The National Museum of Naval Aviation is located on board Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. Visitors with no base
access can easily obtain a Visitor's Pass for their car at the base's West Gate off Blue Angle Pkwy. It takes about five,
maybe ten minutes at a stretch to get. But this pass allows you to visit the museum, the Pensacola Lighthouse, the NAS'
national cemetery, Fort Barrancas and Advance Redoubt (Civil War-era fortifications).
The Museum has grown tremendously since my first visit back as a Cadet Airman in the Air Force's Junior ROTC at
Niceville High School in 1986. Barely two atriums large then, the museum has expanded to include four main atriums, a
simulated WWII Light Carrier flight deck, a flight simulator, an art gallery, library, 'IMAX' theater, and museum
resteraunt/bar that recreates the Officers Club that used to exist at the old NAS Cubi Point, Philippines. The Museum
spills over to the NAS's flight line where the outdoor aircraft exhibits are toured by shuttle bus (if you're lucky, you'll get to
see the Navy's "Blue Angels" practicing!). One of the older but larger hangars of the NAS houses the museum's many and
varied restoration projects.
access can easily obtain a Visitor's Pass for their car at the base's West Gate off Blue Angle Pkwy. It takes about five,
maybe ten minutes at a stretch to get. But this pass allows you to visit the museum, the Pensacola Lighthouse, the NAS'
national cemetery, Fort Barrancas and Advance Redoubt (Civil War-era fortifications).
The Museum has grown tremendously since my first visit back as a Cadet Airman in the Air Force's Junior ROTC at
Niceville High School in 1986. Barely two atriums large then, the museum has expanded to include four main atriums, a
simulated WWII Light Carrier flight deck, a flight simulator, an art gallery, library, 'IMAX' theater, and museum
resteraunt/bar that recreates the Officers Club that used to exist at the old NAS Cubi Point, Philippines. The Museum
spills over to the NAS's flight line where the outdoor aircraft exhibits are toured by shuttle bus (if you're lucky, you'll get to
see the Navy's "Blue Angels" practicing!). One of the older but larger hangars of the NAS houses the museum's many and
varied restoration projects.
One of the best aviation museums in the world, this facility traces
the history of all naval aviation, from the earliest Curtiss biplanes
through the modern and mighty F-14 Tomcat. Naval astronauts
are showcased. There are major sections telling the stories of the
naval lighter-than-air arm of the early 20th Century. The powerful
U.S. carrier fleet is honored. And, lest the American public forget
those defenders and life-savers of our shores, a major section of
one of the atriums is dedicated to telling the story of the United
States' Coast Guard's aircrew.
This museum can be toured in a day...unless you are a serious
researcher intent on reading every exhibit. If that is your goal,
then plan to spend several days here exploring the rich and
magnificent history of naval aviation....
the history of all naval aviation, from the earliest Curtiss biplanes
through the modern and mighty F-14 Tomcat. Naval astronauts
are showcased. There are major sections telling the stories of the
naval lighter-than-air arm of the early 20th Century. The powerful
U.S. carrier fleet is honored. And, lest the American public forget
those defenders and life-savers of our shores, a major section of
one of the atriums is dedicated to telling the story of the United
States' Coast Guard's aircrew.
This museum can be toured in a day...unless you are a serious
researcher intent on reading every exhibit. If that is your goal,
then plan to spend several days here exploring the rich and
magnificent history of naval aviation....
Click here for a larger-sized version of this tour's
title graphic.
title graphic.
Above: Myself under the museum's F-14A; I used to
be an F-14 tech. Left: Myself with an SBD that
survived Pearl Harbor and Midway. May 2006.
be an F-14 tech. Left: Myself with an SBD that
survived Pearl Harbor and Midway. May 2006.
| This virtual tour will first give you an overview of the museum's naval aircraft by the chronology of their development. Afterward, our friendly cyber-tour guides will take you through some of the special exhibits, such as Coast Guard Aviation, the Cubi Point Officers Club, and the USS Enterprise (CV 6) room. Please enjoy yourself, and feel free to have a soda or even a beer in the Cubi Point Officer's Club! Of, if you prefer, click the button below to go straight to the Featured Exhibits pages! |
Click here to go straight to the
Featured Exhibits pages!
Featured Exhibits pages!
Outside the museum's entrance is an F-14A and
three statues depicting Officer and Enlisted flight
deck personnel (Above, Aug. 2000). Once
inside, you are immediately overwhelmed by a
1917 Thomas-Morse S4-C float plane (right,
June 2006).
three statues depicting Officer and Enlisted flight
deck personnel (Above, Aug. 2000). Once
inside, you are immediately overwhelmed by a
1917 Thomas-Morse S4-C float plane (right,
June 2006).
Above: My dad with "The Spirit of Naval
Aviation" stature. Photo from 1996.
Right: The World War I display with a Curtiss
MF Flying Boat. Later variants of this aircraft
were the first U.S. planes to fly in a combat
mission in WWI. May 2006.
Aviation" stature. Photo from 1996.
Right: The World War I display with a Curtiss
MF Flying Boat. Later variants of this aircraft
were the first U.S. planes to fly in a combat
mission in WWI. May 2006.
Right as you enter the WWI
displays, you'll see this small case. It
contains one of the museum's most
prized artifacts, a swatch of wing
covering from the 1903 Wright Flyer
(see close-up above). During a 1916
restoration of the Flyer, Orville
found the fabric had deteriorated and
had the wings recovered. He gave
small clippings away as souvenirs.
This one has landed here. May 2006.
displays, you'll see this small case. It
contains one of the museum's most
prized artifacts, a swatch of wing
covering from the 1903 Wright Flyer
(see close-up above). During a 1916
restoration of the Flyer, Orville
found the fabric had deteriorated and
had the wings recovered. He gave
small clippings away as souvenirs.
This one has landed here. May 2006.
No World War I display is complete without
Snoopy, the World War I Flying Ace's favorite
plane: the Sopwith Camel.
The Navy got six of these great British planes
for operations and testing. They were flown
off platforms built on battleships in early
sea-based aviation tests, starting in 1919.
This aircraft, BUNO A5658, is on load from
Howard Wells of Sepulveda, California.
May 2006.
Snoopy, the World War I Flying Ace's favorite
plane: the Sopwith Camel.
The Navy got six of these great British planes
for operations and testing. They were flown
off platforms built on battleships in early
sea-based aviation tests, starting in 1919.
This aircraft, BUNO A5658, is on load from
Howard Wells of Sepulveda, California.
May 2006.
The 1933 Curtiss BFC-2 Goshawk (BUNO 9332),
one of only two examples left in the world. This
aircraft was the last Curtiss fighter purchased by the
Navy. May 2006.
one of only two examples left in the world. This
aircraft was the last Curtiss fighter purchased by the
Navy. May 2006.
Part of the museum's pre-World War II collection is this 1927
Curtiss F7C Seahawk (BUNO A-7667), flown by the Marines.
Click for a larger view. June 2006.
Curtiss F7C Seahawk (BUNO A-7667), flown by the Marines.
Click for a larger view. June 2006.
Tomcat, which was in service until the middle of 2006. This Fifi, BUNO A-7667, was found in a scrap heap in Central
America. It is the only known FF-1 to exist, and is on loan to the Museum from Mr. Roy Reagan of Chico, California.
May 2006.
America. It is the only known FF-1 to exist, and is on loan to the Museum from Mr. Roy Reagan of Chico, California.
May 2006.
Ask anyone what the first plane to cross the Atlantic was, and they'll probably answer "The
Spirit of St. Louis"--and they'd be WRONG! Charles Lindbergh did indeed make the first solo
crossing of the "pond" in 1928. But the first flight across was made by this massive flying boat,
the "NC-4".
Completed too late for service in World War I, three NC's, the NC-1, NC-3, and NC-4, departed
Long Island on May 18, 1919. After a harrowing trans-Atlantic crossing, the NC-4, commanded
by Navy LCDR Albert C. Read and piloted by Coast Guard LT Elmer F. Stone, was the only
one of the three to make it Portugal. NC-1 and NC-3 both landed at sea and were unable to take
off again; destroyers rescued their crews. The NC-4, now resting in the museum, is not only the
first aircraft to fly across the Atlantic, it is the only surviving aircraft of that adventure. The
overall mission was commanded by Navy CDR John H. Towers.
Click the NC-4 image to see a larger version. June 2006.
Spirit of St. Louis"--and they'd be WRONG! Charles Lindbergh did indeed make the first solo
crossing of the "pond" in 1928. But the first flight across was made by this massive flying boat,
the "NC-4".
Completed too late for service in World War I, three NC's, the NC-1, NC-3, and NC-4, departed
Long Island on May 18, 1919. After a harrowing trans-Atlantic crossing, the NC-4, commanded
by Navy LCDR Albert C. Read and piloted by Coast Guard LT Elmer F. Stone, was the only
one of the three to make it Portugal. NC-1 and NC-3 both landed at sea and were unable to take
off again; destroyers rescued their crews. The NC-4, now resting in the museum, is not only the
first aircraft to fly across the Atlantic, it is the only surviving aircraft of that adventure. The
overall mission was commanded by Navy CDR John H. Towers.
Click the NC-4 image to see a larger version. June 2006.
| Aviation Term Note: The phrase "BUNO" refers to the "Bureau Number" of an aircraft. This is the serial number of that particular aircraft, and does not change when the aircraft is transferred from squadron to squadron. Both civilian and military aircraft have a BUNO, much as every automobile built has its own unique VIN. All the information presented here has been verified against the museum's own website: www.naval-air.org |
First flown in 1931, this aircraft is the
beginning of a famous lineage of
fighters. This is the FF-1 (or "Fifi"),
by Grumman Aircraft. This
partnership between Grumman and the
Navy would result in some of the most
fighter aircraft, such as the F6F Hellcat
of World War II and the famous F-14
beginning of a famous lineage of
fighters. This is the FF-1 (or "Fifi"),
by Grumman Aircraft. This
partnership between Grumman and the
Navy would result in some of the most
fighter aircraft, such as the F6F Hellcat
of World War II and the famous F-14