Planning a long road trip and looking for some cool aviation sites to see

A couple biggies that I'm sure you wouldn't have missed.  The Museum of Flight in Seattle and the Pima Air Museum in Tucson (note spelling!).  The Titan Missile Museum (a former silo open for tours) is near and associated with the latter and is worth a stop, although it's defense rather than exactly aviation related.

Thanks for the suggestions Mike - they were already on the list as "must-sees."  (and I do know how to spell Tucson, but my spellchecker - me - didn't catch my mistake.  For what it's worth, I can also pronounce Des Moines correctly)

- Zack

If you're interested in WWII warbirds, be sure to visit the Planes of Fame air museum in Chino, CA (LA area). If you are there on the first Saturday of a month, they have guest speakers and fly an example of their theme for the month (and we're talking P-51, P-38, B-25, F-86, etc here. A few months ago was a FW-190). Any time is good to visit though, as there's plenty going on with restorations and other operations during the week.

March ARB in Riverside, CA (also LA area) has a pretty good museum with an extensive outdoor aircraft display area.

Castle AFB in Atwater, CA (central valley) is also pretty big and has one of the four existing B-36s on display.

-Tony

Hi Tony,

Planes of Fame and Yanks are both on the list as well.  Would you say March and Castle are "must-see" museums?  Are there any other non-museum aviation attractions worth stopping at in the general LA area?  I've been to Flabob once before, but we may stop there and have lunch at the airport cafe.  Anything else in the area I should be aware of?  Thanks!

- Zack

Evergreen in Oregon, and the huge old wooden blimp hangar near there.  Mason took us there many years ago.

Also, Paul Allen's collection at Paine Field, Everett, WA, north of Seattle.  Plus the Me262 on the field.  There's a couple of brand new Boeings lying around as well as a not-so-brand new B52. 

Hill AFB Air Museum in Roy, UT. About 30 miles north of SLC. Right next to I15. EZ on/off. Free admission. While in Utah, head west from Brigham City about 35 miles to visit the rocket and missile display at the ATK facility. Then continue another 10 miles west to the Golden Spike Nat'l Historic Site. Witness and/or participate in the reeenactment ceremony on weekends.

Pearson Air Museum in Vancouver, WA. Just across the river from Portland OR. Also free.

Warbirds Fighter Museum in Nampa, ID. Nominal fee.

The CAF museum in Mesa AZ is a must-see. Nominal fee.

Other folk already mentioned the Tillamook OR blimp hangar/museum and the Seattle/Boeing Museum of Flight.

Not sure exactly your route to get from DFW to TUS.  If you end up staying in the Las Cruces, NM area for the night, might be worth a drive over the ridge to the White Sands Missile Range.  If you're not there on business, you have to park outside the gate and walk into the museum (100 yards or so).  It's an outdoor display, mostly, but there's a building with a cutaway of an actual V-2, and another building with some smaller artifacts.  Also in that area is the War Eagles Air Museum (Santa Teresa, NM).  I haven't been there, but I did pick up their brochure somewhere along the way (probably in a hotel lobby in Las Cruces).  I'm in Tucson, and the Pima Air & Space Museum is the 3rd or 4th largest in the U.S. after the NASM facilities in the DC area, and the Air Force Museum in Dayton - that one in Georgia (Robins AFB, Warner Robins, GA) is right up there.  Pima did recently get their B-36 on display.  On weekdays, they have a tour that gets into D-M AFB to AMARG (the military's main aircraft long-term storage and recycling center).  So on your route, Pima will have the most airplanes.  In the Phoenix area, check out the Mesa wing of the Commemorative Air Force.  Depending on your route, look up the Mid-America Air Museum in Liberal Kansas.  That's on my list.

Hi Zack,

Good call on Planes of Fame and Yanks. Definitely a must see. As for March and Castle, honestly it's been many years since I've been to either. Last time I was at castle I was maybe 8 years old and peered through the fence to see their B-36 sitting in pieces in the back lot! Looking at Google Maps' satellite view recently, and the museum website, it sure looks like a great stop. I haven't been to March in almost as long, but I've been meaning to go out there for the last several months. I seem to recall it having a pretty good indoor museum. Google Maps offers the same glimpse of their outdoor collection, and it's making me want to head over right now. Quite a monument to Cold War aviation (with a few WWII aircraft as well). I *think* they do open cockpit days from time to time but I couldn't find anything on their website. If you do Pima in Tucson, March might not have much more that you haven't seen. Looking up info about Pima just now, I DEFINITELY need to get out there! Not sure how I feel about outdoor exhibits in Tucson in August though...

Other non museum aviation attractions...hmm...

Flabob is definitely a great little airport (I had my project out there until recently). Corona Airport (my current home) has a great cafe, in my opinion. There's always world famous Flo's at Chino. Lunch (or even just a sightseeing flight) out at Catalina Island is a nice way to spend an afternoon and a unique experience in the area. On your way north out of LA, Mojave might be worth a stop for lunch. Not necessarily the food, but you never know what you'll see overlooking the flight line. Scaled Composites tends to fly early in the morning when the winds are calm. Just a thought. The National Test Pilot School and other tenants might provide for interesting traffic too. If you drive up highway 99 through the central valley, just outside of Tulare, CA alongside the highway is a B-17 on display with an F-4.

This was more than I intended to write, and probably more than you wanted! That said, I'll see if I can come up with any other ideas for the area.

-Tony

Zack,

Many have mentioned the biggies, but there are a couple of small ones to consider.

Between Des Moines and Omaha is the Iowa Aviation Hall of Fame Museum in Greenfield, IA. Small, but neat.

Then, of course is the SAC museum just west of Omaha.

If you are going west out of Omaha, The Pioneer Village in Minden, Ne. is known for its car collection, but they do have about 15 airplanes hanging around. Kinda fun.

I'm partial to the Pearson Museum that was mentioned earlier. It has the only almost exact replica of a 1915 Voisin in the US. (I got the other 'representative replica').

As to museums, I have several recommendations for you! Here in the D/FW area, my must-see museums are the Cavanaugh Flight Museum in Addison and the Frontiers of Flight Museum at Dallas Love Field. Cavanaugh hosts a great collection of warbirds. Frontiers of Flight covers a broader spectrum, including some amateur-built, and does a great job of showcasing the rich aerospace heritage of the D/FW area. Both are outstanding.

For a more out-of-the-way adventure, go to the south end of the D/FW area to Lancaster. The local wing of the CAF has a hangar there with several nice planes. The atmosphere there is very relaxed, and the CAF volunteers are very friendly. My son got to sit in their L-5 and make airplane noises and went home with a huge grin on his face. Just down the street is Air Salvage of Dallas. Their building and property is filled with all kinds of interesting relics. Warning: you may walk out with parts! The proprietor has been a big supporter of the EAA chapters here.

I haven't had a chance to see it yet, but I hear nice things about the Vintage Flying Museum at Meacham in Fort Worth.

For hobby shops in the D/FW area, I would drop into Mike's Hobby Shop in Carrollton. It is HUGE, has tracks for R/C cars, and all manner of R/C airplanes hanging about.

I don't have any aviation-related burger joints in mind, but I can set you up with all kinds of other good food in D/FW if you're interested. I like to take my kids out for picnics where we can watch arrivals at Addison, Love Field, and DFW. If that is your cup of tea, I can point you to some good planespotting locations.

On your way through Wichita, I highly recommend stopping at the Kansas Aviation Museum. It is smaller than the others, but very worthwhile. My wife indulged my request to stop there last summer on our way home from AirVenture, and even she was glad we did.

Enjoy the trip!

Mark

Im suprised no-one has mentioned the Evergreen Musem just southwest of Portland Ore. where you can see Howard Houghes ? Spruce Goose + much other Aviation & space stuff in their four large buildings.

Oh, and book stores! In Dallas, it is hard to beat Half Price Books, especially the "corporate" location on Northwest Highway. Their aviation section is much larger than in any of the "big" book stores in the area. (Several full cases vs. a measly shelf and a half at those OTHER places.) Being a used book store, you never know what you might find on a given day. I have found everything from coffee table books with pretty pictures to highly technical references. (I scored a copy of Bruhn's Aircraft Structures for under $30.) And yes, the rest of the store is pretty good, too.

Your D/FW tour guide,

Mark

There are soooooo many (and I love your idea to post this topic ... I do the same wherever we go), and all Half Price Books are great (several in the KC area).  As for aviation museums, the one in central Iowa mentioned above is good.  The Harley factory tour, Airline History and Arabia Steamboat museums in the KC area are all very good.  As you travel south, the Kansas Aviation Museum (Wichita), Liberal (Kansas) Air Museum and Kirkpatrick Center (Science Museum) in OKC are also good.  As for eating in the Wichita area, the Beaumont Hotel (40 miles east) is a fly-in/drive-in place (way cool on the weekends).  Stearman Airfield (5 NE of Wichita) is great (any/all the time).  Hangar One Steak house (new, cool but pricey) and Savutes (Italian- LOTS of old aviation stuff).  Ponca City for breakfast 1st Sat of the month.  Oh, and the U.S. Southwest Soaring Museum in Moriarty, NM is way cool, too.  Oh, if I had the time ... call me if you're in the area and want a guide (316) 295-7812.  Thanks, Ron  (PS. Yes, I'm reading all the great suggestions you got).  Oh, and the Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos, CA is great, too, especially for kids!  ... and they have a truly AWESOME gift shop!

Evergreen and Tillamook are both on our list of "must-see" places. 

The Denver, Colorado Springs areas have a few interesting Museums.  The most obvious choice is the US Air Force Academy right off of Interstate 25 North of Colorado Springs.  Its always interesting this time of year as the grads are moving to their new assignments and the Plebes are just getting broken in.  The weekends are filled with the Cadets getting the Primary Sailplane training requirements accomplished.

I recommend the World War I museum that is North East of Denver.  They have a great collection of artifacts and a few "replica" WW I airplanes.  A Folker Triplane is the star attraction.

In the "Lowery" area of Denver, there is another museum that provide a variety of aircraft.  Everything from small experimentals, WW II Primary glider, Space Capsules, Space Station module, etc.  Definitely worth a visit.

Glad to hear - Evergreen's awesome and I've been to Tillamook as well.

Aside from the Spruce Goose, I think the new space hangar at Evergreen is very neat. Their whole launch simulation of an ICBM including an animated control room, sounds (the whole place vibrates so much you'd swear it's real), and the like is just incredible.