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The Museum of Flying

© Judith Stock

As a child, every time a plane flew overhead I craned my neck and squinted my eyes to catch a glimpse of the 'silver cigar' that zoomed above my head on the air currents. I admit that I had that affliction early in life.

Around August every year the air show comes to town. The Blue Angels perform their heart stopping feats by flying feet away from each other, doing rolls and stalls, delighting the crowds. The Stealth bomber cruises over town like a refugee from a science fiction thriller. I jump out of my car and stand at attention, once again craning my neck and sheltering my eyes to get a good look, goose bumps dancing on my skin. Some things never change.

The Museum of Flying in Santa Monica elicits the same state -- interest in anything that flies or has ever flown at one time. The museum is located on the site where Donald Douglas Aircraft Company manufactured and tested military and commercial aircraft for over 46 years.

Begun in 1974 by a group of citizens interested in preserving the history of the DC-3, the Donald Douglas Museum and Library opened in 1979, the predecessor the current Museum of Flying that opened in 1989.

On display are civilian and military aircraft through World War II, the majority are in flight ready condition and frequently take part in air shows. Some of the aircraft on display includes the BF-109; Hawker Hurricane; P-51 Mustang; Stearman; T-28 Trojan; Mitsubishi Zero (and you thought they only made cars); Yak-3UA; P-51 "Dago Red" (Reno air racer); North American T-28B; Bearcat F8F-1; P-38 Lightning; and, of course, a DC-3.

The museum offers a free six-week workshop program in aviation to students in public and private schools, ages 6 thorough 16, in southern California. After completion of the workshop the student's family receives a free membership in the museum. The two-hour workshops are offered on the weekends and focus on aviation history, properties of flight, airplane design, and aircraft specialization.

www.museumofflying.com

The copyright of the article The Museum of Flying in Art Museums is owned by Judith Stock. Permission to republish The Museum of Flying in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.