If you’ve
ever driven along the coast of the Florida panhandle then you know that there
is more than one military installation in the western portion of the state. Tyndall,
Eglin, Choctaw, Pensacola… on a visit to any one of the big towns you’ll
probably see signs directing you to the bases, and you’ll hear a variety of
military aircraft flying over on maneuvers and training. However, if you’re hoping
to catch a glimpse of an airplane you don’t have to wait with a view to the sky;
you can just head to one of two aviation museums in the panhandle for an
adventure in flight and history!
Air Force Armament Museum, Eglin Air Force Base
On our
way from Panama City and St. Andrews State Park to Pensacola we stopped at the
Air Force Armament Museum (AFAM) near Destin. Located on Eglin Air Force Base,
the AFAM is dedicated solely to the collection, preservation and exhibition of
artifacts and memorabilia associated with Air Force Armament and its delivery
platforms. From World War I to today's high tech planes and bombs, aviation and
history buffs alike can enjoy an extensive collection of aircraft as well as
the history and science behind the weaponry and airplanes.
Inside
the enormous hall you’ll find four aircraft, cockpit simulators and the museum.
Exhibits include the “Early Years” as well as sections on the Korean, Vietnam
and Gulf Wars. It was intimidating seeing the missiles and bombs up close, and
interesting to see the progression of guns, special ops and other equipment
over time.
Outside
on the surrounding complex are 30 displays of vintage military aircrafts and
other equipment, including the fastest plane ever built - the SR-71 Blackbird.
We recognized multiple airplanes from the Collings Foundation Wings of Freedom and
the Commemorative Air Force Fighters & Bombers tours in Greenville, however
there were many airplanes, helicopters, armored vehicles and drones that the
kids and I had never seen up close.
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| The B-17 bomber |
The
museum is open daily from 9:30am to 4:30pm, Monday - Saturday (except on federal
holidays), and admission to the museum is free. I would suggest exploring the
outdoor exhibits in the morning when it is cooler, or on an overcast day, while
the museum can offer a reprieve from the Florida sun or something to do on a
rainy day.
Air Force Armament Museum website here.
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| The Sikorsky MH-53 |
National Naval Aviation Museum, Naval Air Station Pensacola
During
our time in Pensacola we spent one day on the Naval Air Station side with stops
at the Pensacola Lighthouse, Fort Barrancas, and the National Naval Aviation
Museum (NNAM). The NNAM is enormous, housing more than 150 historic aircraft and
an array of exhibits, artwork and memorabilia documenting historic figures and
events in Naval Aviation. 350,000 square feet of exhibit space makes it one of
the largest aviation museums in the world.
Located
just a few miles from the beach where the Navy’s first air station was
established in 1914, the Museum is adjacent to Forrest Sherman Field, home to
Training Air Wing Six and the Navy’s Blue Angels who can often be seen training
overhead.
From
the record-setters that explored the South Pole and first crossed oceans, to
battle-scarred veterans from Midway to Iraq – NNAM has it all. A 4D Blue Angels
Experience, flight simulators and a Naval Aviation Memorial Giant Screen
Theater offer additional adventures (for tickets prices see the NNAM website).
The boys particularly enjoyed the “Kiddie Hawk” area, modeled to look like the
island of an aircraft carrier and featuring items that are found on a real ship.
Admission
to NNAM is also free (although this does not include the simulators and theater
experiences I mentioned above), and the Museum is open 9am to 5pm daily. It is
important to note that visitors 16
years and older must have valid photo identification, and if you don’t possess
a Department of Defense ID you must enter and exit the Naval Air Station
Pensacola through the West Gate off Blue Angel Parkway. On some days there are special events including Blue Angels visits
(there was a naval wedding on the day we visited), so you might want to check
out the schedule of events.
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While
neither museum compared to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in size, they were
both among the boys’ favorite destinations on our Florida panhandle trip. From
close-up looks at some of coolest airplanes ever made, to the chance to clamber
into cockpits – the kids just ate it up. I found the insight into aviation
history interesting, although standing next to the first airplane to cross the
Atlantic by air (NC-4) or the SBD Dauntless Bureau Number 2106 that survived the
Battle of Midway offered its own thrill. There is nothing to make you feel
quite as tiny as being in the shade of a B-52!
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| The historic NC-4 |
Whatever
your reason for heading to Florida’s panhandle, I suggest a visit to one of
these two museums. Admission to both sites is free, but the experience – priceless.
Great.
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