
Yes the leading edge slats are spring loaded and the force of the air load would push them closed on the takeoff roll. Back when I first started going to the Midway I was able to push the slats closed on the display A4 up on the flight deck like you would do on a preflight check but after years of being exposed to the salt air they surely must be frozen open by now
Uk_tomcat_fan@reddit
Valiant air command - www.valiantaircommand.com
Vintagefly@reddit
Smithsonian Air and Space.
Fit_Traffic3617@reddit
Wright-Patterson in Ohio.
Euphoric_Ad_9136@reddit (OP)
Interesting. I was guessing that something like Smithsonian would come up at the top. But after a quick look, it's not hard to see why Wright is hight on the list. It never hurts to ask lol.
Ikrit122@reddit
It's a huge museum with a ton of aircraft. You can spend multiple days there reading everything. If you have limited time, then I recommend deciding what you want to see before you get there and hurry through it.
It also isn't really close to major cities. There's an airport in Dayton, but it's a good drive from the larger cities like Cleveland or Cincinnati.
Critical-Advisor8616@reddit
Flying in and out of Dayton is not bad. I lived there for a year while the wife and kids stayed home so I was flying out at least once a month. Itâs a nice airport on the smaller side and easy to get around in.
Ikrit122@reddit
I flew in once to meet my folks while they were driving from DC to Chicago (we always had to stop at the Air Force Museum whenever we made that trip). I was just pointing out that it isn't as easy to get to compared to aviation museums in/near the big cities, especially on a shorter trip. A lot of folks underestimate how big the US is.
Critical-Advisor8616@reddit
Thatâs very true sorry I guess I missed the point you were trying to make.
Ikrit122@reddit
Nah, it's cool. Just a reminder that I need to be clearer
Critical-Advisor8616@reddit
And a reminder that I need to read more closely!đ
Fit_Traffic3617@reddit
Iâve seen pilots on YouTube do it, but you can fly in to the airport if you are a pilot. My dream someday.
Fit_Traffic3617@reddit
I went as a kid. My dad had TDY there and we came for a weekend to visit. Still my best memory of a air museum even as a 46 year old. Loved it.
imref@reddit
Easily #1. Udvar-Hazy near Dulles Airport is my #2. Boeing would be #3 IMHO
Fit_Traffic3617@reddit
Been to Boeing, was pretty good as well. Still a soft spot for Natâl Air & Space Museum in DC.
Coaster_crush@reddit
They have a FW-190 D9 there, my favorite aircraft ever built.
Spitfire-XIV@reddit
If you are in central Florida, Fantasy of flight. Got a guided tour from a veteran pilot.
Ok_Obligation2948@reddit
Was shocked Museum of Flight in Seattle at Boeing Field wasnât up here already. Top notch.
TheMeltingPointOfWax@reddit
And Evergreen is a couple hours down the road, if seeing the original Spruce Goose is your thing.
mapleturkey3011@reddit
Agreed. They have a pretty nice collection of old aircrafts for display (The first ever Air Force One, concorde, etc.)
programaticallycat5e@reddit
also a good amount of history WW1 and WW2 history... since we can't really separate aviation advancement from military history. even got a section where they just play donald duck WW2 stuff in a loop.
planenut767@reddit
If you're in the Chino CA area (outside LA) hit up Planes of Fame and Yanks Air Museum at Chino Airport. I always enjoyed the one where they're still flying vs the static display only museums.
Weaponized_Puddle@reddit
Where you coming from and how long of a trip? Travel subs are littered with people trying to see more of the US than they possibly can.
My input is the Smithsonian air and space in DC. If youâre going to NYC hit the intrepid and call it a day.
planenut767@reddit
Not so fast there. You've got 2 decent ones on Long Island. Cradle of Aviation museum in Garden City and American Air Power Museum out at Farmingdale Airport. Highly recommend the second one since many aircraft are still flying. There's also Historic Aircraft Restoration Project (HARP) over at Floyd Bennett Field, but they have really irregular hours and their website piggy back off the National Park Service one.
Euphoric_Ad_9136@reddit (OP)
I'm coming from Toronto. I'm only surveying around for now with no specific plans in mind yet. So that's why I am vague with what I ask :)
If there are preferences, I prefer something in the NE quarter of the US. Lack of public transport to the place unfortunately, would be a no-go for me for sure unless there's an easy alternative to get there without a car.
Weaponized_Puddle@reddit
NYC public transport is unbeatable. Although the only option I know for aviation museums is the Intrepid, which has more of a military focus. It would probably have the cheapest flights out of the northeast coast too considering the volume of airports we have.
Additional_Bench_269@reddit
Aviation Heritage Museum of Utah at Hill AFB in Ogden, Utah
ShoppingItchy2289@reddit
Udvar-Hazy in Virginia and Intrepid in NYC
adventuresofh@reddit
Evergreen Air and Space in Oregon. WAAAM in Oregon is also highly recommended! They have so many amazing vintage aircraft and fly a lot of the collection. Brodhead WI has the Kelch aviation museum. EAA in Oshkosh, WI obviously. I havenât made it to the Smithsonian yet but itâs in my list for sure.
GeorgeStamper@reddit
Not only does it have the Spruce Goose, it has a Blackbird as well. Worth the price of admission.
adventuresofh@reddit
Yep. They have an F-117 now too, went to the reveal when they unveiled the project!
bigred49342@reddit
If you're passing through Atlanta hit up the Delta Airlines museum. It's not as big as some of thr others but it's a really neat museum, they've got a complete 747 you can go inside as well as a 767, DC3 and a few other static displays. Last time I was there they also had a full motion 737 sim you could book time in in advance, not sure if that's still there or not.
Flakb8@reddit
National Museum of the US Air Force in Dayton, OH. Itâs already been mentioned but if you go, plan to spend two days at the Museum. You will also be a short distance from Huffman Prairie, the worldâs first airport, along with the Wrightâs birthplace and their bicycle shop.*
*Yes, I know itâs a replica since the original is in Greenfield Village, but itâs on the same spot.
MATCA_Phillies@reddit
Smaller in size, not really an air museum, but patriots point in Charleston, sc includes an aircraft carrier, planes on its deck, a submarine and destroyer in one place. Worth it to me when i lived close to there.
SignalBackground1230@reddit
Evergreen Air and Space Musuem in McMinnville, OR. You get to see the Spruce Goose!
ImAllBS13@reddit
Thereâs an ok one not far away in Tillamook too
Alternative-Land-334@reddit
I concur. Outside of the Smithsonian, it's where I would go. In fairness, I live not terribly far away
MilsurpObsession@reddit
If you go to the DC area you can go to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum on the mall, as well as the Udvar-Hazy Center (also ran by the Smithsonian). Plus all the other Smithsonian museums in DC.
MATCA_Phillies@reddit
Udvar is $15 to park just an fyi.
Ikrit122@reddit
Note about Udvar-Hazy: parking is $15 if you drive. If you take an Uber/taxi, public transportation (bus) or someone drops you off, it's free.
02nz@reddit
Worth noting the Udvar-Hazy Center is close to Dulles. If you're flying out of IAD, get there early, check in and drop off bags, and take an Uber to Udvar-Hazy!
PatricioDeLaRosa@reddit
This would be my suggestion to anyone visiting. Not only are they awesome but free, could always use a small donation.
Entrance to a beautifully displayed SR-71 and in the background a Space Shuttle and as you make a slight left you see the Enola Gay next to a Concord just to start, their restoration viewing area is awesome.
MATCA_Phillies@reddit
Udvar annex at dulles airport.
Snoo_72240@reddit
The Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola Florida is really good.
drone6391@reddit
Agree! This is one of the best museums Iâve visited. Truly spectacular. If your clever and time it right youâll catch the Blue Angels practicing also. They have history back to the early 1900âs WWI up to some current aircraft. You can get a guided tour from a docent as well. I highly recommend.
Euphoric_Ad_9136@reddit (OP)
I heard that you need to show a US-government issued ID of some sort to get in. Is that true?
smackfu@reddit
You have to be a US citizen or with one. https://navalaviationmuseum.org/museum-faqs/
Euphoric_Ad_9136@reddit (OP)
Thank you!
OttoBauhn@reddit
Second this. One of the best. My ex-grandfather in law volunteered there and I wish I could say he got my where no one else can go, but what makes the museum so very great, is there are no off limits areas per se. you can practically walk right up to every plane there and touch them. There is a p-51 there that was built by an all women crew. And apparently, the pilots loved these planes cause each and every rivet is perfect. They flew better, faster and farther than one manufactured elsewhere.
FlatulateHealthilyOK@reddit
Boneyard in Tucson Arizona
No-Disaster-8854@reddit
Valiant Air Command Inc Warbird Museum in Titusville Florida
txstubby@reddit
It really depends on where in the US to plan to visit but some of the top museums I have visited are:-
Take care when planning your trip, if a museum is on an active Military base foreign visitors may have to pre-register weeks in advance to gain access to the museum, not certain if this applies to the Pensacola museum, but the US Army aviation museum does require pre-registration for foreign visitors.
There are lots of excellent smaller aviation museums scattered around the country, so do your research when planning your trip as there may be smaller museum close to where you are travelling.
red-panda-rising@reddit
Any of the museum ships, Hornet- SF, Midway- SD, Intrepid- NYC. Added bonus is they are within amazing cities as well. Think the other carrier museums are TX and SC?
OpinionofanAH@reddit
If visiting Oregon, Evergreen air and space museum. They have the Spruce Goose and an SR71 among a ton of other aircraft. Itâs hard to grasp how large the Spruce Goose is until youâre actually standing next to it. About an hour and a half away from that is the Tillamook air museum. The aircraft inside arenât the greatest but they do have an F15 (if Iâm remembering correctly) that you can just walk up to. No ropes or anything keeping you away. The coolest part is that itâs inside of a massive blimp hangar constructed of wood from the WW2 time. I was more impressed with the hangar and felt that alone was worth the admission fee.
ILaughAtSkynet@reddit
Flying Heritage And Combat Armor Museum in Everett, WA hasnât been mentioned yet. Paul Allenâs (late co-founder of Microsoft) museum maintains their airplanes in airworthy condition, which is rare! They schedule quarterly air shows, each highlighting the aircraft and tanks of different WWII theaters. The rest of Paulâs collection is at Museum Of Flight in nearby Seattle
It is a longer trip, but possible to drive to Everett, OR to see the Spruce Goose. I made the drive when I was working in Seattle for 8 months a few years ago.
ILaughAtSkynet@reddit
https://flyingheritage.org/
SFDukie@reddit
Best? Air and Space- both in the mall and Udar-Hazy Small, but inspiring? wright brothers/first flight Castle and palm springs air museum of special interest for WW2 air
LSJ21@reddit
Really cool museum near Virginia Beach, if you like historical military aircraft.
Military Aviation Museum
doorbell2021@reddit
If you can only pick one, it is either the USAF museum in Dayton, OH, or Udvar-Hazy in northern VA. Many others are very good, but IMHO, these are the two that stand out as great.
SRM_Thornfoot@reddit
These two are the ones to plan your trip around to see. The rest mentioned in this post are excellent and all worth the trip if you happen to be near one. I like the Dayton museum best because it has the XB70 Valkyrie.
MIRV888@reddit
That bird is amazing. I really dug the Y-23 outside. Can't get near it but it's my favorite. Dayton is definitely tops for me. Smithsonian as #2.
randomtask733@reddit
we need to know where in the united states you are visiting. the country is very large and hard to see everything. even just visiting NYC takes planning and time to travel. to leave the city takes even more time, and that is just NYC.
Mudlark-000@reddit
The Strategic Air Command museum in Ashland, Nebraska (near Omaha) is a great, if often overlooked, aviation museum. Heavy on bombers, but other military aircraft as well.
surfsnower@reddit
Definitely added to the book. Been to all mentioned but this one and wright Patterson.
Snoo_72240@reddit
Growing up in Omaha, I loved the SAC museum.
No-Assumption7622@reddit
Wright patt in Dayton Ohio. An absolutely incredible place. You could spend two full days and probably not see everything. I go a handful of times a year.
kingdorado@reddit
Udvar Hazy and the Smithsonian Air and Space museums are incredible.
Pensacola Naval Aviation Museum is phenomenal
Planes of Fame in Chino, CA is incredible, a lot of the planes are still airworthy and flown regularly.
Air Force Museum in Warner Robbinâs is good.
I canât remember all the others Iâve been too.
Ohh the one in Denver, I canât remember the name of it. Rocky Mountain something
approx_volume@reddit
The Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington, is pretty good. It has a Concord and an early flight test 787 you can walk through. In addition, it has the first 747 ever built that you can also walk through.
Mike__O@reddit
It's hard to narrow down without knowing where in the US you plan to travel. There are quite a few great museums in the US across the country, but without knowing what region you're going to be going to, it's hard to recommend anything specific.
FZ_Milkshake@reddit
If you are thinking about the Intrepid Air and space museum Id like to add my personal experience.
It has a really diverse collection of often quite rare aircraft. Most of them are close together on the flight deck, so you can easily get a feel for the differences in size and construction. Their condition is alright, but you can't get really close. The Enterprise pavilion is really nice, good context with a soviet capsule, different space suits and other exhibits.
The hangars have some really nicely preserved aircraft (A-4, Grumman avenger etc.) but the connection with Intrepids own service is largely missing. There are a few ships rooms that you can walk through, but not enough to get a feel for the life on board.
Honestly it was a bit disappointing, it felt like a huge shed full of aircraft, that happened to be on a carrier. There is a lot more potential in there, to either make it a better aircraft exhibition, or a better "USS Intrepid" museum.
chuckop@reddit
Search for recent posts. Some put up a great post and I commented with some additions.
Mr_Auric_Goldfinger@reddit
Pima Air Museum located in Tucson, Arizona. Tucson is the host city of Davis-Monthan AFB, which is used by all branches of the US military as a storage and disposal facility, so Pima tends to get a same of nearly every aircraft sent to DM. That, along with some Soviet, British, and French military aircraft. In addition, it has one of the original B787s (Al Nippon), a 747SP, DC-10, and even a Caravelle. Though there are few aircaft you can look inside of, you can walk right up to nearly all of them (including an SR-71).
quinskylar@reddit
Agree... pima and the EAA museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin would be my two top priorities
Designer_Buy_1650@reddit
The DC Air Space Museum has the âcollectibleâ aircraft. If youâre looking for a huge diverse collection, nothing beats the museum at Wright Patterson. So I guess it depends whatâs important.
My best advice: DO BOTH! đ
tnawalinski@reddit
If youâre traveling from another country, I wouldnât go to the USAF museum as Dayton is a pretty random place without much else to do. As a tourist, your best bet is the Smithsonian air and space museum in Washington DC. Make sure you do both halves as the Steven Udvar Hazy museum is enormous and located 30 minutes or so outside of DC. Steven Udvar Hazy center is a must see as it has the space shuttle and Enola Gay along with hundreds of others. The other part of the Smithsonian is located in the DC mall with all the other museums. Besides DC, the other cities I would recommend for an out of country tourist would be the museum of flight in Seattle WA. Itâs a fantastic museum with lots to do the other days you are in town. Also there is a pretty good one in San Diego along with the USS midway museum which is an aircraft carrier with lots of navy planes on display
Andyrob4511@reddit
If youâre ever in Colorado Springs, the National Museum of WWII aviation is pretty awesome. The largest flyable collection in the world if I recall.
Gadshill@reddit
Daytonâs USAF museum. link