Virginia Aviation Museum facts for kids
The SR-71 Blackbird in front of the museum
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| Established | 1986 |
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| Dissolved | June 30, 2016 |
| Location | 5701 Huntsman Road, Sandston, Virginia |
| Type | Aviation Museum |
The Virginia Aviation Museum was a cool place in Henrico County, Virginia, where you could see amazing airplanes. It was right next to the Richmond International Airport. The museum opened in 1986 and had about 34 different aircraft. These planes ranged from early gliders, like those made by the Wright brothers, to the super-fast SR-71 Blackbird. It was part of the Science Museum of Virginia.
The museum was located in a building called the Martha C. West Building. This building was named after Martha C. West, who was a brave pilot and the first president of the Richmond Women’s Flying Club. The building was first meant to be a temporary storage place. However, it ended up being the main museum building. Sadly, the museum closed on June 30, 2016. This happened because the building had problems with its roof and keeping the temperature right. The museum said the building had "reached the end of its useful life."
After the museum closed, some of its famous planes found new homes. The incredible SR-71 Blackbird was moved to the Science Museum of Virginia, where you can still see it today. Another important group of planes, called the Shannon collection, went back to the Shannon Air Museum. This collection included planes like the Pitcairn Mailwing and the Vultee V-1.
Contents
Exploring the Museum's Aircraft Collection
The Virginia Aviation Museum was home to many different types of aircraft. These planes told the story of flight, from its early days to more modern times. Let's look at some of the cool planes that were once displayed there.
Planes from the Early Days of Flight
This section featured aircraft from World War I and the "Golden Age of Aviation." This was a time when planes were rapidly changing and becoming more advanced.
- SPAD S.VII (built 1917): This was a fighter plane from World War I. It was built in the United Kingdom.
- Curtiss JN-4D (built 1918): Often called the "Jenny," this plane was used to train pilots during World War I.
- Pitcairn PA-5 Mailwing (built 1927): This plane was used to carry mail. It was painted with the colors of Eastern Air Transport.
- Bellanca CH-400 Skyrocket (built 1928): This plane was found in a glacier in 1976 and then rebuilt! It was marked as "Columbia," a famous plane that was lost in a fire.
- Fairchild FC-2W2 (built 1928): This special plane, named "Stars And Stripes," was used by Richard Evelyn Byrd for his trips to the Arctic. It was on loan from the National Air and Space Museum.
- Pietenpol Air Camper (built 1928): This was a home-built plane, meaning someone built it themselves. It used an engine from the Ford Motor Company.
- Curtiss-Robertson J-1D Robin (built 1929): This plane was carefully restored by Francis Clore.
- Taylor E-2 Cub (built 1932): This was an early version of the famous Piper Cub, a popular small plane.
- Waco YOC (built 1935): This plane was once owned by Hollywood artist Walter Matthew Jeffries. He was famous for designing the Starship Enterprise from Star Trek!
- Vultee V-1AD Special (built 1936): This plane, called "Lady Peace II," was once owned by a famous publisher, William Randolph Hearst. It is the only one of its kind known to still exist.
- Stinson SR-10G Reliant (built 1937): This plane was originally built for American Airlines.
- Bücker Bü 133C Jungmeister (built 1941): This plane was marked to look like the aircraft flown by famous aerobatic pilot Bevo Howard.
- Piper J-3 Cub (built 1943): The Piper Cub is one of the most well-known small planes in history.
Cool Planes from Modern Times
The museum also had some impressive aircraft from more recent history, showing how planes continued to evolve.
- Grumman F-14 Tomcat: This was a famous fighter jet known for its variable-sweep wings.
- Douglas A-4 Skyhawk: A small, lightweight attack aircraft used by the Navy and Marine Corps.
- Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird: This spy plane was incredibly fast, holding records for speed and altitude. It was a true marvel of engineering.
- LTV A-7D Corsair II: An attack aircraft used by the U.S. Air Force.
See also
- List of aerospace museums
- Virginia Air and Space Center
