If you’ve ever looked up in the sky and stared at an airplane, wondering how it operates, you can safely call yourself an aviation buff. Let’s face it, it really hasn’t been that long since humans learned to fly, and from then until now, the world has seen some major changes in the design and capability of the airplane. Those changes can now be viewed and studied when you visit one of the 46 aviation museums in Texas.
Like most states, Texas has a lot of aviation-related history that many people are unaware of, and it starts with some names of people who made contributions to the aviation world and who are also Texas natives.
For instance, a man by the name of Orvon G. “Gene” Autry, a musician and film star, was also a pilot during World War II. Bill Anders, the CEO of General Dynamics, was also an Apollo astronaut at one time. Both are from Texas.
Other residents of the Lone Star State who contributed to aviation history include Gordon Baxter, an aviation writer; Gordon Bethune, the CEO of Continental Airlines; and Alan Bean, an astronaut. Clearly, Texas is a state that contributes greatly to this area of history, and that is excluding any mention of the NASA facility in Houston.
If you’d like to visit one of the many aviation museums in this great state, below are descriptions of each to help you get started.
1. Dyess AFB Visitor Center/Dyess Linear Air Park (Abilene)
You have to contact them first for group tours, but admission to the museum is free and allows you to view and study roughly 30 different aircraft. The tour allows you to experience both the museum itself and the aircraft, which includes the Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, Northrop F-89J Scorpion, and the Cessna GT-37A Tweety, among others.
2. Cavanaugh Flight Museum (Addison)
This museum is open daily most days of the year and consists of dozens of different aircraft. These include the McDonnell-Douglas F-4C Phantom II, Consolidated B-24 Liberator, Stinson L-5E, Sikorsky UH-34D Seahorse, and the Lockheed F-104A Starfighter, among others. You can contact them by visiting them at www.cavanaughflightmuseum.com.
3. Texas Military Forces Museum (Austin)
This museum is open Tuesday through Sunday most days of the year and consists of roughly a dozen different aircraft. You can view and study planes such as the McDonnell-Douglas F-4C Phantom II, Piper L-21A Super Cub, Bell AH-1S Cobra, and the Hiller OH-23B Raven, among others. You can get additional information on the museum by visiting their website at www.texasmilitaryforcesmuseum.org.
4. Hangar 25 Air Museum (Big Spring)
Open Tuesday through Saturday most days of the year, the Hangar 25 Air Museum is free to the public, but accepts and encourages donations. They also have a gift shop for those souvenirs you love, and their planes include the nose of the Boeing B-52D Stratofortress, North American F-100F Super Sabre, Cessna A-37A Dragonfly, and the Lockheed T-33A, among others.
5. Breckenridge Aviation Museum (Breckenridge)
Focusing mostly on World War II memorabilia and aircraft, the museum houses planes that include the Beech GB-2, Piper L-4A Cub, Grumman F8F-1D Bearcat, and the Hawker Fury FB.10, among others. You have to contact them to schedule a tour, and you can do this by calling them at 254-559-2515.
6. Commemorative Air Force Museum – Rio Grande Valley Wing (Brownsville)
Open only on Wednesday through Saturday, the museum houses lots of artifacts that include airplanes such as the De Havilland DH-94 Moth Minor, Ryan PT-22 Recruit, Fairchild PT-26 Cornell, and the Focke Wulf FW-44 Stieglitz, among others. You can get additional details by viewing their website at www.rgvcaf.org.
7. Highland Lakes Squadron – Commemorative Air Force (Burnet)
Open Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday most days of the year, they specialize in World War II artifacts such as missiles, knives and bayonets, newspapers, helmets, and more. Their aircraft collection includes the Cessna T-37B Tweety Bird, Northrop AT-38B Talon, Fairchild PT-19 Cornell, and the Vought A-7D Corsair II, among others.
8. George Bush Presidential Library and Museum (College Station)
This museum is open daily throughout most of the year and there is a small admission fee required to enter. They also have a gift shop in case you’d like to pick up a souvenir or two on the way out, and the entire museum is dedicated to the life and career of President George H.W. Bush. It is also home to the Grumman TBM-3 Avenger and they can be contacted by visiting http://bush41.org.
9. USS Lexington Museum (Corpus Christi)
The museum is open daily most days of the year and is home to dozens of aircraft, including the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A Hornet, Beech T-34C Mentor, North American T-2C Buckeye, and the Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless, among many others.
10. Glenn Cumbie Aviation Museum (Corsicana)
The museum takes up two rooms in the Corsicana Municipal Airport and consists of thousands of artifacts from the military and aviation fields. Some of these items include numerous uniforms, periodicals and manuals for soldiers, newspapers, engines, and much more. It is also home to the Fairchild PT-19A Cornell and they can be contacted at 903-654-4847.
11. Frontiers of Flight Museum (Dallas)
This museum is open daily most days of the year and houses dozens of aircraft of all types. This includes the Piper PA-20 Pacer 125, Wittman W.8 Tailwind, Bell TH-1L Iroquois, and the Meyers Little Toot, to name a few. They can be reached at www.flightmuseum.com.
12. Perrin AFB Historical Museum (Denison)
The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday and even has a gift shop in case you’d like to scoop up some souvenirs on your way home. The aircraft displayed includes the Cessna T-37B Tweety Bird and the North American F-86L Sabre, and they can be reached at http://perrinafbhistoricalmuseum.org.
13. Fort Bliss Museum (El Paso)
This museum is part of Fort Bliss and, therefore, you need a photo ID and a vehicle registration to get on the premises. They are open Monday through Friday and you can enjoy the museum for free. Airplanes exhibited include the Bell AH-1F Cobra and the Bell UH-1H Iroquois. You can get additional information by contacting them at 915-568-5412.
14. National Border Patrol Museum (El Paso)
Open Tuesday through Saturday and free to the public, this museum has a gift shop and takes you through the entire history of the Border Patrol movement, starting with the Old West through today. Housed here are the Hughes 369 and the Piper PA-18-150 Super Cub.
15. 1st Cavalry Division Museum (Fort Hood)
Open daily most days of the year, this museum is home to about a dozen aircraft. These include the Bell planes OH-13E Sioux, UH-1H Iroquois, AH-1S Cobra, and the OH-58C Kiowa. Other aircraft include the Sikorsky CH-54A Tarhe, Grumman OV-1C Mohawk, and the Hughes OH-6A Cayuse.
16. United States Army Medical Department Museum (Fort Sam Houston)
This museum is open Tuesday through Saturday most days of the year and is free to enter. To enter the base, you have to be familiar with the post’s entrance requirements, which you can find out more about by calling 210-221-6358. Their artifacts include photos, uniforms, vehicles, and military equipment, as well as aircraft such as the Bell OH-13D Sioux and the Bell UH-1H Iroquois.
17. American Airlines C.R. Smith Museum (Fort Worth)
This museum is open Tuesday through Saturday and includes a great gift shop. Concentrating mostly on the history of American Airlines, some of its artifacts include interactive videos, audio exhibits, and electronic quiz games, as well as aircraft such as the Douglas DC-3-227B Skytrain and the Fokker 100.
18. Fort Worth Aviation Museum (Fort Worth)
Open on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday, the museum houses dozens of airplanes, including the Sikorsky CH-53D Sea Stallion, Cessna O-2A Skymaster, Northrop F-5E Tiger II, and the North American OV-10A Bronco, among others.
19. Fort Worth Museum of Science and History (Fort Worth)
This museum is open daily most of the year, and a few of the aircraft on display include the Bell 47G, Boeing Stearman PT-17 Kaydet, and the Boeing 727 cockpit. They can be reached at www.fwmuseum.org.
20. Vintage Flying Museum (Fort Worth)
Open Thursday through Sunday and additional days by appointment, this museum has a nice collection of aircraft that includes planes such as the North American F-86F Sabre, Stinson AT-19 Sentinel, Beech A23A Musketeer, and the Republic F-105D Thunderchief, to name a few.
21. National Museum of the Pacific War (Fredericksburg)
Open daily most days of the year, the museum has aircraft on display that include the Grumman FM-2 Wildcat, North American TB-25J Mitchell, Aichi D3A2-22 Val, and the Kawanishi N1K-1 Mighty Wind, among others. They can be reached through their website at www.pacificwarmuseum.org.
22. Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig Museum (Galveston)
This museum is open daily throughout most of the year and is dedicated to the offshore oil and gas industry. It is even housed on a retired jack-up rig located in the Galveston Harbor and they can be reached at www.oceanstaroec.com.
23. Lone Star Flight Museum (Houston)
The museum is open daily most of the year and has a gift shop that allows you to buy some souvenirs. There are dozens of aircraft found there, including the Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star, Piper L-4H Grasshopper, Grumman F6F-5N Hellcat, and the Sikorsky S-76A Spirit, among others.
24. 1940 Air Terminal Museum (Houston)
Open every day except Sunday, this museum houses aircraft such as the Douglas C-47A Dakota III, Sikorsky S-58B, Hawker Siddeley HS.125-400A, and the Lockheed C-60A Lodestar, among others. You can reach them at 713-454-1940.
25. Space Center Houston (Houston)
This facility is open daily throughout most of the year and even has a gift shop for scooping up some souvenirs on your way out. Some of their many aircraft on display include the Apollo 17 command module, Gemini V, Lunar roving vehicle trainer, and the Skylab trainer, among others.
26. National United States Armed Forces Museum (Houston)
Open Wednesday through Sunday throughout most of the year, this museum is located in the northeastern section of Houston and houses the Bell UH-1H Iroquois. You can get additional information by visiting their website at www.nusafm.org.
27. Pioneer Flight Museum (Kingsbury)
This museum is open Monday through Friday and one Saturday a month, and it houses several dozen airplanes, including the Luscombe 8A Silvaire, Piper J-3-65 Cub, Bristol F.2B Fighter, and the Thomas Morse S-4C Scout, among others. You can visit them online at www.pioneerflightmuseum.org.
28. Lago Vista Airpower Museum (Lago Vista)
Open on the weekend only and free to the public, the museum contains artifacts from both world wars, including photos, engines, military emblems, and more than 1,200 books and publications. Their planes include the Piper L-4 Cub, Boeing Stearman PT-13D Kaydet, and the McDonnell RF-4C Phantom II.
29. Cold War Air Museum (Lancaster)
Open on Saturday only, the museum is dedicated to educating the public on the Cold War and has dozens of planes on exhibit, including the Mil M-2, Bell UH-1B Iroquois, Aero L-29 Delfin, and the Hughes 269-C1, among others.
30. Commemorative Air Force – Dallas-Fort Worth Wing (Lancaster)
This museum is open on Saturday and Sunday and on other days by appointment, and it houses planes such as the Douglas R4D-5S Skytrain, Boeing Stearman PT-17 Kaydet, Vultee BT-15 Valiant, and the Stinson L-5 Sentinel. They can be reached at www.dfwwing.com.
31. Silent Wings Museum (Lubbock)
Open every day except Monday, the museum has a great gift shop and is dedicated to the American military glider program. It houses planes such as the Pratt-Read TG-32, WACO CG-4A Hadrian (fuselage), Coffman glider, and the Aeronca L-3D Grasshopper, among others. You can visit them online at www.silentwingsmuseum.org.
32. CAF – American Airpower Heritage Museum (Midland)
Open Tuesday through Saturday most of the year, this museum likes to change up its exhibits and, therefore, you’re likely to see something different every time you go there. Some of the many planes displayed include the Bell AH-1S Cobra, Lockheed PV-2D Harpoon, North American F-100A Super Sabre, and the Douglas TC-47B Skytrain.
33. Permian Basin Petroleum Museum (Midland)
Open daily throughout most of the year, the museum has a gift shop and houses planes such as the Luscombe 8F Silvaire. You can find it online at http://petroleummuseum.org.
34. Mid America Flight Museum (Mount Pleasant)
Open on Saturday only, this museum houses dozens of planes that include the Curtiss Wright Robin C-1, WACO UPF-7, Piper PA-23 Apache, and the Bell 206-L4 Long Ranger, among others. You can visit their website at www.historicalairtours.com for additional details.
35. Freedom Museum USA (Pampa)
Open Tuesday through Saturday, you can visit the museum simply by making a small donation. Their aircraft exhibits include the Bell GUH-1H Iroquois, Sikorsky HH-3F Pelican, McDonnell F-4E Phantom II, and the North American B-25D Mitchell.
36. Texas Air Museum – Stinson Chapter (San Antonio)
This museum is open every day except Sunday most days of the year and specializes in the important roles San Antonio and the state of Texas have played in military aviation history. Some of the planes found there include a replica of the Curtiss D Pusher, the Piper J-3C-65 Cub, and the Sikorsky UH-34E Seahorse, to name a few.
37. USAF Airman Heritage Museum – Lackland AFB (San Antonio)
Although the museum is open Monday through Friday and the admission is free, you still have to have the qualifications to get on base because this is where it is located. It is home to dozens of aircraft, including the Douglas WB-66D Destroyer, Cessna O-2B Skymaster, and the Northrop T-38A Talon, among others.
38. Commemorative Air Force – Central Texas Wing (San Marcos)
The museum is open on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, and its collection of aircraft includes the Piper L-4B Cub, Lockheed T-33A, Beech T-34A Mentor, and the Douglas C-47A Skytrain, among others. They can be contacted at www.cafcentex.com.
39. Stanzel Model Aircraft Museum (Schulenburg)
Open Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, this museum offers 30 different static displays and many interactive exhibits, as well as multimedia presentations and numerous aircraft. You can get additional information by visiting them at www.stanzelmuseum.org.
40. Texas Air Museum – Caprock Chapter (Slaton)
Located near Lubbock and open on Saturday, the museum is home to dozens of aircraft, including the North American T-2C Buckeye, Beech UC-45J Expeditor, Grumman F-9J Cougar, and the McDonnell F-4S phantom, to name a few.
41. Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site (Stonewall)
Open daily most days of the year, this facility is home to the Lockheed VC-140 JetStar and many other artifacts. You can contact them online at http://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/lyndon-b-johnson or by calling them at 830-644-2252.
42. National WASP WWII Museum (Sweetwater)
Open Wednesday through Sunday and free to visit, the museum celebrates the role of women pilots during World War II to today. Some of the planes on exhibit include the Fairchild PT-19A Cornell and the Vultee BT-13 Valiant. They are available online at http://waspmuseum.org.
43. No. 1 British Flying Training School Museum (Terrell)
The museum is open Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, and it is dedicated to the British pilots who learned to fly during World War II at six different civilian flight schools in the United States. More than 2,000 British pilots trained here during the war, and this museum is a way to honor them.
44. Aviation Museum of Texas (Uvalde)
The museum is open Tuesday and Friday and is free to visit. Some of the planes on exhibit include the Piper L-4J Cub, Boeing Stearman PT-13D Kaydet, and the Fairchild PT-19A Cornell, among others. They can be contacted at 830-278-2552.
45. National Vietnam War Museum (Weatherford)
Open daily most of the year and free to the public, this museum houses the Bell UH-1H Iroquois and can be contacted by calling 940-325-4003 or by visiting them online at www.nationalvnwarmuseum.org.
46. Museum of North Texas History (Wichita Falls)
Free to the public and open Tuesday through Saturday, the museum commemorates Call Field, where the Army Air Corps trained during World War I. It is also home to one of only five of the Curtiss JN4-D “Jenny” biplanes.
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