The U.S. AIr Force Museum is the oldest and largest military muesun in the world. It began in 1923, less than 25 years after the Wright Brothers first manned flight. The beginning was near Dayton, Ohio, as a collection of U.S. and foreign WWI aircraft and related equipment items. In 1927 with the closing of McCook Filed, the artifacts were moved to Wright Field and exhibited in a corner of a laboratory building.

Five years later the collection was renamed the Army Aeronautical Museum. A museum building was constructed in 1935 and opened at Wright Field. It was closed to the public in 1940 and converted to wartime office use a short time later.

In 1948, the Air Force Technical Museum opened in a former engine overhaul facility, but it was not until 1954 that the public was permitted access to the collection. Also in 1954, the museum received permission to acquire and display full-size aircraft. In 1956 it officially become the Airt Force Meuseum. Since the World War II engine overhaul building was neither fireproof or permanent, the museum required a new facility to meet its needs.

THrough the efforts of the Air Force Museum Foundation, Inc., and the generosity of many contributors, the museum moved into its new home in 1971. Pete Brown and I visited the facility which looks much as it appears in the photo. Huge aircraft, such as the B-36 can fit inside one of these buildings plus many hundreds of other items and aircraft.



Shown below is an exact replica of the Wright 1909 Military Flyer. Upon being purchased by the Signal Corps for $30,000 on August 2, 1909, the aircraft was designated Signal Corps Airplane No. 1, the world first heavier-than-air flying machine. It was used in October 1909 for giving flight instructions to Lts. Frank P. Lahm and E. Humphreys, and in 1910 it was used by Benjamin D. Foulois to teach himself how to fly.

Today the Air Force Museum is even larger than shown on the above photo. In additional to all the diplays it includes several different snack shops, restaurants, and a full-size IMAX theater. The feature showing on the days Pete Brown and I attended was the U.S. Navy's Aeronautical Flight Team, The Blue Angels! I can heartily recommend this museum. It you are the least bit interested in the history of our country and the U.S. Air Force it should be a "must see"!

Wright 1909 Military Flyer
Specifications:
Span: 36ft., 6in.
Length: 28ft., 11in.
Height: 7ft., 10.5in.
Weight: 740 lbs.
Engine: Four-cylinder Wright of 30.6hp
Cost: $25,000, plus $5,000 bonus
Performance: Maximum Speed: 42mph, Maximum Endurance: 1 hour (approx.)