The 14 best aviation museums around the world

The Royal Air Force museum in London didn't make the list? That one is impressive and needs several days to fully appreciate. Easily accessible by the tube, and up there with WPAFB in Dayton. I know I missed a lot of the RAF museum, but I'm glad I got a chance to see it at all. I'd like to see Duxford sometime.
 
The Royal Air Force museum in London didn't make the list? That one is impressive and needs several days to fully appreciate. Easily accessible by the tube, and up there with WPAFB in Dayton. I know I missed a lot of the RAF museum, but I'm glad I got a chance to see it at all. I'd like to see Duxford sometime.

The only one I went to in England was the one in Duxford. Wonderful museum with the TSR-2!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/BAC_TSR-2
 
The Royal Air Force museum in London didn't make the list? That one is impressive and needs several days to fully appreciate. Easily accessible by the tube, and up there with WPAFB in Dayton. I know I missed a lot of the RAF museum, but I'm glad I got a chance to see it at all. I'd like to see Duxford sometime.


Really? I thought nothing of any significance has ever happened in England aviation-wise.
 
Really? I thought nothing of any significance has ever happened in England aviation-wise.
First jet engine. First jet airliner. First production jet (maybe)- the Meteor production is alleged to have started before the Me-262 though I don't have a credible citation for that. Important work on ejection seats.

Aside from that, there are a lot of aircraft there, many of which we can't see here. Some pictures here... I didn't post a lot because I didn't like how they came out. I also only had a few hours to visit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacksilver/albums/72157626682370205

Driving down I-80 in Nebraska and need a break? There is a decent little museum west of Omaha: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacksilver/albums/72157680329471444
 
Glad to see Pima Air and Space made the list, but the "Boneyard" is really not part of it, it is a separate tour. I would have thrown in the EAA museum in the pot.
 
From the CNN page: “a Boeing PT-17 (known as the Harley Davidson of the sky”

Really? I’ m 51 years old, been around airplanes most of my life, knew what a Stearman was at an early age, and had a father who won a model airplane contest when he was a wee lad with a scratch built Stearman. I’ve even got a little time in a Stearman. I’ve NEVER heard this before.

How many of you knew that the Stearman was known as the Harley Davidson of the sky? After all, CNN said it, so it must be true, right?

[Edit] Turns out the Red Bulls Museum website is what is calling the Stearman the Harley Davidson of the sky. Never heard that before.[/Edit]

Sheesh...

Oh, and a Cessna 337 Skymaster is evidently a “rare” bird.

Who knew?




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https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacksilver/albums/72157626682370205

Driving down I-80 in Nebraska and need a break? There is a decent little museum west of Omaha: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacksilver/albums/72157680329471444

Nice pictures. The British museum looks like a great place to spend a day. Interesting that they chose to have the Fokker DVII on the tail of the British plane (Sopwith Camel?) forever in a position to shoot it down. I would think in a British museum, they’d have the British plane on the tail of the Hun instead of the other way round.



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If CNN says it ,it must be true. They have never been known to make things up.
 
Nice pictures. The British museum looks like a great place to spend a day. Interesting that they chose to have the Fokker DVII on the tail of the British plane (Sopwith Camel?) forever in a position to shoot it down. I would think in a British museum, they’d have the British plane on the tail of the Hun instead of the other way round.



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Thanks for the kind words. I noticed that too, about the Fokker on the tail of the British plane. They had a helicopter section that I never even set foot within and rows of planes that only got a glance.
 
One error and one omission by CNN that I noted, sort of par for what passes for journalism these days.

The Memphis Belle is not on display in the WWII Gallery yet as it is still undergoing restoration at the NMUSAF. Schedule to move to the Gallery next year. If you take of the restoration tour (by reservation only), you can see it.

They should have noted Duxford is also home to the American Air Museum in England. Lots of USA planes there.

The RAF Museum should be on the list.

Cheers
 
First jet engine. First jet airliner. First production jet (maybe)- the Meteor production is alleged to have started before the Me-262 though I don't have a credible citation for that. Important work on ejection seats.

Aside from that, there are a lot of aircraft there, many of which we can't see here. Some pictures here... I didn't post a lot because I didn't like how they came out. I also only had a few hours to visit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacksilver/albums/72157626682370205

Driving down I-80 in Nebraska and need a break? There is a decent little museum west of Omaha: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacksilver/albums/72157680329471444

Thanks for posting, cool pics. Is the SAC Museum big or just about what you posted?
 
Thanks for posting, cool pics. Is the SAC Museum big or just about what you posted?
Thanks for the kind words. The SAC Museum is a little bit more than I posted, but not much. I think it is the Nebraska branch of the USAF Museum (Wright Patterson). I think I got the impression because they have several things on loan from there my first visit there.
 
Thanks for the kind words. The SAC Museum is a little bit more than I posted, but not much. I think it is the Nebraska branch of the USAF Museum (Wright Patterson). I think I got the impression because they have several things on loan from there my first visit there.

I believe every museum that has USAF aircraft on display don't "own" the aircraft. USAF stills retains ownership, maybe it's thru the USAF Museum, I don't know.
 
I believe every museum that has USAF aircraft on display don't "own" the aircraft. USAF stills retains ownership, maybe it's thru the USAF Museum, I don't know.
Interesting- does this include the planes that people fly in airshows, or some of the living museums that fly planes (Planes of Fame?)? It wouldn't surprise me...I remember the USAFM claiming a twin mustang that someone or another fixed up...after all the work was done.
 
Interesting- does this include the planes that people fly in airshows, or some of the living museums that fly planes (Planes of Fame?)? It wouldn't surprise me...I remember the USAFM claiming a twin mustang that someone or another fixed up...after all the work was done.

I'm not sure. I know some planes have been sold to individuals. Used to see a T38 somewhere in the Midwest when I'd fly into there. T33s are common. Know a guy in Montgomery who had a F104 and had a contract w/ the Navy for spin training, which sounds dangerous in a 104. That's what I heard anyway.
 
I believe every museum that has USAF aircraft on display don't "own" the aircraft. USAF stills retains ownership, maybe it's thru the USAF Museum, I don't know.

No clue about ownership but I do know that every aircraft in the NMUSAF is maintained in “flying condition”. How much it would take to actually have one fly is a mystery to me.

Cheers
 
No clue about ownership but I do know that every aircraft in the NMUSAF is maintained in “flying condition”. How much it would take to actually have one fly is a mystery to me.

Cheers
Dibs on the XB-70! :D
 
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