Bruce Carter

Review of U.S. Air Force U.S. Air Force

Quite simply, this place is amazing. If you have ...

Quite simply, this place is amazing. If you have any interest in the Air Force, aviation, or the history of the major conflicts in which the Air Force played a part, this place will fascinate and intrigue you. There are flight simulators, virtual reality gear, a space shuttle trainer, a missile command center, and so many static and walk through aircraft displays that we could not get through it all in one day. We will be going back, and it will be for more than a single day the next time. The progression from the entry is from WWI on to modern day, so if you are not interested in the old stuff, see if you can catch an electric cart ride to the far end and work your way back from the space shuttle and the Valkyrie displays. There's even a B2 Stealth Bomber on display (I thought those things were still classified, but maybe it has all the secret stuff taken out of it). I have to admit I was pretty proud of landing the space shuttle simulator on the second try (augured in short of the runway the first time, but I blame the pipper for misguiding me on the glide slope... *heh*).

Most amazing of all, entry to the whole place is free. The "rides" have a cost, but you can go through the whole place, look at everything, walk through the static displays, ask questions of the MANY docents roaming the place, and basically have a great time for no cost at all. Parking is also free. The museum is a secured area, so leave those pocket knives and anything that might be considered a weapon in the car. The gift shop is nice and not ridiculously overpriced. Please have the cashier throw on a $5.00 support contribution for the place. We need more places like this, it's like a semester of a good history class just walking through it.