A couple weeks ago when Mom and Dad were visiting Ohio for a wedding, we had a few free hours to spend at world's largest and oldest military aviation museum.
The National Museum of the United States Air Force was established in 1923 and with 1.3 million visitors each year it is one of the most visited attractions in Ohio.
We started with the Birth of Flight exhibit and saw a sweet triple-winged plane!!
One of my favorite historical items from the museum was this homemade map, which hung around a pilot's neck on a string, so he was able to quickly look down figure out where he was headed.
Who had the time, space, or extra hands to unfold a map when he was also trying to fly a plane?!
This may look like a basket for a hot air balloon ride, but it's actually a military Observation balloon.
The observation balloons were generally used in World War I. While tethered to the ground, a balloon could be floated in the sky to see what was happening over enemy lines.
I found this particularly interesting because although the balloon allowed one to see over enemy lines, the enemy could also obviously see someone was spying on them!
Plus, the balloon already had a USAF target on it!!
Just a cool-colored plane...
A sneaky tactic during WWII...
The Japanese Army Headquarters printed these leaflets which instructed enemy soldiers to surrender and then be safe, but in fact the enemy soldiers who surrendered to the Japanese with this ticket were promptly killed for obtaining the tickets and not surrendering earlier!
It was a confusing time to say the least...
This plane has a real attitude and a fierce look!
The ambulances in WWII were driven by volunteers (such as Walt Disney) and the rear area could hold 3 patients in stretchers or 4 patients sitting up.
We must have had some tiny people back then!
One GIANT plane with an interesting name and icon.
And I thought this was a family museum...
The second half of our visit was touring the Presidential Aircraft area housing many retired Air Force One units!!
(The entire museum is free--thank you tax dollars--but you have to know the system.
Only a few people are allowed to sign up and ride the bus to view the Presidential Aircraft each day.
Thankfully, my co-workers who told me about the museum also told me how to get into this special exhibit!)
This aircraft was one of the most recent and transported Presidents Ford, Carter, and Reagan.
Mom pops out of the Independence, which was used by Harry S. Truman.
Not sure which president used this Jet Jeep, but it sure is adorable.
The sign says it is collapsible and therefore a good choice for mobility, but I think it looks more like a good place for a video game simulator!
You could enter most of the presidential planes to get a great view, but the seating areas were protected by plexi-glass.
Some walkways were as narrow as 17 inches wide!
This little plane had plaid interior like a car and was used for short trips by Dwight D. Eisenhower.
The Columbine III was a jumbo jet also used by Eisenhower for his long flights.
The gem of the exhibit... the Presidential Hovercraft!!
I have no idea which, if any, president has been for a ride in this thing,
but it sure looks like a UFO to me!!
