Patuxent River Naval Air Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1975 |
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| Location | Lexington Park, Maryland, U.S. |
| Type | Naval aviation museum |
The Patuxent River Naval Air Museum is an exciting museum in Lexington Park, Maryland. It first opened its doors in 1978. This museum helps us understand the history of the Naval Air Station Patuxent River. It shows how the US Navy has improved aviation technology over the years. You can see cool artifacts, photos, films, and other items from Patuxent River and other naval stations. The museum honors everyone who has worked hard to advance naval aviation through research, development, testing, and evaluation.
How the Museum Started
In late 1974, a group of people got together to plan the museum. They created the necessary papers and rules. On March 14, 1975, the Naval Air Test and Evaluation Museum (NATEM) Association was officially approved. It became a non-profit organization in Maryland.
In 1976, the Navy gave the museum its current building and land in Lexington Park, Maryland. The museum then opened to the public in July 1978. That same year, the Secretary of the Navy recognized it as one of the ten official Navy museums. However, the museum later lost this official title around 2016 because of changes in government funding.
On May 28, 2016, the museum opened a brand new building. In 2018, they added another building to help manage their collections better.
Amazing Aircraft to See
The Patuxent River Naval Air Museum has a fantastic collection of aircraft on display. Many of these planes were used for testing and evaluation at the Naval Air Station Patuxent River. You can see different types of airplanes and helicopters, from fighter jets to transport planes. Some are displayed outdoors, while others are inside special halls like the Flight Technology Hall or the Test and Evaluation Hall.
Some of the cool aircraft you might see include:
- The Bell-Boeing MV-22B Osprey, which is a unique aircraft that can fly like a helicopter and a plane.
- The Grumman F-14 Tomcat, a famous fighter jet.
- The Lockheed Martin X-35C, which was an experimental jet that helped develop modern stealth fighters.
- The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet, a versatile aircraft used by the Navy and Marine Corps.
- The Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King, a large helicopter often used for anti-submarine warfare and rescue missions.
These aircraft show the incredible progress made in naval aviation over the years.
See also
- List of maritime museums in the United States
- Naval Amphibious Training Base Solomons
Images for kids
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Beechcraft PD-373 Texan II
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Beechcraft T-34B Mentor
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Bell TR911X
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Bell-Boeing MV-22B Osprey
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Bell TH-1L Iroquois
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Boeing X-32B
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Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight
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Douglas NF-6A Skyray
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Grumman C-2 Greyhound
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Grumman E-2B Hawkeye
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Grumman EA-6B Prowler
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Grumman F9F-8B Cougar
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Grumman NF-14D Tomcat
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Grumman NA-6E Intruder
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Grumman S-2D Tracker
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Gyrodyne QH-50D DASH
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Kaman SH-2G Seasprite
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Lockheed C-130 Hercules Nose Section
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Lockheed S-3B Viking
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Lockheed Martin X-35C
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LTV NA-7A Corsair II
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McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom II
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McDonnell Douglas F/A-18B Hornet
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McDonnell Douglas NF/A-18A Hornet
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McDonnell Douglas NA-4M Skyhawk
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North American RA-5C Vigilante
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McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II
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North American T-2 Buckeye
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North American T-39D Sabreliner
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Northrop T-38A Talon
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Northrop Grumman RQ-8A Fire Scout
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Sikorsky SH-3A Sea King
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Sikorsky NCH-53A Sea Stallion
