Florida Air Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1986 |
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| Location | Lakeland, Florida |
| Type | Aviation attraction |
| Collection size | over 40 aircraft |
The Florida Air Museum is a super cool place in Florida! It's known as Florida's official museum for airplanes and learning about flying. You can see all sorts of aircraft here. There are unique planes, old classics, tiny ultra-lights, really old antique planes, and even powerful warbirds. It used to be called the International Sport Aviation Museum or the SUN 'n FUN Air Museum.
Contents
Exploring the Museum
The museum has two main parts: a big main building and a hangar. Both are located at the Lakeland Linder International Airport. This is the same place where the exciting Sun 'n Fun airshow happens every year. The airshow helps fund the museum's amazing collection and programs.
Main Building Highlights
The main building holds many of the museum's aircraft. You can see smaller planes like a Boeing-Stearman Model 75. This plane was once part of the famous Red Baron Pizza aerobatic team. There are also many unique designs and planes built by hobbyists. You might even spot a Mercury rocket motor! The planes are joined by a collection of engines. These engines range from World War I up to today. This building also has a library, offices, and a small gift shop.
Hangar Annex and Restoration Center
The hangar annex is where you'll find larger aircraft and engines. It's a great place to see bigger flying machines up close.
Right next to the museum is the Buehler Restoration Center. This special workshop is where experts work to restore old aircraft. They bring old planes back to life! This center opened in April 2006.
Amazing Aircraft Collection
The museum has a fantastic collection of aircraft. Many of these are homebuilt aircraft, meaning people built them themselves! Here are some of the cool planes you can see:
- Aeronca LB NC15292 – This plane was built in 1934 and restored right at the museum.
- Aerosport Woody Pusher N100FQ – An older plane built in 1930.
- Anglin Space Walker II N168CM – This aircraft was built in 1994.
- Bede BD-5 Micro N51GB – This plane has a unique pusher propeller design.
- Boeing 727-233 N265FE – A large cargo plane from 1979. It was donated by FedEx. It is being turned into a classroom and meeting space.
- Boeing-Stearman Model 75 – From the famous Red Baron Squadron aerobatic team.
- Cirrus VK-30 N94CM – Built in 1993, this was the first design by Cirrus Aircraft. It was sold as a kit for people to build at home. You can see it on the Sun 'N Fun campus.
- Colomban Cri-cri MC-12 "Cricket" N98DJ – Built in 1983, this is the world's smallest twin-engined plane that a person can fly!
- Command-Aire MR-1 "Little Rocket racer" N345JA – A speedy little racer plane.
- Convair F2Y Sea Dart – This plane is mounted on a pylon at the museum's entrance. The Sea Dart was the only seaplane to ever fly faster than the speed of sound!
- Culver Model V NC134K – This aircraft was built in 1946.
- Denney Kitfox N3LB – Built in 1989.
- Dyke Delta N18DW – This unique plane was built in 1972.
- Douglas DC-3 N839M – Originally a C-47 Skytrain from 1943. It was later changed into a DC-3 for carrying passengers.
- Ford Flivver N3218 – A reproduction of a classic plane, built in 1994.
- Heath Super Parasol N88EG – Built in 1934.
- Greene Lovings Love N100PH – This plane was built in 1976.
- Grumman F-14 Tomcat – A powerful fighter jet on loan from the National Naval Aviation Museum.
- Grumman G-44 Widgeon – N404Q is a cool seaplane on loan from the Fantasy of Flight air museum.
- Laird Baby Biplane – A reproduction of a small biplane.
- Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star – This jet is painted in the colors of the Thunderbirds. It is mounted on a pylon at the front gate.
- Lockheed XFV Vertical Riser – This unique plane was restored right at the museum.
- Mignet Pou-du-Ciel "Flying Flea" – Built in 1979.
- M-Squared Breese 2 – This is the only aircraft inside the museum that has seen actual combat. It was used to drop bombs on fighters.
- Northrop Radioplane Drone – An early type of unmanned aircraft.
- Piel CP-30 Emeraude N31EB – Built in 1975.
- Pietenpol Air Camper N3513 – A reproduction of a 1929 model, built in 1967.
- Pitts Special S-1 N58P – Built in 1972 by Paul Poberezny, a famous aviation enthusiast.
- Pitts Special S-1C N5LU – Another Pitts Special, built in 1983.
- Quickie N303Q – Built in 1989.
- Rans S-9 Chaos N218ER – A fun and agile aircraft.
- RotorWay Exec N824DL – You can see this helicopter on the Sun 'N Fun campus grounds.
- Sorrell Hiperbipe N135HB – Built in 1995, displayed on the Sun 'N Fun campus grounds.
- Rozière Balloon Capsule – This is a capsule from a special type of balloon. It is on loan from Kermit Weeks at Fantasy of Flight.
- Stits SA-11-A Playmate N77JA – A classic homebuilt design.
- Sunshine Clipper N62SC – Built and donated by Henry Palmer. You can see it on the Sun 'N Fun campus.
- Wittman Chief Oshkosh N14855 – Built in 1931.
- Wittman Tailwind N314T – Built in 1962.
See Also
- List of aerospace museums
