National Museum of Naval Aviation (Pensacola, FL)
It's the 4th of July! You're feeling patriotic...and looking for something to do. Well, there's lots to do at the National Museum of Naval Aviation. It is one of the largest and most beautiful air and space museums in the world. There are more than 140 restored aircraft representing Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Aviation. The historic and one-of-a-kind aircraft are displayed both inside the Museum's 291,000 square feet of exhibit space and outside on the Museum's 37-acre grounds. The Blue Angels A-4 Skyhawks hang in a diamond formation in the seven-story glass and steel atrium. You can view them at eye-level from the mezzanine.
The museum is also the home of space exploration artifacts, including the space suit used for the last walk on the moon. Also, you can retrace the first flight across the Atlantic -- or stand on the flight deck of the USS Cabot. Use the motion-based flight simulator to fly an F/A-18 mission in Desert Storm. See "The Magic of Flight", the museum's IMAX® film projected on a seven-story high screen, and feel like you've had an actual ride with the Blue Angels. Enjoy lunch at the CubiBar Cafe, decorated with over 1,000 squadron and unit plaques reassembled from the historic Officers' Club at Cubi Point in the Philippines. Take the Flight Line Bus Tour on a free 20-minute tour of the approximately 40 aircraft displayed on the flight line behind the restoration hangar.
The Museum also tells the human side of Naval Aviation and features memorabilia from each era of fighting including personal mementos from historic battles, flight logs, vintage equipment, and flight clothing.
The West Wing is devoted almost exclusively to World War II carrier aviation and showcases a full-size replica of USS Cabot's aircraft carrier island and flight deck. Famous World War II aircraft such as the Corsair, Dauntless and Hellcat stand nearby ready for take-off on the wooden flight deck, while others such as the Wildcat, Avenger and Kingfisher fly overhead. Kids of all ages love sitting in the many cockpit trainers for simulated test flights or trying their hands at defending a ship from Cabot's anti-aircraft gun battery. And they can experience the thrill of flight in a 15-passenger full motion flight simulator.
There is no charge for admission. The Museum is open to the public from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, seven days a week, except for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. The museum's website link is at http://naval.aviation.museum/intro.html. We welcome your comments and questions, so feel free to contact me at joe@stukey.com or visit our website at www.stukey.com.
