Aerospace Museum of California
Encyclopedia
North Highlands, California
North Highlands is a census-designated place in Sacramento County, California, United States. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area...
on the former McClellan Air Force Base
McClellan Air Force Base
McClellan Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base located in the North Highlands area of Sacramento County, northeast of Sacramento, California...
, which closed in 2001. It features displays of authentic military and civilian aircraft as well as space vehicle replicas. It preserves the history and mission of this former base as well as those of neighboring bases like Beale
Beale Air Force Base
Beale Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately east of Marysville, California. Originally known as Camp Beale....
(active) and Mather
Mather Air Force Base
Mather Air Force Base is a closed United States Air Force Base located east of Sacramento at Rancho Cordova, California on the south side of U.S. Route 50....
(closed) Air Force Bases.
History
The museum was originally established as the McClellan Aviation Museum in 1986. It was chartered by the National Museum of the United States Air ForceNational Museum of the United States Air Force
The National Museum of the United States Air Force is the official museum of the United States Air Force located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base northeast of Dayton, Ohio. The NMUSAF is the world's largest and oldest military aviation museum with more than 360 aircraft and missiles on display...
. In 2001 it incorporated as a non-profit organization. In 2005 its name was changed to the Aerospace Museum of California. In 2004 the museum moved to 3200 Freedom Park Drive, McClellan Park and in February 2007 opened its new 35000 square feet (3,251.6 m²) Hardie Setzer Pavilion enabling some of the aircraft to be displayed indoors.
Exhibits
The museum has over 40 aircraft in its collection from the fully restored, one-of-a-kind 1932 Curtiss Wright B-14B Speedwing to one of the last Grumman F-14D Tomcat retired from U.S. Navy service in 2006. In addition to aircraft, the collection includes many other historic artifacts relating to Sacramento's aerospace heritage. It also houses an extensive collection of historic aircraft engines. These include examples ranging from a World War I-era Gnome-Rhone rotary piston engine to the Pratt & Whitney nine-stage, axial-flow, bypass J-58 turbojet that propelled the SR-71 Blackbird supersonic spyplane. The museum features an art gallery containing more than 60 original works, many on loan from the Air Force Art Collection. The museum's restoration team is nearing completion of a Fairchild PT-19B World War II training aircraft. With new exhibits opening regularly, the Aerospace Museum is a wonderful place to explore the history of aviation.Notable Aircraft
Curtiss Wright B-14B SpeedwingCH-3e USAF Air rescue Helicopter
See also
- List of aerospace museums
- McClellan Air Force BaseMcClellan Air Force BaseMcClellan Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base located in the North Highlands area of Sacramento County, northeast of Sacramento, California...
- National Museum of the United States Air ForceNational Museum of the United States Air ForceThe National Museum of the United States Air Force is the official museum of the United States Air Force located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base northeast of Dayton, Ohio. The NMUSAF is the world's largest and oldest military aviation museum with more than 360 aircraft and missiles on display...