02-18-2012, 02:51 AM
Just to second the remarks about the U.S. Airforce Museum in Dayton, Ohio --
This is within a few blocks of the spot where the Wright brothers essentially invented the art and science of flying an airplane. It's true that they designed and built the original Kitty Hawk plane in their bicycle shop way on the other (west) side of town, but a couple of years later they set up a flight school in a pasture over on the east side, where they worked out the techniques of flying and then set up a school where they taught people how to fly. This involved the complete circuit beginning with getting into the air, turning the plane, going up and down, and eventually (most of the time) making a safe landing. It's an incredible series of achievements. Out of their work came the entire modern era of flying, space exploration, and so much more.
The museum is on the grounds of Wright Patterson AFB. It has an absolutely amazing collection of aircraft, including the B29 that ended the second world war, recreations and originals of very early aircraft, first world war era planes, experimental planes, and a full sized B36, which is about the hugest thing you are ever going to see that doesn't float in the water. There is also an exhibit on German WWII prisoner of war camps, including artifacts created by the prisoners such as a newsletter and a hand-crafted radio receiver.
It's true that the Smithsonian has more in the way of spacecraft including those from the moon program, but Wright-Patt is way ahead on actual airplanes.
This is within a few blocks of the spot where the Wright brothers essentially invented the art and science of flying an airplane. It's true that they designed and built the original Kitty Hawk plane in their bicycle shop way on the other (west) side of town, but a couple of years later they set up a flight school in a pasture over on the east side, where they worked out the techniques of flying and then set up a school where they taught people how to fly. This involved the complete circuit beginning with getting into the air, turning the plane, going up and down, and eventually (most of the time) making a safe landing. It's an incredible series of achievements. Out of their work came the entire modern era of flying, space exploration, and so much more.
The museum is on the grounds of Wright Patterson AFB. It has an absolutely amazing collection of aircraft, including the B29 that ended the second world war, recreations and originals of very early aircraft, first world war era planes, experimental planes, and a full sized B36, which is about the hugest thing you are ever going to see that doesn't float in the water. There is also an exhibit on German WWII prisoner of war camps, including artifacts created by the prisoners such as a newsletter and a hand-crafted radio receiver.
It's true that the Smithsonian has more in the way of spacecraft including those from the moon program, but Wright-Patt is way ahead on actual airplanes.