Nearly a century has passed since the Wright Brothers first flew in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, and since then we have amassed enough aviation-related knowledge and artifacts to fill many museums dedicated to aviation history.
Start at The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC; home to the 1903 Wright Flyer at Udvar-Hazy Center annex; other museums offer thrilling thrill-seeker rides aboard vintage planes; some also provide gift shops!
1. Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC is one of the world’s most-visited aviation museums, tapping into our primal urges for flight with an engaging experience that blends artifacts, IMAX movies, hands-on exploration, and hands-off displays of rare aircraft and spacecraft from throughout history. Just 115 years ago Orville and Wilbur Wright completed the world’s inaugural successful airplane flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina; since then the world has produced enough planes and spacecraft to fill dedicated museums while inspiring future generations with aviation history lessons.
Here, visitors will see Amelia Earhart’s Lockheed 5B Vega, Charles Lindbergh’s single-engine Spirit of St Louis and Chuck Yeager’s Bell X-1 aircraft as well as an extensive collection of WWI and WWII fighter jets as well as John Glenn’s Mercury 7 capsule.
Attractions here include the SR-71 Blackbird, B-29 Enola Gay and Air France Concorde aircraft. Also, here you will find a Boeing 747 that has been transformed into an interactive exhibit to recreate what it would have been like riding in its cabin of a supersonic jet aircraft.
Visit this remarkable aircraft/spacecraft facility just outside Seattle; while small in size, it packs in plenty of aircraft and exhibits, including one of the world’s largest collections of rocketry items. However, keep in mind that while admission to most attractions – like a Concorde simulator and 3D movie – are free, others (like an aircraft simulator and movie) may incur an extra fee.
If you’re taking an Alaska cruise in 2022 or 2023, Alaska offers an ideal pre- or post-cruise destination to explore the world of aviation. From strolling the decks of USS Intrepid and British Airways Concorde, to seeing military aircraft, flight simulators or short Concorde rides (all for an additional fee), to Nunca using planes as canvases in his graffiti art exhibitions, Boneyard of Retired Aircraft Museum offers visitors an extraordinary glimpse into history – it really is worth your while!
2. EAA Aviation Museum
The EAA Aviation Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin is an exquisite world-class museum with unparalleled galleries and displays from all eras of flight history. Visitors can explore aircraft exhibits that celebrate Wright Brothers aviation history; WWII planes and artifacts; homebuilt aircraft; innovations in aerospace technology and space flight; antique/classic planes as well as an interactive kids gallery – making this museum truly unparalleled in terms of aviation knowledge!
Airplane enthusiasts can spend hours perusing this museum’s vast collection, which features Northrop F-5 Tiger and Mikoyan Guiverich MiG-15 fighter jets as well as detailed models, aviation memorabilia, photographs and much more.
While its aircraft may not compare with those at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, there’s still plenty to see at this museum. With interactive exhibits like flight simulators and aviation history libraries – not to mention summer season air shows featuring vintage aircraft performing aerobatic maneuvers – there is much to experience here.
Bayport Aerodrome offers more than just aircraft; it is also a living museum where visitors can witness open cockpit biplanes take off and land on its grass runway, along with other historic aircraft which are all free for public viewing on the grounds.
Empire State Aerosciences Museum ESAM in Glenville, New York is an excellent aircraft museum that houses an impressive selection of restored military and civilian aircraft such as Northrop F-5 Tiger and McDonnell-Douglas F-4D Phantom I, along with numerous interpretive exhibits dotted throughout. Children will love climbing aboard static display planes (yes, this is allowed!) or pressing cockpit buttons that launch fighter jets at Mach 2 speeds!
The Museum is home to one of the state’s largest collections of vintage aircraft, from seaplanes to military fighters, in its extensive “boneyard.” Additionally, you can witness first-hand what goes into turning an old plane back into working plane.
3. Air Zoo
The Air Zoo is an unparalleled aviation museum that provides plenty of activities, exhibits and knowledge. Boasting more aircraft than you could shake a stick at and exhibits designed to make even the most seasoned family feel at home, this space-age exhibit boasts plenty to see and learn about! Its collection encompasses everything from a Northrop F-5 Tiger fighter jet to the nose section of an Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow; from an Avro Vulte XIV aircraft to McDonnell Douglas F-4D Phantom I fighter jets. As well as aircraft, there is also a variety of artifacts and photographs on display at the Michigan Aviation Hall of Fame Museum – including Amelia Earhart Exhibit and murals around its facility – to bring history alive. Kids of all ages will have an unforgettable time climbing aboard static plane displays (it is allowed!) and touching cockpit buttons to launch them to Mach 2 speeds. Or they could track a real tiger with her two cubs at TIGERS: Tracking a Legend exhibit; other hands-on exhibits like FLEXHIBIT science activity & experimentation stations will teach physics through fun activities!
The museum’s second building, the Flight Innovation Center, features more aircraft and experiences that visitors can enjoy. Amusement park-style rides, Full-Motion Flight Simulators and RealD 3D/4D Missions Theater have helped drive attendance numbers skyward; education experiences such as classes or scouting programs can also be enjoyed daily, along with school tours or group visits.
The Air Zoo is an engaging experience for everyone, particularly children. Their exhibits are created to be as engaging and interactive as possible and offer different ways to learn through play, experimentation and imagination. Unlike some museums that encourage visitors to “look but don’t touch”, here they allow visitors to get close and personal with some aircraft; even young kids will love making water rockets, propelling airplanes and learning about forces that keep us all moving – it makes you want to come back time after time!
4. Hangar 7
Hangar 7 is a privately-owned museum of planes, helicopters and Formula One racing cars that is an extremely popular tourist attraction in Salzburg City Centre. Visiting peak times is sure to get hectic. Ikarus Restaurant serves delicious fare at affordable prices while there are two bars and lounge space too – all created by Dietrich Mateschitz who created Red Bull energy drink internationally! Easily reachable via public transit from Salzburg Airport with several parking spots provided as a result.
Attractions found here range from exciting exhibits for adults and children alike, such as Red Bull aircrafts to red and Toro Rosso race cars as well as Indy racers – plus there is also the original 1903 Wright Flyer plus many other notable planes as well as helicopters and motorbikes on display! The museum can make for an enjoyable visit for both visitors and residents.
Traveling to any of the world’s premier aviation museums and attractions is a truly extraordinary experience, from seeing legendary military aircraft up close and personal, to breathtaking airshows and flying experiences – visiting one of these top aviation spots will leave an indelible mark in your memory forever! From galleries and museums, to airshows and flying experiences; an afternoon spent visiting any one of these top aviation spots will become a lifetime memory!
No shortage of amazing aviation museums exist; however, few rival the scale and international prominence of Washington DC’s Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum for sheer breadth of aircraft on display – particularly impressive is its collection of over 400 planes including iconic models such as SR-71 Blackbirds and B-29 Enola Gays as well as Spirit of St Louiss and 1903 Wright Flyers! It should not be missed!
Attractions featuring amazing aircrafts include the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, USA – it is one of the largest non-government funded aviation museums in America and features an expansive collection of historic planes like SR-71 Blackbird and B-29 Superfortress. Also popular is their boneyard that hosts more than 4,000 retired government and military planes!