American Airpower Heritage Museum and Commemorative Air Force Headquarters – Midland, Texas
This museum has the nation’s finest and most complete collection of flyable WWII combat aircraft available for you to see. The museum is dedicated to acquisition, restoration and preservation of the vintage military aircraft, not only those from the US but some foreign aircraft as well.
The museum touts the honor of also owning the world’s largest collection of aviation nose art which is now housed in a 6,000 sq. ft gallery featuring 34 original nose art panels. As you know, the nose art on a plane could be a great sense of joy and humor or memories for those that risked their lives in the skies during the war.
The museum has 142 aircraft in the CAF, 14-20 of them are on display at any one time, with aircraft changed quarterly to let the visitors have a larger view of the planes. There are P-40 Warhawk, P-47 Thunderbolt, P-51 Mustang, P-39 Aircobra, P-63 King Cobra, P-82 Twin Mustand, F4F Wildcat, F6F Hellcat, F8F Bearcat, F4U Corsair, and German Heinkel HE-111. Other flyable planes include B-24 Liberator, B-17 Flying Fortress, B-29 Super-fortress, A-26 Invader, B-25 Mitchell, C-47 Skytrain and several trainer planes.
Major flying demonstration is "AIRSHO" which is usually held the first full weekend in September. It would be quite a site to see so if you are in the area make sure you make plans to attend.
Location: Midland International Airport, on I-20 Business Route, Midland, Texas
Open: Tuesday – Saturday 9 – 5; noon to 5 on holidays except Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Day, New Years Eve and Day when they are closed.
Phone: 432-563-1000
Email: Collections Manager – collections@aahm.org or Museum Director at director@aahm.org
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