A report about her visit to the US Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio marks the return of Jessie Voigts to as a guest blogger here at Midwest Guest.
The history of flight, our intrepid ventures into air and space, the hard work of thousands, and making history – all are on display at the National Museum of the US Air Force, located in Dayton, Ohio. The USAF Museum is the world’s largest and oldest aviation museum – and it’s free.
Located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the USAF Museum is magnificent and wide-ranging - in both time and space. There are three enormous hangars just off-base (the main location) and two hangars on the base. The museum represents everything related to flight – from first flights to space.
Visiting the USAF Museum is an extremely powerful experience, from the scale of the place to the wide-ranging emotions you’ll feel. Many people come for the day, but you could easily spend a week here and still not run out of things to see and do.
Exhibits and airplanes pack the hangars, divided into eras – early flight, WWII, Korean War, Southeast Asia, Cold War, and aeronautics and space travel. The hangars on the base (which you will need to pass a security check to visit) include Presidential and R&D Hangars. There are also many large airplanes located outside, on the grounds.
The museum is a showcase for the genius that is aeronautics, for pride in our servicemen and women, for emerging technology through the years, and for our history. For it is our history that is on display here – and something to be proud of. Visitors learn of the beginnings of the Air Force, the people and machines that make up the Air Force, war and peace, experimental aircraft, and other important aspects of the Air Force (such as the Bob Hope tours).
One of the things I love most about this museum is its humanity. This is a museum that is both interactive and alive. You can wander through planes, peek inside Air Force one planes (from Eisenhower to Clinton), crawl through bombers, climb up high to get a bird’s eye view. You’ll see kids of all ages ooh and ah over planes; veterans remembering, heads bowed; and people in conversation, perhaps comparing memories or airplanes our tours of duty. There is an aura of respect throughout the museum.
Volunteers, many of them retired USAF personnel, staff the museum, which is one of the coolest things about it. Half the fun, for me, is striking up conversations, discovering stories of service, and thanking them for serving our country (twice!).
If you can’t get to Dayton any time soon, take a virtual tour at the museum's Web site.
Details:
The USAF Museum is near Dayton, at Wright-Patterson AFB.
http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/
1100 Spaatz Street
Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433
(937) 255-3286
Admission is free.
There is an extra charge for the IMAX Movie or to use the 2 flight simulators.
Wheelchairs, electric scooters, and strollers are free. The entire museum is handicap accessible. If you do choose to visit the Presidential and R&D hangars on base, you’ll need to take a bus that has a few steps.
There are hourly tours to the Presidential/R&D Hangars. You’ll need to sign up as soon as you arrive at the museum, to secure a spot to go that day.
There are special behind the scenes tours offered weekly. You can find out more information on the website.
There is free parking outside, and even a small picnic area for families to run off a little steam.
Hours are 9a.m. until 5p.m. daily. The museum closes Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
There is an extensive gift shop near the opening, with many books and souvenirs for sale.
Jessie Voigts is the publisher of Wandering Educators, a travel resource for global educators. Love to learn about the world? Head to http://www.WanderingEducators.com
Text and photos © Jessie Voigts. All rights reserved, used with permission
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