Wings, Planes, and Automobiles: The 6 Best Aviation Museums on Earth

1. Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Washington D.C., USA

The National Air and Space Museum is one of the most popular aviation museums in the world. It is home to the most extensive historic aircraft and spacecraft collection worldwide. The museum’s collection includes iconic artifacts such as the Wright brothers’ Flyer, Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis, and the Apollo 11 command module that carried Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins to the moon. The museum also has a planetarium, an IMAX theater, and numerous interactive exhibits that allow visitors to experience the history and technology of aviation and space and travel firsthand.

2. Royal Air Force Museum, London, UK

The Royal Air Force Museum is a must-visit destination for aviation enthusiasts. It features a vast collection of aircraft and artifacts from the early days of flight to modern times, including military and civilian planes, helicopters, and engines. The museum is home to the world’s oldest Spitfire fighter plane. The plane, which is on display at the museum, is a Mark I Spitfire, serial number K9942, that was built in 1939.

3. Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, New York City, USA

The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is located on board the USS Intrepid, an aircraft carrier that served in World War II and the Vietnam War. The carrier was used as a filming location for several movies, including the 1986 action film “Top Gun” starring Tom Cruise. Besides that, the museum displays various aircraft, including military planes, helicopters, and a Concorde supersonic airliner. 

4. Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Paris, France

The Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace is a fascinating museum dedicated to aviation and space exploration. It features an extensive collection of aircraft, engines, and other aviation-related artifacts, including rare planes from World War I and II. The museum houses the original nose section of the supersonic airliner Concorde, developed jointly by France and the United Kingdom. The museum’s Concorde, registration number F-WTSS, was used for testing and was the first pre-production aircraft to take to the air.

5. National Museum of the United States Air Force, Dayton, Ohio, USA

The National Museum of the United States Air Force is the world’s largest military aviation museum. Each year more than 800,000 visitors from around the world come to the museum. It displays over 360 aircraft and missiles and thousands of other historical artifacts and aviation and space exploration documents. Admission to the museum is free. There is a charge for the Air Force Museum Theatre and flight simulators.

6. Deutsches Museum Flugwerft Schleissheim, Munich, Germany

This museum is part of the Deutsches Museum and is dedicated to aviation history. It features a historic aircraft, engines, and equipment collection and a restoration workshop where visitors can see how planes are brought back to life. It is home to a replica of the famous Wright Flyer, the first successful powered aircraft flown by the Wright Brothers in 1903. The model was built by the museum’s engineers and is based on the original design and specifications of the Wright Flyer.

These are just a few examples of the many great aviation museums worldwide. Whether you’re a history buff, a technology enthusiast, or simply fascinated by the wonders of flight, these museums will surely provide an unforgettable experience.

Do you enjoy history? Read our blog about what flying was like in the 1950s.