The stars of the show at the National Museum of World War II Aviation are the 35 aircraft, 24 of which can still fly. Visitors can self-guide their way through for an up-close and in-depth look at the warbirds and vehicles authentic to this period of American history and surrounding eras. But none should miss a two-hour docent-guided tour, which includes time in partner WestPac’s hanger to ask questions of employees as they work to restore multiple aircraft to flying condition.
The museum has received exclusive recognition from Congress for its leading collection. Of course, the planes aren’t the only things on display here. The museum’s growing collection includes more than 3,000 historical artifacts and documents, alongside interactive displays like an N3N flight simulator, a project of University of Colorado Colorado Springs engineering students.
The museum has only been in existence since 2012, and visitors will see the first expansion this summer with the opening of a new 40,000-square-foot aeronautical pavilion. “Opening this facility will allow us to display all of our flying aircraft at the museum and to expand on how we tell the story,” says Mark Earle, member of the museum’s board of directors. Eight planes have been in storage due to lack of space on-site.
See some of the historic planes flying, along with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, at the Pikes Peak Regional Airshow, Aug. 17-18, 2024.
755 Aviation Way, worldwariiaviation.org
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This article was published in 2019 and updated in July 2024.
