The Prairie Aviation Museum is located in Bloomington, Illinois. It aims to entertain, educate and inspire visitors through its carefully preserved collection of aircraft, artifacts, and memorabilia related to aviation. The museum offers a chance to explore more than 100 years of aviation history, from the very beginnings of man’s flight to modern-day high-tech aviation.
The Prairie Aviation Museum is located in Bloomington, Illinois. It aims to entertain, educate and inspire visitors through its carefully preserved collection of aircraft, artifacts, and memorabilia related to aviation. The museum offers a unique opportunity to explore over a century worth of aviation history, from the very beginnings of man’s flight to modern-day high-tech aviation. The fascinating story Winner Aviation of flight is one that the Prairie Aviation Museum hopes to preserve for future generations.
The Prairie Aviation Museum has both permanent and rotating exhibits. It also features a mini-theater, historical aircraft and vehicles outside. The museum’s Carrier Display records developments in Naval Air Power, including the use of aircraft carriers following the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan. The Charles Lindbergh Display focuses on events that occurred after the legendary pioneer of flight crossed the Atlantic Ocean in just 33.5 hours in 1927. Other displays include the Illinois Astronauts Gallery and Link Trainer Display. Rosie the Riveter is an iconic image that celebrates women who worked in defense plants during WWII.
The museum has many military aircraft on loan. However, they must be restored to their original condition. This is a difficult task that requires extensive research about the history of each aircraft and hours of meticulous restoration work. Volunteers do most of the work with the help of outside resources. They meticulously restore the aircraft to conform to the requirements of the United States Air Force Museums and the United States Air Force. As the aircraft are not only restored but approved for display, the work continues. Visitors and members are encouraged to adopt an airplane and make it a group project.
There are nine aircraft on display at the Prairie Aviation Museum. Plans to add more to the collection are in the works. A-4 Skyhawk, A-7 Corsair II, AH-IJ Seattle SeaCobra; F-4N Phantom and F-14D Tomcar; F-100 Super Sabre; T-33 Shooting Star. T-38 Talon. UH-1H Huey. All ages of volunteers offer their time, skills, and experience to preserve aviation history at the museum. Administration, advertising, maintenance, pilots and engineers, security, restorations, wood working, art transportation, writing, tour guide.