United States Air Force Museum – Dayton
Taking Flight
© Becky Linhardt 2010
Much more than a collection of old military planes, the Air Force Museum is a celebration of the wonders of flight from the first powered flights by Dayton natives, Wilbur and Orville Wright, to the manned space flights to the moon. The museum complex includes 10 acres of indoor exhibits in huge hangers, hangers because the actual aircraft is on display. Admission and parking are FREE. The museum is interconnected with an IMAX theater and there are fees for presentations there.
New exhibitions include U.S. Army Air Forces Flight Nurses in World War II and a special exhibition showing photographs of Military Photographers in action. It is amazing to be able to view historic planes and sometimes even go inside some of the HUGE aircraft. Outside there is a commemorative Memorial Park and an Air Park with more planes and even a playground.
Family Days with special programming are scheduled for the third Saturday of each month. Restoration projects, concerts given by the U.S. Air Force Band when they are in the area, commemorations, and reunions, seems there is always something going on so check their calendar.
The United States Air Force Museum
1100 Spaatz Street
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
(937) 255-3286 or www.nationalmuseum.af.mil