Key Aviation Museums Mason Suggests
from the Virginia Tech Aircraft Design Information Sources pages
Key Aviation Museums Mason Suggests
There is no better way to understand aircraft design than to examine previous designs. Museums provide one of the best sources of information. Aviation museums are practically everywhere. Here I provide a list of museums that I have seen and heard about, and a list of museums that I located on the Internet. The author of the Internet list gave me permission to reprint his list for educational use.
Museums I can recommendbecause I've been there:
National Air and Space Museum, Washington, DC. Probably the best, but very crowded. The bookstore is very good, and provides an opportunity to examine books before purchase, a drawback to dealing with mail order houses.
The United States Air Force Museum, Dayton, Ohio. This is my favorite. Houses the XB-70, B-58, an A-12 (SR-71 family), and many other aircraft. A new addition: the F-117! You cannot see this museum in one day.
Pima Air Museum, Tucson, Arizona. This is across the street from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, and contains examples from their storage facility, along with many others. Includes the YC-14 and YC-15, an F-107 and many others. The desert light makes photography easy. Wear a wide brim straw hat.
Virginia Aviation Museum, Richmond International Airport. This is a collection of aircraft from the 1930s. This is the Shannon collection, which used to be in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Includes a Vultee V1-A.
Virginia Air and Space Center, Hampton, Virginia. This collection is based on the old NASA Visitor's Center collection, with additional aircraft. Includes a Rutan Veri-EZ, the YF-16, and several other airplanes. Also has some interesting wind tunnel demonstrations.
Intrepid, New York City harbor. This aircraft carrier has been converted to a museum, with many classic aircraft.
Planes of Fame Museum, Chino, CA. Very good, not crowded, close to Los Angeles.
Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola, Florida. Very good, tours by volunteers, who are mainly retired naval aviators. Covers a full range of planes from the first to the YF-17.
Museums I haven't seen, but knowledgeable friends have recommend:
Museum of Flight, 9404 East Marginal Way, Seattle, WA. Associated with Boeing, several friends have recommended this to me.
Champlin Fighter Museum, Mesa, Arizona.
Air Force Armament Museum, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.
Blackbird Park (SR-71, A-12, etc.) Palmdale, CA. Located on 25th St. E. and Avenue P, on the south side of Palmdale Airport/USAF Plant 42. The FAA's ARTCC is right across 25th and is a big landmark, a big green building with lots of antennas. May only be open on weekends.
Nostalgia
Beech Staggerwing Museum, Tullahoma, TN. This is at the Tullahoma Airport. It is only open at certain hours, but interesting. If you are visiting AEDC or UTSI and have a few minutes, take a look.
Glenn Curtis Museum, Hammondsport, NY. This is in the finger lakes region where Curtis started out. I visited this museum many years ago. It is primarily pre-World War I vintage.
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direct comments and suggestions to W.H. Mason, mason@apollo.aoe.vt.edu