Chico Air Museum facts for kids

F-86 Sabre "Mama Inez" in front of the Chico Air Museum

The Chico Air Museum is a cool place in Chico, California, where you can learn all about airplanes and space! It's a nonprofit museum, which means it's run by people who want to share their love for aviation, not to make money. Their main goal is to collect, keep safe, and show off amazing aircraft and things from aviation and space history. They want to teach and inspire everyone, no matter their age, about flying and how aviation has changed over time.

What's Inside the Museum?

F-15 Eagle and SPAD S.XIII at the Chico Air Museum

The museum is located in a big hangar that was built during World War II. This hangar was once part of the Chico Army Airfield. Inside, you'll find lots of different airplanes, cool artifacts, and exhibits. There's also an outdoor area where more planes are displayed. If you love models, you'll be excited to see their huge collection of scale models. They even have a large library where you can research all sorts of aviation topics!

The museum's hangar is right next to the Chico Air Attack Base. This is a busy place, especially during fire season. You might get to see different types of air tankers (planes that help fight fires) landing, refueling, and getting ready to fly again. It's a great chance to see real-life aviation in action!

Become an Airman Docent!

In 2016, the museum started a special program called the Airman Docent Program. This is a fantastic opportunity for kids and teens under 18 years old. You can volunteer as a museum docent, which means you get to help visitors, share information about the exhibits, and learn even more about aviation. It's a fun way to get involved and share your passion for planes!

Exciting New Projects

The museum is always working on making things better! They are currently restoring some of their aircraft to make them look brand new. They are also creating a new exhibit all about space, which sounds super exciting! Plus, they are planning to improve the entrance to the hangar, including a special "walk of honor" to celebrate aviation heroes.

Airplanes You Can See

Here are some of the amazing aircraft you might see on display at the museum:

• McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle
• North American F-86 Sabre
• LTV A-7 Corsair II
• Vultee BT-13 Valiant (One of these planes left the museum in late 2024.)
• SPAD S.XIII
• Grumman AF-2S Guardian
• Aero L-29 Delfin
• Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star
• Lockheed P-2 Neptune
• Piasecki H-21 Workhorse
• Bell 47
• Antonov AN-2
• Thorp T-211
• Taylor Titch
• Pitts Model 12
• Schreder Airmate HP-11
• Rotary Air Force RAF 2000
• Link Trainer

Photo gallery

• 

  Aerial view of the Chico Air Museum

• 

  Interior view of the Chico Air Museum

• 

  Pitts 12 on display

• 

  Exhibit on the history of the Chico Army Air Field

• 

  A BT-13 Valiant being towed from the Chico Air Museum hangar. This was the museum's only flight-worthy aircraft and was on loan to the museum.

• 

  A-7D Corsair II in the outside display area

• 

  AF-2S Guardian (serial no. 2) awaiting restoration.

• 

  Dedication ceremony of the F-86 Sabre "Mama Inez" to Korean War veterans

• 

  A-7D Corsair II after being re-painted as an A-7E from VA-25

• 

  Chico Air Museum's A-7 poses next to an F/A-18E from VFA-25. Both Aircraft were featured in the June 2021 issue of Combat Aircraft Journal magazine.

See also

• List of Aerospace Museums
• Chico Army Airfield