Naval Air Museum-Pensacola, FL

[DJ]

A great place to go.<br /><br />I had the opportunity to visit recently and found the museum absolutely first rate. Very close, in quality, to air museums at Wright Field (Air Force-Ohio) and the Smithsonian.<br /><br />The care taken to exhibit the aricraft is extraordinary and the side exhibits (flight simulators, etc) are OUTSTANDING.<br /><br />A must see if you are in the area.<br /><br />On a personal note, the tour guides are all ex flyers with the navy. (old timers) My dad, an ex bomber pilot (WWII-B-24, 29, 36 and 50) had some fun with them. He told of sneaking up behind PBY-3's with flaps down and gear down. He said it was hysterical to watch the antics of the PBY flyers when they discovered a four engine bomber 150 yards off their tail. <br /><br />A good time was had by all. A great bunch of volunteers.

 

[JB]

Re: Naval Air Museum-Pensacola, FL

Sounds great, DJ. Thanks. <br /><br />These places are magnets to my generation who were growing up during the early 40s and to the "Greatest" generation, like your Dad.<br /><br />The Commemorative Air Force (formerly "Confederate Air Force") Museum in Midland, TX is like that, but no guides. Whenever I visit there (often) I will find silver haired veterans sharing their experiences with their descendants. Even get to do a bit of that myself.<br /><br />No books or films can match live, personal reminiscences for understanding our history.

 

[DJ]

Re: Naval Air Museum-Pensacola, FL

JB,<br /><br />CAF has a branch here in Arizona (Mesa-Falcon Field) called the Champlin Fighter Museum. It is reported to be the worlds largest display of WWI and II fighter aircraft.<br /><br />It is also nicely done, however I do not get the same feeling of freindliness that I have received from other museums.

 

[Jack Shellac]

Re: Naval Air Museum-Pensacola, FL

Yeah, the Pensacola Museum is great. We only live about 50 miles away so we get there about four times a year. I also like the period "shacks", ready rooms and "clubs" that they have set up with the squadron insignia. Went to the new Air and Space Museum at Dulles recently and would have to give Pensacola an equal or better rating.

 

[SoulWinner]

Re: Naval Air Museum-Pensacola, FL

Jack, too bad we don't have an Iowa Class Battleship too, like the one in Mobile. I love to visit the Alabama, what a grand old lady she is. Have you been to the wall south?<br /><br />I have been visiting the Pensacola Naval Air Museum all my life and it used to be more like the bone yard out in Arizona, planes lined up outside covering acres and acres. Over the last 15 years they done wonders with the place, and it is very nice.

 

[dwci97]

Re: Naval Air Museum-Pensacola, FL

We just got back from NAS Pensacola. Man was that great. The best thing of all was watching the Blue Angels practice. They flew for one hour practicing their routines...very cool.