ATTRACTIONS: Aviation Museums

Wing Walking from the Raisin State to the Big Apple and beyond. With two iconic U.S. Navy Aircraft carriers leading the way!

 

Just a very Short list of some interesting sounding Museums I've Gleamed Thar’ Names over thou past Decade's plus scribbblin' No Fenders from Near and Afar. But by no means complete…

 

ARIZONA

Pima Air and Space Museum

Location: Tucson

Located in the Dry Desert Climes 'O Tucson, this museum features the largest array of military and civilian aircraft parked outside in the Desert sun. The museum features multiple displays including an X-15 Rocket ship plus a vast collection of Vietnam-era Jet Fighters, etc. Basking outside, with one of America's largest Aviation "Boneyards," nee Davis-Monthan AFB nearby.

 

North American X-15 A-2 Mockup

 

Museum website

https://pimaair.org/

 

CALIFORNIA

Planes of Fame Museum

Location: Chino

Have “read”, Err heard about this museo’ many Moons ago, albeit I always thought it was simply the Warbirds museum instead.

 

Reportedly the museum houses some 160 Aeroplanes of various vintage. From the early 1900’s and through the “golden” age of the 1920-30’s. Whilst the World War II Fighters, nee Warbirds are naturally the centerpiece of their exhibit.

 

Whilst there’s also Jet aircraft from the Korean and Vietnam wars, plus several test aircraft, wit a total of some 35 actual flying aircraft! Many of which fly around the nation for various events…

 

Museum website

https://planesoffame.org/

 

USS Hornet Museum

Location: Alameda

Totally stumbled into this by accident when searching for the other Aircraft Carrier museo located in New York Me Thinks?

 

The USS Hornet served through World War II up to being the recovery “vehicle” for the Apollo 11 and 12 Astronauts. The first four men to step upon the Moon.

 

Apparently you can wander the Aircraft carrier inside and out, i.e.; first, second and main decks. With various aircraft, i.e.; F/A-18 Hornet, TBF Avenger and Sea King Helicopter, to name just a few.

 

Sounds like a very Cool museum to visit whenever in the Bay area and needing something “different” to do…

 

Museum website

https://uss-hornet.org/

 

FLORIDA

Naval Aviation Museum

Location: Pensacola

Discovered this vicariously when briefly reading about the unknown USS Hornet museo above. As they claim to have on loan from the U.S. Naval Aviation museum an F/A-18 Hornet.

 

Although “I Know Nothing” Herr Schulz! About this museum. Believe its home to the legednous’ U.S. Navy’s Blue Angles, arguably the top Bananas of Seattle’s yearly Seafair weekend…

 

Museum website

https://navalaviationmuseum.org/

 

NEW YORK

Glenn H. Curtiss Aviation museum

Location: Hammondsport

This is a wonderful little museum tucked away in upstate New York that I had the pleasure of visiting in the Fall of 2007, aye Karumba!

 

Glen Curtiss is one of the pioneers of aviation, especially naval aviation and the museum features examples of motorcycles, aircraft and aircraft engines and is Definitely worth a Gander if you're in the area.

 

The Fastest Man on Earth

 

Museum website

https://glennhcurtissmuseum.org/

 

Intrepid Museum

Location: Pier 86, Manhattan

Ran across a story about the USS Intrepid Aircraft Carrier museum when perusing an Air & Space Museum article via my NFB Newsline for The Blind’s telephone service. Talking about the devastating effects the weather has upon the various aircraft aboard the Carrier’s main deck! As there’s various planes such as a F-14 Tomcat, a Lockeed A-12 Spyplane amongst others. As the website claims they’ve also got the Enterprise Space Shuttle and a Supersonic Concorde to boot. Not to mention a Cold War era Submarine nearby!  

 

The Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum

 

Museum website

https://intrepidmuseum.org/

 

WASHINGTON DC

Smithsonian Air and Space Museum

Location: Washington, DC

I've had the pleasure of visiting this Awesome museum twice that I can recollect, albeit the last time being over three decades ago, Crikeys!

 

As I can still vaguely recall the television Starship Enterprise's Transporter Room, which you could take your picture in. And the Starship’s bridge and Captain James T. Kirk’s “Commander’s” chair! Along with the Apollo 11 Lunar Landing Capsule module on display.

 

As this is arguably the Nation's Numero Uno, Premiere aviation Museum, and if ever in the Nation's Capitol, it's totally worth a visit, albeit a single day won't do justice to it!

 

Museum website

https://airandspace.si.edu/ 

ATTRACTIONS: Northwest Aviation Museums

Wings, Waves, a Spruce goose and a Concorde to Boot!

 

These are just a very few, small smattering of Aviation museums I know about, with a Waterpark thrown in for Fun!

 

WASHINGTON

Museum of Flight

Location: Seattle

If you’re an aviation buff, then this is definitely a must see, as it has an impressive collection of various era aircraft. With my personal favourite being the Lockeed YF-12A complete with drone hanging from the ceiling! This was the forbearer to the vaunted SR-71.

 

As it pains me to admit it was over three decades ago when I saw the YF-12A “spyplane” trucked into the museo on three separate semi-truck trailers, before reassembly. Which I Arse-sume still resides in the museum.

 

There was also an outstanding WWI & WWII wing along with an Airpark across the street (Marginal Way) containing a Concorde and Air Force 1 Presidential airplane that you can walk through. As the Air Force One Aeroplane was used by Ike’, aka Dwight D. Eisenhower and contained a pass-thru Doggie’ door. While it also served JFK, (Kennedy) LBJ’ )Linden Johnson) and “Tricky dick!” (Nixon)

 

While I believe these various Aeroplanes,  including a DeHavilland Concorde and Boeing 747SP, are housed underneath “Open air” roofing.

 

Having just discovered that there’s now 19 “Jumbo” Jets parked on static display in the Aviation Pavillion. Including the first Boeing 727, 737 and 747. Plus the only West coast Concorde and the aforementioned Boeing 707, the first jet powered Air Force One.

 

Museum of Flight: Aviation Pavillion

 

Whilst I’ll admit I haven’t been to the museo’ in decades, for which I believe its been massively renovated. Most notably now housing one of the surviving Space Shuttles, the lone Trainer. Being housed in the new Space wing, and celebrating its 60th Anniversary on September 13, 2025.

 

Museum Website

https://www.museumofflight.org/#main-content

 

Flying Heritage and Combat Armor Museum

Location: Everett

This excellent museo was initially founded by the late Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft. Being sold to Stuart Walton, grandson of Walmart founder Sam Walton in 2022…

 

The museum spans nine acres nearby Paine Field in three Hangars amassing 110,000 square feet, with 26 vintage Airplanes and some 30 Armoured Combat machinery on display.

 

The museum hosts the only flying Japanese Zero and Messerschmidt ME-262 Jet Fighter from WWII. As I believe it was vintage fighters from the museo that used to pass overhead during Seafair when I lived on the “flight-line”. As there’s nothing more symphonic then the sound of a vintage WWII fighter Aeroplane’s engine rumbling overhead!

 

Museum Website

https://flyingheritage.org/

 

Heritage Flight Museum

Location: Burlington

I first learned of this museo accidently when reading Robert Kurson’s excellent 2018 book Rocket Men: The Daring Odyssey of Apollo 8 and the Astronauts Who Made Man’s first Journey to the Moon. And that Astronaut William Anders had created this flying museum operating out of the Skagit Valley Airport.

 

Retired USAF major General William Anders is best known for taking the iconic Earthrise photograph during the 1968 Apollo 8 mission. The first Apollo mission to leave low Earth orbit and circle the Moon ten times.

 

Unfortunately Anders, at age 90, perished at the controls of His Beech A-45 in June, 2024. But the museum lives on. With several flying Aeroplanes. Including a P-51 Mustang, A6M2 Tora Zero; which perhaps I’ve Corfuzed above with the late Paul Allen’s exhibit? An A-1 Skyraider, MiG-21 and F-89 Scorpion to name just a few…

 

Museum Website

https://heritageflight.org/

 

OREGON

Western Antique Aeroplane Automobile Museum

Location: Hood River

Like I previously noted in my Northwest Automotive section. I first learned about the museo Wayback’ when reading an Smithsonian Air & Space magazine article, about a glider I’d never heard of before.

 

A Petrel’s Strange Journey

 

Best part of all about this museum is that they call themselves a living museum. Proclaiming that everything is restored to fully functioning status. Along with either being flown or driven!

 

Museum Website

https://waaamuseum.org/

 

Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum

Location: McMinnville

Having long known about this museo being the home of the legendous’ Spruce goose. I finally got the wonderful opportunity to visit it Wayback in Gory 2019! (Prior to COVID-19)

 

Having what essentially turned into a private tour by the two museum volunteers, proclaiming they’d never had a Blind person visit Messer Hughes “contraption” before.

 

AVIATION: My Long Awaited Trek to the Spruce Goose

 

Or Y’all may enjoy my book review upon Howard Hughes in the following No fenders tome…

 

When Howard Hughes Ruled the Roost

 

As I didn’t get the chance to peruse the other portion of the expansive museum’s other Aeroplanes and other items on exhibit. Reportedly still walking on clouds from my Spruce goose experience.

 

Whilst I was then able to vaguely “See” the F-15 Eagle fighter on static display outside as we departed. In memory of Michael Smith, who’s tragedy is a sad tale for another day…

 

Museum Website

https://www.evergreenmuseum.org/

 

Wings and Waves Waterpark

Location: McMinnville

Also read about this a long time ago, albeit don’t know the specifics. But I believe you slide thru an honest-to-goodness Boeing 747 Airplane’s fuselage! And something about it being a sixty foot drop? As its something different to try. Although reputedly not for the faint of Heart.

 

Museum Website

https://www.wingsandwaveswaterpark.com/ 

Leftovers from the Riley’s Café

Where you can get anything but Alice, Ho-Ho-Ho!

 

Originally “watched”, Err listened to the excellent Racer video recounting much of the late Bob Riley’s life, along with son bill prior to Santa’s arrival. And then watched it again over the Holidazes’, since its such a great look at two of America’s premiere Sports Car designers. With father Bob telling many stories about various racecars of His career. Along with many anecdotes and back ‘n forth footage with son bill…

 

As I love the part about Bill riley at Purdue University, Whale’ I think it was Purdue? When taking basic Drafting classes and learning to draw a pyramid while working on designing the Intrepid racecar. Or asking His teacher about having to take a pay cut after graduating!

 

Not sure how long it weighs-in at? As it runs for quite awhile, but is definitely worth checking out!

 

https://racer.com/2024/12/14/dinners-with-the-rileys/ 

Moon's Gravity ripples over Iowa, Heats Up Lime Rock while Waves Churn Away in Florence

The Apollo 12 crew (from left) Pete Conrad, Richard Gordon, and Alan Bean show off their Corvettes’ paint scheme, designed, in part, by Bean. (Ralph Morse / The LIFE Picture Collection / Getty Images; Image source: airspacemag.com)

Since isn't good 'Ol Mother Nature somewhat intertwined with thou Moon, along with thoust Oceans? Like thou Mighty Pacific that rumbles nearby My Bungalow By-the-Sea...

And to think a Decade ago, some Hipster' by the name Edwin "buzz" Aldrin, Jr. was singing his rendition of I'm just a Rocket Man! With Buzz being ably assisted by Snoop Dog-dog's & Co. Showcased in this Behind the Scenes excerpt...

VIDEO: Making of Rocket Experience Song

Yesiree Bob, since Bob's your Uncle After all, El Correctomundo? I'm sure for All of us whom sat thru Thee entirety of NBC Sports Network's (NBCSN) 8hrs 'O Riveting Motorsports TV Coverage... Botta-Boom, Cymbol Crash please!

As I hadn't planned originally upon watching; Err listening to either thou Riveting IndyCar Pre-race Preamble, or the IMSA Sports Car Nightcap following the Iowa Corn 400 but!

Inexplicably I found myself warming Thy Telescreen up round Twenty-to-Four PM Pacific and was surprised to hear 'Ol Walldinger'; Err A.J. allmendinger in the Booth with PT' and Leigh Diffey. Which made sense since (Townsend) T-Bell' was busy racing his GTD Lexus racecar at Lime Rock Park.

Thus I was momentarily Cornfuzed' over what that tap-tap-tapping noise was whilst 'Ol r', Thee Curmudgeon 'O Indy Cars, aka Robin Miller was, as he was busy interviewing some Driver. Before guessing it must be Hail from the Mega Weather Cell passing thru Iowa Speedway as Diffey chimed in they were in a Holding pattern due to the massive Lightning Storm the track was experiencing!

Before they astutely switched us at 4:05PM (Pacific) to the Pre-recorded IMSA Weathertech SportsCar race, which featured Rick Allen, Calvin Fish and Professor B', aka Jon Beekhuis in the Commentary Booth, with another of my favourites, Brian Till making up half of the Pitlane Reporters tandem.

Appropriately, since July 20th marked the 50th Anniversary of Uhm? Some History being made A Universe Away... The Magnus Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo GT Daytona (GTD) Class racecar which normally sports the No. 44, was running a very eye catching Saturn V Rocket livery adorning the #11 instead, in Honour of Apollo 11's Historic Moon landing 50 years ago.

          Magnificent Desolation: An Astronaut's re-entry to life on Earth and Beyond...

As Buzz Aldrin, now 89 is the Elder Statesman of the four surviving Astronauts to Walk upon The Moon...

Alas, as many IndyCar Drivers were doing in Iowa, somewheres' near the middle of the race, I found Thyself watching the Insides of my eyelids due to the soothing tomes of racing engines shrieking by on thou Telie'; CRIKEYS!

Whilst the Tintop Boyz' toiled in 97 Degrees (Fahrenheit) ambient with a Heat Index of 110deg-F; SHEISA! I was Uber pleased that Ryan Briscoe, along with Co-Driver "Westie," nee Richard Westbrook brought Thar CGR #67 Ford GT home P1, after Westbrook made the pass for the lead with six minutes remaining!

Since every time I think of Briscoe, I immediately recall my lone meeting with him at Mother Speedway Wayback in 2013, when he was so amiable to Mwah, graciously chatted One-on-One for nearly 10mins, making me feel extremely important! All while he was trying to observe his team, the very same Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) outfit he still drives for outcome in that year's Indy 500 Pitstop Challenge.

As the win was Ford's first of the season, and snapped the Porsche's win-streak of five consecutive W's..

Strategic Win for Briscoe, Westbrook and Ford GT at Lime Rock

Then there was nearly two hours more of Track Clean-up, as apparently the "Weepers" in Turn 4 weren't co-operating, before the engines roared and the Green Flag waved around 8:52PM, (Pacific) nearly 11PM local time - after six Pace-laps to ensure All the Drivers knew the track's condition.

As it seemed like Mother Nature was trying to Hit IndyCar on the Head, after the universal sentiments of the Drivers saying it wasn't a true Night Race, being originally slated to begin at 6:40PM Central Time, which had many concerned over how Horrific the setting Sunlight was going to be, literally causing the Drivers to be Blind in one of the corners!

Delayed Iowa Start made for Better Race says Newgarden

As Hopefully IndyCar and the Iowa Speedway will get thou Memo and make next year's race a true Night Race, i.e.; underneath the lights, perhaps beginning at sunset instead of 11PM Central...

But the race was definitely worth waiting up for, as even Colton Herta got-in on the Jokes by saying yes, He was Old enough to Stay Up for the Night race prior to action commencing; Yuk-Yuk-Yuk! Which included a half hour Red Flag period for a passing shower.

Since although Josef Newgarden thoroughly Dominated the race. Putting a Stranglehold upon it by leading some 240-plus laps! Nonetheless, Thar was non-stop action, as Tyre Deg' (Degradation) certainly did its job. Along with Scott Dixon coming from nowhere to finish runner-up and Thee Mayor 'O Hinchtown', aka James Hinchcliffe notching his first podium of the season in third.

Along with the impressive showing by FAST EDDIE's', aka Ed Carpenter Racing Team, before the Boss (Ed Carpenter) Smacked thou Wall! Although Spencer Pigot recorded his first Top-5 finish of the year.

Not to mention the Thrill Show Pupster' Santino Ferruci put on with his High-line is the Right-line High-wire Act! Along with nipping at "Dad's" Heels during the Pre-race when Robin Miller was interviewing Sealmeister B', aka Sebastain Bourdais about making his 200th Career IndyCar Start.

Meanwhile, sometime between the last seven minutes airing, towards 11:30PM Pacific when they finally went Off Air, pretty sure I heard Leigh Diffey saying he'd be busy doing some Track & Field work and that Kevin Lee would substitute for him at Mid Ohio next week; WTF!

Now, I have nothing personal against Kevin Lee, other than I absolutely cannot handle the sounds of his Oh No, Mr. Bill!

Fingernails on Chalkboard Shrieking Faked Exuberance when leading a TV Broadcast!

Not to mention that NBC sports is wasting the talents of Jon Beekhuis, who's Far Superior to Kevin! Which simply makes me scratch my Head over NBC's preference towards the presumably younger Messer lee, albeit I do quite like the Pitlane Newby' Dillon Welch...

Which Thankfully I'll be missing the Broadcast and therefore won't have to try finding how to pull-up the IMS Radio Network's Broadcast instead via Zed Internetz'. Since contrary to popular belief. Thar are those of us who enjoy listening to Indy Cars on the Radio! Especially if you're Blind, Kapishe Y'all?