And here’s the third part of our day at the Carolinas Aviation Museum experience. As I’ve said before, I had to do this in parts because there were just so much good stuff to share and I didn’t want to bombard you with photo overload in one post. I’ve talked about the aircraft located at the outside of the museum in Part 1 and shared about US Airways Flight 1549: Miracle on the Hudson in Part 2.
On this part, I’m going to show you the amazing military aircraft that were showcased inside the museum. The kind of aircraft that would make both little boys and big boys wide-eyed. Think of my husband and son in that aspect. 😉
The museum looks small from the outside so I was surprised at how big it was inside. Imagine holding all these big aircraft in one place.
F-14D Super Tomcat
One of my favorite movies of all time is “Top Gun” so I was thrilled to see this aircraft up close for the very first time. Yeah, I did feel like a little girl too seeing her new toy. 😉
AV-8 Harrier II
Vought A-7 Corsair
PT-17 Stearman
This was the aircraft that you would see first as soon as you enter the museum. How colorful is that? It was such a pretty aircraft with that bright yellow color.
P-80 Shooting Star
D-558 Skystreak
CH-46D Sea Knight
There were a lot of firsts that we have experienced in Carolinas Aviation Museum, and seeing this huge helicopter up close is also one of them.
A-4 Skyhawk
F-4 Phantom II
My boys were surely over the moon to get to try to ride the F-4 Phantom II. Although the ride took them nowhere, at least they got to feel the seats and pretend that they were flying. And I was more than happy to capture that moment for them.
I think the little one was trying to study all the controls and was hoping he could fly it.
I still have a lot more to share about the Carolinas Aviation Museum next time. It looks like there is never going to be an ending to my story. Don’t worry, I think next time is going to be the last. Umm, actually, it’s a maybe. So I hope to see you next time.
What an adventure. I can not even begin to tell you how much my two boys would enjoy that museum!
Those military jets are so cool! I’ve always been fascinated by jets. Top Gun did it for me.
I think military aircraft are just about the coolest things ever. I love the sleek lines, and it’s amazing to think of what they can do in the air.
I would have had a blast if I were there. The AV8 Harrier II looks really bad-ass and the PT 17 Stearman looks like it was used in a movie. I’m sure your son enjoyed this trip at the museum.
That is such a beautiful and cool museum! Thank you so much for the great post and wonderful photos 😀
There’s an aviation museum off the highway here in the Bay Area where I live. I still haven’t gone – I should take my husband with me..
That does look like a pretty awe inspiring museum. I’ve been to the National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C. years ago. I could spend all day there.
I would love to see the plane from Top Gun! This would be a fun trip for my grandsons. We live in the area, but I’ve never been.
My father in law would love this museum! That is fun you got to get up inside of those big jets! I am sure the kids were thrilled!!
Maybe your son will be a pilot someday! He looks like he was so into that control panel! Thanks for sharing your trip to the museum with us!
What a super cool place to visit. My kids would love to visit a place like that specially my boys. Beautiful pictures of the planes.
How did I miss going to that museum while I was there? Well, never fear because we will be going again to the Carolinas.
Funny enough it’s not my daughter that would be most excited about this, it’s my grandfather. He would love this place. I will have to look into planning a trip out there with him, thanks for sharing!
What an amazing museum, it must gave been so amazing to walk through and see all the different planes! I hope you had an amazing time.
I can only imagine the feelings people went through when they sat in these planes and helicopters before they took off. It seems like such an amazing experience.
Your pictures are making me want to go, I’ve always had a fascination with planes and aviation.
This is just so awesome! I cannot wait to take my daughter here one day! This is just so cool!
My husband and son would love it there. Looks like you had a wonderful experience.
Yogi might end up being a pilot sis. I love naval museums, they have so many great displays.
What a cool place to visit. This is museum is certainly on my to do list when I make it to the East Coast with the kids.
This looks like an amazing museum. Definitely one I would love to check out. My kiddos too. They are huge into aviation! This looks great!
My older kids have been able to see some of these planes and helicopters when we lived in Jacksonville, North Carolina. I took them to the air show and they had some of them on display. We even got to go inside a few of them too.
This would be a great way to spend time with my Dad. He has always had a passion for airplanes. We have a air museum near us i will have to see if he wants to go sometime.
This aviation museum sounds like a pretty neat place to visit! I bet my hubby would love to visit one day!
It’s a amazing how many designs planes had over time and how they keep innovating. One day, we’ll have space ship museums, imagine!
Oh my gosh! Your boys are so lucky! I would love to be able to go and sit inside one of them! I’d love to go inside the helicopter too, that one would be awesome!
My son would really love to see this in person. HE is all about planes nowadays. Looks really good!
Our family loves going to museums and new places. We haven’t seen anything like this before though. Would love to go.
I have always loved history, thus I naturally developed a love for museums. I’d love to visit a museum like this someday. I know that my son would love it even more, because he gets into airplanes.
This looks like my kind of place. I’m in DC and our Air & Space Museum doesn’t have all of this going on. I totally feel like I’m missing out.
This would be such a cool place to visit! I’ve always been interested in aviation so I would really enjoy seeing everything in there!
Wow! There are so many different planes you were able to see on your trip. It looks like it would be a fascinating place to take the family.
Wow, this looks so cool! My family would love it!
I really like the colorfulness of the Stearman plane, and I too, love the movie Top Gun. It ws just one earlier this week, and I watched it.
There are some amazing photos on here! It looks like you had a lot of fun at the museum!