Opened to the public in 2008, the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach, Virginia, boasts a baffling claim. This not-for-profit museum has restored and maintained more than 70 vintage war planes, most of which are in flying condition.
Each plane has been painstakingly restored to its original military condition, using original parts whenever possible. The entire collection ranges from the 1910s to the early years of the 1950s.
War plane on display (Mike Stedman)
The planes are kept in hangars a short walk from the main building, which houses many artifacts and historical information. In the hangers, they have on display planes from Germany, Italy, Russia, the United Kingdom, France and the United States, mostly from World War I and World War II.
Hangar View (Military Aviation Museum)
The planes receive annual inspections and the museum has a large staff of volunteers who lend their expertise to help visitors make the most of their experience. The facility also has a massive reference library.
Warbids collection (Mike Stedman)
Among the more popular planes are the P-51 Mustang, the F4F Wildcat and the B-25 Bomber. The museum has a large collection of replicas of World War II German prototypes.
Bomber on display (Mike Stedman)
From May 18 to 20, the museum will host its 9th annual Warbirds Over the Beach Air Show featuring many authentic flying World War II planes and re-enactors. The airshow will also offer tickets for flights in the 1941 Boeing Stearman PT-17 Kaydet and Waco YMF-5 biplane.
