It is fitting that the National Museum of Naval Aviation is located at NAS Pensacola, Florida — long known as the “Cradle of Naval Aviation.” And, it shouldn’t surprise anyone who has visited here recently that it is one of the world’s largest aviation displays, as well as a major Florida tourist attraction.
Anyone who likes aviation will love this place, and former pilots and crewmen will experience a great feeling of nostalgia connected with various types of aircraft they flew, now on display. Of the total 200+ plane collection, starting with the 1911 Curtiss A-1 Triad and continuing into the space age, at least 100 are on display at any given time. Others are on loan to other museums or stored.
Also displayed are many pieces of aviation art and photography, artifacts, models, memorabilia and technology displays to kindle the fire of reminiscence and historical interest. The entire span of naval aviation’s history in peace and war is represented, including a mock carrier deck, dirigible gondola,aircraft from the airships Akron and Macon, and the latest acquisition — two WWII carrier planes recovered from the bottom of Lake Michigan where they crashed while trying to land on the makeshift carrier deck of the old paddle wheel USS Wolverine.
In the infancy of aviation, most people thought flying was merely a fad that would eventually lose its luster. Early aircraft were highly perishable and, in the minds of some military naysayers, expendable. Few early models survived, except for some fortunate accidents and the vision of a few farsighted individuals who collected and restored the pioneer machines for posterity.
That same visionary attitude was the genesis of the National Museum of Naval Aviation. It started as a local museum in 1962 when a small group of retired, reserve and active duty pilots dedicated themselves to documenting and recording the heritage of naval aviation and rescuing many rusting aircraft from the scrap heap. From that inauspicious beginning to the present state, their efforts have resulted in a magnificent transformation.
The group established a Naval Aviation Museum Foundation in 1966, as a support arm. It has since raised over $15 million to finance its three building phases.
As each phase was completed, the Foundation deeded it to the Navy to own, operate and maintain. The worldwide roster now totals in excess of 10,000.
Efforts are underway to build a $9 million seven-story entrance building that will house a 510-seat large-screen media theater. Incorporated into the design are eight skylights with aircraft hanging from five of them.
In the early planning stage is the National Flight Academy — a one-week coeducational school that will introduce the exciting world of aviation to the nation’s sixth and seventh grade students.
It is truly worthy of a visit.