Museum of Aviation (Warner Robins) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Museum of Aviation

2006 aerial photo of museum buildings and aircraft
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Former name	Southeastern Museum of Aviation
Established	1981
Location	Robins Air Force Base, Georgia
Type	Military aviation museum
Owner	United States Air Force

The Museum of Aviation is a super cool place to visit if you love planes and space! It's the second-biggest aerospace museum of the United States Air Force. You can find it right outside Warner Robins, Georgia, close to Robins Air Force Base.

As of 2019, the museum had four big buildings filled with exhibits. It also had more than 85 historic aircraft on display across its 51 acres. That's a lot of planes! The museum is also home to the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame. Guess what? It's free to get in! Nearly half a million people visit each year, making it one of the most popular museums run by the United States Department of Defense.

History of the Museum

The Museum of Aviation started in 1980. It was first called the Southeastern Museum of Aviation. A pilot from World War I, Guy Orlando Stone, offered his amazing collection of aviation items. He said the Robins Air Force Base could have them if they built a museum to keep them safe.

The Air Force said yes in late 1980. Then, a special group called the Southeastern Museum of Aviation Foundation was created in 1981. This group was a non-profit (meaning it doesn't try to make money). Local people and base officials helped a lot. Also in 1981, the Air Force started a program to save its history. The museum became a big part of this effort.

Early Days and First Planes

The museum opened its first office in 1982. This happened after they got another private collection of items. In the same year, the Air Force approved the museum's ten-year plan. People started raising money to build a permanent museum. They needed $9.5 million for the construction!

The museum's very first airplane arrived in 1983. By the end of that year, they had collected 27 airplanes! The museum officially opened its doors to the public in November 1984. They had 20 planes ready for visitors, and 20 more were being fixed up.

By 1988, the museum's name changed to the Museum of Aviation at Robins.

Growing Bigger and Honoring Heroes

In 1989, the governor of Georgia, Joe Frank Harris, signed a law. This law created the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame. This special hall would be located right at the museum. Guy Orlando Stone, who helped start the museum, was one of the first people honored there.

In the 1990s, the museum got even bigger. They added a new exhibit space called "Hangar One." This used to be a real aircraft hangar. In 1992, they opened their "Phase II" building. This building was later named the Eagle Building. It had a theater, cool displays, and even more aircraft. In 1996, the "Century of Flight Hangar" added another huge space for planes.

In 2013, the museum announced that 32 aircraft would be moved. Some went to other museums, while others were taken apart.

In 2019, the museum showed off a new statue. It was of Eugene Bullard, the first African-American pilot to fly in combat. Bullard was from Columbus, Georgia. He flew for the French Air Force during World War I. He was later honored by the U.S. Air Force in 1994.

Amazing Aircraft on Display

The Museum of Aviation has a huge collection of planes! You can see many different types, from old bombers to fast fighter jets. Here are some of the cool aircraft you might spot:

Curtiss P-40N Warhawk

North American P-51D Mustang

Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird

McDonnell Douglas F-15A Eagle

Rockwell B-1B Lancer

B-52D

Bombers

These planes were designed to carry bombs.

Cargo Aircraft

These planes are used to carry supplies and people.

Fighters

These fast planes are built for air combat.

Helicopters

These aircraft use spinning blades to fly.

Missiles and Drones

You can also see different types of missiles and drones (unmanned aircraft).

Trainers

These planes are used to teach pilots how to fly.

Special Aircraft

Some planes at the museum are extra special!

The SR-71 Blackbird on display is super famous. It holds the record for the fastest flight speed ever! On July 28, 1976, this specific plane (serial number 61-7958) flew at an amazing speed of 1905.81 knots (which is about 2193.2 miles per hour or 3529.6 kilometers per hour). That record still stands today!

Learning at the Education Center

ACE Field Trip

The museum has a special place called the National STEM Academy. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. This academy is a non-profit education center.

The academy offers fun programs and field trips. These programs mix hands-on STEM activities with other subjects like history. They help kids learn skills for future jobs. You can join workshops and special events at the museum. They also do programs at schools and even offer virtual field trips online!

See also

• List of aerospace museums