Air Venture Museum just may be one of the only museums that you can literally fly into, if you have your own plane; however don’t despair, you can also get to this museum by car as well.
Located in Oshkosh on 3000 Poberezny Road, the first thing you will notice about AirVenture Museum is its size. Over 100,000 square feet, the museum includes five theaters, interactive exhibits, photo gallery, and two large gift shops. The museum happens to be the International Headquarters of the Experimental Aircraft Association, and is home to the EAA Aviation Foundation. It is also the site of the annual EAA AirVenture (www.airventure.org) aviation event.
Open seven days a week (excluding Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and Easter Sunday), from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, AirVenture Museum is home to over 20,000 historic aviation pieces. Within that number, the museum houses over 250 full-size airplanes from different time periods.
Admission begins at $8.75/adult; $7.75/senior; $6.75/student ages 6 – 17; free/children 5 and under. A family rate costs $22. You can purchase an annual EAA family membership for $50. If you are an EAA member, admission is free.
Groups are welcomed at AirVenture Museum. There are three different group packages: Kitty Hawk Tour (Standard), Air Mail Tour (Evening), and The Barnstormer Tour (Tour and Flight). Additional information on the tours can be found at their website, www.airventuremuseum.com .
The museum is divided into two levels. The lower level features such authentic replicas as the Wright Flyer, honoring the Wright Brothers first flight, and the Spirit of St. Louis, paying tribute to Charles Lindbergh’s flight across the Atlantic.
Also on the first level in the Acrobatic Gallery is MaxFlight. For an additional six dollars, this 360-degree full motion flight simulator allows you to experience a combat flight in an F-16 fighter jet. Located on both levels is the Hanger X, featuring interactive exhibits, is designed with the young and young-at-heart aviation fan in mind. Don’t miss the Eagle Hanger, also on both levels, that highlight War World II aircrafts.
A unique part of the museum is the Pioneer Airport, only opened May through October. A quick tram ride from the museum building, this part is the living history portion of AirVenture Museum. Over fifty vintage airplanes and exhibits are displayed throughout the seven period-themed hangars. Brief air shows are held during the summer on the nearby grass airstrip.
While the shows are fun to watch, that is not the unique feature. With weather permitting and at an additional cost (ranging from $35 to $135, depending on the aircraft) you can take rides in such airplanes as the 1929 Ford Tri-Motor or the Bell 47 Helicopter.