National Museum of the US Air Force

Really enjoyed this museum! It’s free to go in and there is some awesome stuff for a free exhibit. Pretty much the entire history of the USAF with few exceptions from what I understand distributed across four different hangars. I’d heavily recommend both the Cold War and the R & D sections if you get a chance as those are the most interesting parts I found! Also they have flight simulators with full roll and a good amount of pitch that feels awesome! Great for families or just to stop in if you’re in town!

What a pleasure to visit this amazing storehouse of all things aviation! This is what makes America the great country it is…so proud to see Alabama’s own Tuskegee Airmen featured as well as the role of women who performed admirably in so many ways such as ferrying aircraft during WWII. We were among visitors of all races, ages, and abilities. We also met Jack Meacham who piloted the very helicopter with which we photographed him during the Vietnam War. He is 91 years young and so active! We could have spent hours more than we did here…as it was we stayed all day! Family friendly and able to accommodate everyone…ADA compliant. Easy to locate, large parking lot with free parking. No admission. Donations accepted. Wonderful experience!

Wow, so amazing, free entry and free parking. Had a really great time. I highly recommend this Air Force airplane museum . Pictures don’t do justice. You will be amazed. So a huge part of history and our present. You won’t be disappointed just make sure you put on your walking shoes!!! AMAZING

One of the most amazing places brought to life by amazing free guided tours. I only had time and energetic to see 2 out of the 4 huge halls one one day. The entry is completely free and there are free powered accessible chairs available for elders. We explored the first hall on our own. It was great but on iously you are limited by your knowledge. Gemini helped to learn more about some planes and answer some questions. But then we heard an announcement for a free guided tour of the fourth hall starting in 15 minutes so we rushed over there. And that experience WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. I forget his name but he was an ex Air Force C-70 pilot and he absolutely bought the whole place to life with amazing stories about each plane several from his own experiences and lots of knowledge and it was truly an amazing experience because of him.

A HUGE museum, lots to see, it has so much! It was warm, however, I guess it is hard to keep such a large place cool and there were A LOT of people. Lots of seating, cafeteria was small for the size of the place, and warm, bathrooms kind of far and not as clean but not disgusting, just a lot of people there so probably hard to keep up. But this museum is free and great for those who love military and airplane or war history.

4 hangers of awesome. A definite stop for those who enjoy the air force, history, space travel, or just aviation in general. A completely free museum to enter. You can purchase items in the gift shop and make a donation for a map. There is a mobile application you can download for guided tours and maps. All the staff were very helpful, knowledgeable and passionate about the museum. You can walk through 4 former air force one craft and several other mammoth transport craft. The selection is phenomenal. Make a several day visit out of this museum.

An absolute must-see for aviation lovers and history buffs alike! The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force is beyond impressive—room after room filled with a ridiculous number of aircraft, from early flight to modern stealth technology. It’s fun for all ages, with interactive exhibits and jaw-dropping planes that keep kids and adults equally engaged. The staff is incredibly courteous and knowledgeable, always ready to answer questions or point you to the next hidden gem. Easily one of the best museums I’ve ever visited—and it’s free! Don’t miss it.

Absolutely fantastic museum of all things air force. Plan on multiple days to visit especially if you read all/most of the exhibits' plaques of information. Nice cafe for a break and extensive gift shop for souvenirs, too! Opportunities to take part in simulations, see movies, etc. for a more immersive experience. This is a must see!!

I had heard this museum was great, but I was shocked at how incredible it was. If you enjoy seeing airplanes, this is the museum for you. I visited Dayton with my parents and the first thing we did was stop at the museum. We spent almost 6 hours walking around. On our last day in Dayton, we ended up going again, and getting another 2 hours in the museum. The museum is huge, so be prepared to walk a lot. The best part of this museum is that it is free so you can visit as many times as you want. They also have free parking. The museum is broken up into a few different sections- early flight, world war 2, Korean War, etc. They also have a section with missiles and a section on space. My favorite section, they have some presidential planes that you can walk inside. If you are someone or with someone that has a visual impairment, they have some braille and some models of airplanes that you can touch. I loved seeing the accessibility of the museum. They also have two small restaurants you can order from, I got a pulled pork sandwich that was very good. Their gift shop is also very cute, and I would recommend grabbing something from it.

I'll join the chorus to say this museum is a great experience and highly recommended! It's almost unbelievable that admission is free, but so it is. Donations are of course welcome but there was absolutely no pressure. When we arrived the kind gentleman at the information stand (one of many, no waiting) gave us an overview of the layout and pointed out that the estimated time to see e everything is 4 1/2 hours so if we had a specific area we wanted to see he suggested we should head there sooner rather than later, since it was around 2:00. After we explored the beginnings of flight/WWI, we headed for the B-2 bomber which my husband really wanted to see. After a healthy walk, there it was. What a sight. These are REAL full sized aircraft- the size of this museum is breathtaking! It could have its own ZIP code. And wait till you get the rocket gallery. I also had a chance to walk through the plane that was Air Force One for Harry Truman, as well as to stand within an actual space suit. The history of the USAF is intimately tied to the history of flight, and you will learn so much; as well as feeling many a surge of patriotic pride as well as sorrow over the loss of life in war. There are numerous restrooms, water fountains and seats throughout plus helpful overhead signs directing to information stations and the various galleries with a helpful notation of the walking time to reach it. Loads of free parking, plenty of handicap spots. Two restaurants (which we did not check out) and of course a gift shop. We plan on coming back early in the day to do the full experience.

This is the BEST thing to do in Ohio! If you're going to travel to this state, make sure you see this. There are SO many planes here, we spent about 4 hours looking at everything. Whether you're a history buff, into aviation or the military or just really curious and want to do something interesting, this trip is worth it. You can see planes from all periods of history starting in the 1900s with the Wright brothers, all the way up until the present day including NASA/Space Force rocket ships! One of the best things is that this museum is FREE! Free to park, and free to visit the exhibits! They are open nearly every day of the year besides major holidays. I really enjoyed this and would highly recommend.

Stopped by with the family to visit this amazing museum. So much history and the place is great. You can spend hours in there just looking and learning. This is my husband's favorite place in Dayton to visit. All personnel are so nice and helpful and they offer guided tours for free. Entrance is also free but they do have paid attractions as well.

I never thought the National Museum of the United States Air Force would be a place I wanted to visit until I visited it. There are four hangar-sized buildings - - World War II Gallery, SE Asia War Gallery, Cold War Gallery and Presidential Gallery, and a Missile Gallery -- and seeing these planes, aircraft, missiles, etc make you feel like a tiny ant among giants. I was uncomfortable that these are divided by wars, but this is a military museum, and this is a straightforward way to organize the collections. There were several school groups and they were totally into it. The museum is free admission. This is a very large museum. Wear comfortable shoes. There is a metal detector at the entrance. By the way, we were at the museum to view the archives which contains a multitude of sketches by a relative. I encourage a visit to the museum to see all that is done for the country by USAF.

As a retired member of the US Air Force this was such an awesome opportunity to visit this museum. The best part is that this is totally free and open to the public! I was amazed that there are four hangars full of history! I wished I would not have waited so long to visit.

Admission is always free, and you can pay extra for VR experiences and IMax films. This museum is one of our Country's best attractions. They are right off of Interstate 75, about a one hour drive from Interstate 71. I travel frequently and this is one of the best overall museums in the World.

There was a lot of stuff in the museum more than the Smithsonian air and space museum it had a ton of history and a lot of my favorite planes f-4 f-15 the space shuttle/orbital vehicle and the sopwith camel

While in the area, my family and I stopped by to check out this free Air Force museum. I was pleased they had wheelchairs available, which we used for my Mom. We only had one hour before closing, so we walked through the WWII exhibit. So many fighter pilot planes on display. The nice museum staff gave us a short history lesson. My only complaint was we were required to give up the wheelchair well before reaching the exit. Lesson learned, bring our own next time. I would love to go back and check out the multiple hangers we missed. I love that admission is free!

Incredible museum, you're not going to see so many planes in one place. It's divided nicely into categories. We started in the back with the presidential part - very cool and could walk through. They also have Space, the Cold War, Missle, Korean War, Southeast Asia War, WWII, and Early years. We spent at least three hours there. Would definitely need to come back to gain an appreciation for it all because the first hour definitely got the best of my attention, while at the end my eyes were glazing over. Amazing part is that it's free. You can donate and will be asked if you stop at the info centers. There are also some movies and simulators that cost money. For all ages, the youngers could make their own rockets. I will say there are signs that give you approximate walk times from one section to another. Now it was busy and my boyfriend are tall but slow walkers and the sign said it was gonna take us 3.5 minutes, but it took us 6 minutes. So note that those signs are for speed walkers only haha. Should stop if you're in Dayton.

Really enjoyed my time at the Air Force museum when I was here. Even if you aren't a history buff, this is such a unique museum I think there's something for everyone here. Admission and parking are free. I was here for 3-4 hours and still didn't get to see everything the museum had to offer. My favorite exhibit was going through the old presidential airplanes!

Highly recommend! Amazing 4 huge buildings worth of history of airplanes , Airforce/Military history, and NASA/Space ! My personal opinion, but I do not recommend for under the age of 10 as there is a lot of walking ‍.

This place is simply amazing. So much history. So many planes and such great condition. Can come back and visit many times and still enjoy and learn new things. Free admission, but you can make a donation if you wish.

This is a great FREE activity. The museum is huge and well-worth a couple hours to wander and view all the exhibits. They have multiple hangars with full-scale planes from the early days of flight to space exploration. Kids and adults both love this museum. Plan for a few hours if you can. Even the casual strolling person needs that much time.

Taking some time to visit United States Air Force National Museum! Oh my how it is grown over the last 50+ years when I was a child visiting! four incredibly huge hangers filled with aircraft of every major time. Including a hall of ICBMs! So much to see! I've had to limit my picture taking to one per era! We spent over four hours there and didn't even visit a few airplanes that they had outside or their memorial park. Our legs and feet were just too tired! If you're in the area, and have the time, there's no excuse not to stop and see this wonderful and free museum!!

So 26 July 2024, I kept my promise to myself and we made it back. We were here in Ohio again to see family and this time made a specific plan to spend the afternoon, and take time to go through. We got there around 1300 and stayed until the closing announcements. We had little kids with us, and even they were enthralled. There eis just enough hands on, and the movie-ride simulator was a big hit. I am in awe of the the brilliance evident in all of the advances along the long wing of flight from canvas wings to stealth and the limits of the atmosphere. From almost a lawnmower engine, to rockets lifting our hopes past the limits of breathable air. It is all artfully laid out for you in this magnificent museum. Every corner you turn is an opportunity to be amazed. This time around we had more time to read, and spend time with exhibits. I got choked up q few times marvelling at the courage of the men and women who took to the skies in war and in peace to advance the science of flight. Often during the hours in the back of my mind I was hearing that speech from the movie Armageddon (1998)...written by J. Hensliegh/J.J. Abrams. This part specifically because it fits perfectly for what I was feeling: "The human thirst for excellence, knowledge, every step up the ladder of science, every adventurous reach into space, all of our combined modern technologies and imaginations, even the wars that we've fought have provided us the tools to wage this terrible battle. Through all the chaos that is our history, through all of the wrong and the discord, through all of the pain and suffering, through all of our times, there is one thing that has nourished our souls, and elevated our species above its origins, and that is our courage." We were standing in the WWII section and we happened to hear an older gentleman telling a story about his exploits flying during the Vietnam war. There was a twinkle in his eye, and a humility in his voice. He wasn't bragging, he wasn't looking for praise or adoration from the few of us gathered round. He was just sharing what he had gone through. It wasn't even about some "heroic" thing, it was actually the boredom of sitting in the aircraft before and after a mission. It still choked me up a bit. I hope to make it back again someday. I am sure I missed something that would thrill me. I see some others rating have been given.How could it be anything but a 5? I will have to go read those reviews and see what is wrong with that person.

First of all, FREE ADMISSION!!!! Are you a military member? Are you into planes? Have you ever been in a plane? Are you patriotic? Do you like museums? Basically this museum is for EVERYONE! My only caution there is no food or drinks in this museum so you will be stuck eating in the food court and it is not good. Let's call it like it is, there was not anything that anyone in my party ate that I could honestly recommend. But, the planes, the history, the presentation was on point. I loved being able to get into planes and explore. It wasn't too crowded. Good air conditioning! Lots of photo locations! Super fun! And they take an entrance photo! A very good experience. I recommend! Plus, it is FREE ADMISSION!!!

Wow, impressive, worst part is all the walking I just wish I had more than one day to visit, we spent 7 hours there and you could spend days to get more immersed in all the exhibits.

The museum is awesome - too much to thoroughly consume in one visit although we did our best. A must visit for any aviation buff so plan on several hours. This however leads to a huge negative as you will need to eat and the food options are not great. We ate at the Valkyrie Cafe as it is the only of the two with hot items. The food and dining area leave a lot to be desired.

I have been here a number of times and every single time I see something I haven't seen before or learn something new. It's free. There's tons of parking. It's well worth a visit.

Great place to go it'll take about 4 hours to see everything if you want to read everything it'll take all day the great thing about that is free and you can go as much as you want and they're always open plenty of parking they have great volunteers there that will give you tours and let you know every little thing that you need to know

Even though I'm retired Army, the US Air Force museum was awesome. We were a little short on time, so only spent about 2 hours, but you can easily spend 2 days in there. It's an amazing history, with aircraft from pre-WW1 to present day aircraft. I especially liked seeing a VIP plane I used to fly in often (tail number 26000). I also flew a fair amount in it's companion, tail number 27000, wonder what happened to that one.

We come here a few times a year. Parking is easy. The museum is free. It's huge so you can get your steps in. There's tons to see and learn. This should be on your list of stops! Allow a few hours. The lunch is not that good so maybe bring your own picnic and eat under the trees on the grounds. Sometimes there's a good truck on the weekend.

Growing up in Ohio, a short drive from this museum, we went here quite a bit when I was a kid. Had a few school field trips in addition to family trips here. Early on as an adult when I would visit Ohio (since I moved away) my family would want to go see what was new and/or the folks I brought with me would want to go. In short, I grew semi-tired of it and therefore, stopped going and/or put my foot down when family or friends mentioned going. I hadn't been in years...a decade+ (2012). Alas, on my recent visit, my son wanted to go again since he hadn't been since he was small...he couldn't remember anything. OK...I'll take one for the team. Oh my goodness, I can't believe the changes. If you haven't been in a long time and claim to have "been there, done that"...you need to go again. There are new hangars (new to me anyway), new exhibits (to me), and everything seems more "tidy" than ever before. Not to mention every exhibit seemed "clean" and well taken care of...like those who look after any exhibit truly care about the presentation. Thank you for this. So much is inside now as well...very impressive. My son and I ended up spending the entire day there until time ran out on us. Now we'd like to go back to see a few areas we couldn't spend much time in due to time running out and the duty day coming to an end. We'll get there! One of the newer additions (to me) was the WWII concentration camp area. I truly enjoyed reading about the local heroes--coworkers and neighbors to many, yet their stories were unknown. Some of the stories were incredible. My son simply loved how everything was in historical order. You literally follow the beginning of air flight to the evolution of engines, to the evolution of guns and bombs carried by planes, etc. There is a new section for Space Force too. Some of the unknown makers of some of the engines were very interesting as well. Of course, all the planes are wonderful and the presidential planes are always a big hit and pretty cool. The Hanoi Taxi gave us chills...in a good way. One of our favorite areas was the atomic bomb history. The section on Antarctica was another favorite...astonishing! Of course, I was very happy to see the area dedicated to the Civil Engineers, for without them, not much was possible. For all Civil Engineers in the USAF make the impossible possible and/or all things possible...be it daily, in wartime, etc. Civil Engineers rock! There is a lovely snack bar inside with a nice seating area overlooking a portion of the museum. It makes for great conversation over lunch that's for sure. There are restrooms throughout the museum and well marked. There is a huge parking lot and a nice memorial garden in front. There is a gift shop to meet any and all needs and a little something for everyone. If you are a penny collector, there is a machine! The best part is...the museum is free! If you are planning a trip to Ohio, live local, or whatever the case may be...it's worth a trip or worth it to revisit.

WOW. This is an incredible museum and FREE. Displays are set up really well and the restoration work on the planes was amazing. I only got to do to two parts but look forward to returning.

Free Admission Free Parking Free Tours! This is an awesome place to go to! I highly recommend as it is a great place to learn different types of airplanes and what kind of plane were used in different wars There's 4 hangars, each hangar have a different tour times each day for 1.5 hours. They'll cover the important stuff but you can definitely spend a lot more time in each hangar there's just so much information! 10:00 a.m. - Early Years, WWI and WWII Galleries 11:30 a.m. - Korea and SE Asia Galleries 1:30 p.m. Cold War Gallery 3 p.m. - Space, Research & Development, Global Reach and Presidential Galleries You're only allowed to bring a bottled water while walking around but they have a cafeteria I highly recommend coming here and getting on the Air Force One!

The Airforce Museum was spectacular, with over 350 aircraft! My husband is an aerospace engineer and was so enthusiastic visiting a second time. I've never visited and been particularly interested in aircraft, but I'd recommend this museum to anyone. To see everything, you probably need about 4-6 hours. There were 4 hangars full of aircraft from different eras with different purposes and various designs. There was an incredible amount of history associated with each of the airplanes. You can even walk inside of several of the large aircraft carriers. Coincidentally, we visited on Veterans Day weekend and there were veterans who had booths inside the hangars to share their experience flying in several of the aircraft. A memorable experience!

Wow what an amazing museum that has something for everyone! We were a group if four adults and three children ages 3-8 and everyone enjoyed it. Wear some comfortable shoes because the museum is huge, hanger after hanger of every era of United States air and space technology. The museum is free, which is a great start to any trip. Theres a gift shop and the cafe is halfway thru the museum. Our kids especially enjoyed the simulators and going inside the static displays. Great for any age kid.

Today took Grand Babies to the National Museum of the Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. The Museum is free to enjoy. It is so freaking massive and chucked full of 100s and 100s of planes, helicopters, rockets, missiles, jets and even BOMBS!!! This Museum is absolutely Percent fantastic!! I've been twice and would go again and again! If your in the area or just take the trip for the sheer sake of being excited about all things that fly from the Wright Brothers first style of plane that flew in 1903 to the rockets and space crafts of 2023....120 yrs of Flight!!

Amazing place! 4 hangers of aircrafts, exterior display and it's all free Fav: Kennedy's Air Force One Boeing 707, B-52, and Avro Car

So massive and so much to see!! It was all a bit overwhelming. I spent about 2.5hrs here but could've easily stayed much longer. Expect to do a lot of walking. Planes are big and take up a lot of space. One downside is that the museum is laid out in a straight line. So you walk all the way through the museum then have to walk back through everything to exit. It would've been great if it was in a circular arrangement. They had some interactive items as well. The flight simulator was fun! I'm pretty sure I rolled over completely whole trying to shot down some enemy planes! lol If you come make sure you give your self plenty of time. Towards the end I was rushing to see everything because they were closing.

Just the coolest place for any sort of flying machines mega historic stuff here from all eras of air and space. Check out the President's planes. Ask the docents about these planes. They have great

I was traveling through Dayton. And a friend recommended that I stop and check this place out. I am so glad I did. There are four huge hangers of airplanes. From the Wright Brothers all the way to unmanned drones. And everything in between. The volunteer staff are friendly and direct you around with ease. There are numerous interactive displays for children and adults. Some for a nominal charge. But the best part of this experience. FREE!!! The admission was free.

When you walk in the door, within the first hour you'll realize that there is only one nation on earth that could build an aviation museum of this size and scope and of course it's the USA. The National Museum of the United States Air Force is the history of the USAF from using balloons for observation during the Civil War thru developing powered flight with the Wright Bros. to the present. After all, the Wrights lived in Dayton where they owned their bicycle shop and flew many flights from the nearby Huffman Prairie Flying Field. What is so unique about this aviation museum is not only the number of airplanes that they have to show but also that they are all INDOORS in 4 huge climate controlled hangars all connected to each other. In other words, weather is never an issue while visiting. Finally this museum is FREE and that's not only for admission but also parking! My visit last week was a follow up from my first visit almost 10 years ago when I discovered this incredible place with only about 4 hours to spend viewing that day. I made myself a promise to return one day and I finally did. The museum has sections that trace US Air Force aviation primarily beginning with the Early Years and WW I and then WW II followed by Korea, Southeast Asia, the Cold War, Ballistic Missiles, Space, Presidential aircraft and up to the present. There are hundreds of aircraft inside either hanging from the ceiling or parked on the floor with interesting storyboards detailing each of them. Several of the aircraft allow you to walk inside them and even sit in some cockpits. One of the aircraft there is special to me. The Memphis Belle was the most famous B-17 of WW II. It's beautifully restored now sitting inside but I can remember looking at it back in the late 1970's sitting on top of a concrete pedestal with a fence around it outside of the Liberty Bowl football stadium in Memphis. Back then it had been sitting there for 30 years and had been heavily vandalized with rocks thrown thru windows and the aircraft's skin in tatters from decades of weather. I am so glad it was saved. Another interesting display are the Presidential aircraft that are there and open for walkthroughs. Roosevelts' Sacred Cow, Trumans' Independence, Eisenhowers' Columbine III and the most famous of all SAM 26000. The Boeing 707 that Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter and Reagan used. It was the plane where Johnson was sworn into office and carried back Kennedys body from Dallas. When you can showcase aircraft as large as a C-141,C-124, B-1, B-2, B-29, B-36, B-52 and XB-70 you have to have a lot of space. With hundreds of other aircraft in there too it takes time to enjoy it all. I spent two full days inside and just finished in time for closing on the second day. For most people I would say budget an absolute minimum of 3 hours to walk quickly through it all but planning for a full day (9-5) is better. They do have a grab and go type restaurant inside (mainly pre made sandwiches) or there are several fast food and other restaurants 5 minutes away by car. Eventually the museum will have to build a 5th hangar to stow the current Air Force One Boeing 747 when its retired in a few more years along with a C-17 that is already parked outside because there is no room left inside. Also they will eventually have to get a C-5 Galaxy because no plane is too large to be put into this museum but the next hanger will definitely have to be taller. This museum deserves 6 Yelp stars because it is so amazing and is the pinnacle of aviation museums everywhere. It just doesn't get any better than this.

I always love coming to this museum. It's just fascinating to see all of the historic planes and military vehicles. This is definitely on of the best places to go visit in Ohio.

Seriously, do not miss this absolute treasure if you are anywhere near Dayton, Ohio. In fact, make a trip to the area just to see this incredible display of aviation history! It is amazing that museum admission and parking are free. The museum is HUGE with 4 climate-controlled hangars that are connected to each other. No worries about hot, cold, or rainy weather! The collections are logically arranged and trace US Air Force aviation beginning with early days of flight, WWI, WWII, Korean War, Southeast Asian war, the Cold War, , Presidential planes, bombs, missiles, space suits and more! The storyboards that accompany the planes are so informative while being very succinct. There are several planes that visitors are allowed to walk inside, including some cockpits. Great photo ops! Each hanger is chock full of planes on the floors and others hanging from the ceiling. The museum doesn't feel crowded due to the huge expanse that allows for visitors to be spread out. Depending on how much time one wishes to spend reading and watching accompanying videos, it is best to allow a bare minimum of 5 hours. One could walk quickly through the museum in less time, but for the rich, historical experience, allow more time! There are also flight simulators that visitors can pay to experience. Well-maintained bathrooms are plentiful throughout the museum and an onsite cafe with hotdogs, hamburgers, sandwiches and such is located on the second floor. A large souvenir shop is located on the first floor near the exit. There is something for everyone at the museum. I went with reservations that I might not enjoy it as much as my history-buff husband, but was fascinated and learned a great deal. If I could give 10 stars I would, but I am limited to 5!

I can't believe I've lived in Ohio for most of my adult life and have never been to the National Museum of the U. S. Air Force (Air Force Museum) until now. This is a "must-see" attraction for anyone with an interest in aviation, the Air Force, military history, etc. The museum is organized into sections centered around the early days of aviation, the Korean conflict, the Vietnam War and SE Asia, WWI, WW2, space, and presidential aircraft (they have several former Air Force One planes). They have a Mercury, a Gemini, an Apollo space capsule, a variety of rockets and missiles, and a space shuttle "trainer". The museum itself is FREE although there are several attractions in the museum (a theater, some simulators, etc.) that do have a separate charge. The literature says to allow 4 hours. We were there for over 5 hours and we didn't see everything there was to see. SO, allow at least 4 hours.

You could visit this place multiple times and still not see everything. There is so much to take in and enjoy. This was our 2nd visit and we made it through all the hangers. So much history and information, it's such an enjoyable place to visit with family and friends. Plus it's free admission! There are also a couple Planes located outside which we didn't visit but it gives us a reason to go back.

This is a stunning display of U.S. military aircraft and space vehicles with a comprehensive set of detailed historical explanations. Our family came in early July 2023 for a visit. My teenage sons (17 yrs, 15 yrs) were thrilled with the museum since they learned about WW2 from their U.S. history classes. Here are just a few reasons why it's an amazing place. First, it's organized in sections by major U.S. war or topic (e.g., World War 1, World War 2, Korea, Vietnam, Space, Missiles, U.S. Presidents, etc,.). Second, admission is free, but you can pay an extra fee (if you wish) for the optional simulators, movies, and concessions. Third, it's primarily indoors which is convenient for visitors if it's raining outside. Although it feels similar to the U.S. Smithsonian Air and Space museum in Washington DC, the Air Force Museum in Dayton has a larger collection of aircraft and provides more in-depth presentations of historical detail. You will not be disappointed by a visit here. Kids will enjoy the display of model planes. History buffs will learn something new. I enjoyed learning about the importance of women serving in the Air Force (during WW2) as well as the vital role of Dr. Goddard and V-2 rocket technology in space travel.

Great museum with passionate staff and loads of information about aircraft. It's near and tidy and even offers decent food options and rides for you and your kiddos. Kid friendly and something we will repeat.

This place is a favorite for my son and I. I can't say enough good things about this place!!!!

If you liked Top Gun movies, you'd appreciate this museum. It is the largest Air Force museum in the country. You will see the interior of old Air Force One aircraft and all sorts of military planes from 1900's to 2000's. I especially liked SR-71 and F-117 - it's one thing to see them on Discovery Channel and even more impressive in person. TL;DR There's a lot to learn and to see. Definitely worth visiting - you'll spend a whole day there, walk 10k+ steps, and probably buy a bomber jacket :)))

My favorite museum. Knowledgeable staff/mostly volunteers who have a longstanding history of service in the airforce. Tons to see from each era. Even broken down by particular wars. Presidential planes a very cool opportunity to learn about history. Easy to lose yourself in all the rich history. Free museum with easy parking and a fun gift store.

It's been 40 years since I was there and it has completely changes. More planes. More indoors. More history. Planes I never knew the US flew. And no dust. Overwhelming doesn't begin to cover it. You will need at least a day. If you are within 100 miles of dayton stop and take it in.

Such a large and vast area. For indoor large hangers, as well as an outside 2 mile display. So much history, plenty of attractions, even some snacks and drinks. So many replicas, and even some real life aircraft. You can do it in one day, but it will take forever. I recommend doing it in two separate days about 1.5 hours apiece.

The United States Air Force has its origins as a part of the US Army in 1907 and didn't become a separate service branch until 1947 and quickly established itself as one of the most technologically advanced agencies in the world. But in 1923, on the grounds of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, this National Museum was founded to house the many artifacts of the service. As you can imagine, some of these artifacts are humongous, as the museum has collected over the last 100 years of its history. 4 monstrous-sized hangars and a missile silo house just about every frontline and experimental aircraft, spacecraft or missile that the USAF has ever fielded. This is a National museum, so it is all free for you to explore! You don't even have to pay for parking! If you arrive at the door at 9am sharp, the USAF's theme "Wild Blue Yonder" plays as you enter. Be ready to spend the whole day here, but guaranteed that you won't be able to see everything. If you spent even 30 seconds reading each fact plaque, you will be here for a month. I had scheduled 1.5 days and I still hadn't seen 1/3 of the place while rushing through and taking over 1000 photos. The whole place has over 1 million sq ft of display space, dwarfing any museum in the world! A friend suggested to go directly to the last hall of space & experimental aircraft and the new Presidential gallery. A Space Shuttle mock-up looms as you enter and the entire line of X-planes are arrayed on the floor and hung up in the rafters with many of the actual spacecraft used in the exploration of space in the last 70 years. The right side of the hangar is dominated by a Titan IVB rocket, one of the USA's largest launch vehicles and the XB-70 Valkyrie, an experimental Mach 3 bomber of the 1960's and the symbol of the museum. The left side of the hangar houses Air Force One aircraft of many Presidents, including Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy. In between the 3rd and 4th hangars is the Missile Gallery, which is a silo shaped building housing, what else? ICBMs! Cold War examples of ballistic missiles like the Thor and Titan to the Minuteman and Peacekeeper are kept here in standing condition. It's amazing (& scary) that these beasts from a bygone era can launch out of the ground from the middle of the US plains, carry up to 10 thermonuclear warheads and drop them onto other missile silos in Russia over 6000 miles away. The rest of the run through the other 3 hangers is a blur for me. The Cold War Gallery is a highlight with many famous aircraft including a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber (mock-up), F-22 Raptor stealth fighter and the biggest bomber of them all the B-36 Peacemaker. It's sheer size is mind-boggling with a wingspan of 230 ft! In the Korean War and Vietnam War era galleries, the B-52 and B-47 bombers dominate the hangar with all the smaller fighters, interceptors and attack planes sprinkled among them. The World War II Gallery has always been my favorite with some of the classic fighter planes of the 1940's such as the P-38 Lightning, P-51 Mustang & P-47 Thunderbolt. But the main spotlight and newest exhibit is the 4-engined B-17F Flying Fortress "Memphis Belle", historically famous from the movie of the same name. Not as well known (& less politically correct) next door is the B-24 Liberator bomber, "Strawberry Bitch". There is also a lonely but well kept B-26 Marauder in the corner that is screaming for attention. You're sure to get hungry wandering around all day, so stop for lunch at the recently reopened Valkyrie Café on the 2nd floor of the 1st hangar. Only hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches and salads are good for a quick meal. At the end of the day, get all your souvenirs and T-shirts at the gift shop and don't forget to bring quarters and shiny pennies to flatten into collectibles embossed with your favorite plane. This was my 3rd visit to the museum, but since that first time 40 years ago at the age of 18, it has gotten bigger and better each time. Back then, most all the larger aircraft sat out on the tarmac at the mercy of the sun, rain and snow and deteriorated. Now, only a handful of planes still sit outside, but the majority are housed indoors and received restorative care, all thanks to the contributions of visitors and major corporations.

I'm only reviewing the exterior since I was at the Air Force Marathon and go to see some cool planes and the park and grounds. So much to see here; you need a full day. Easy parking and it's free thanks to your tax dollars. The museum itself takes up over 4 airplane hangers. Lots of history and it rivals the Air and Space museum in DC. Definitely worth a stop. I'll be back to see the inside soon.

Amazing experience a lot of cool aircraft and history In the museum. Walking though was a seamless process and also free :)

Giant hangars with every era of Army Air Corps, USAF, and even Space Force represented. Incredibly interesting and free. They do ask for a donation for a map but it's worth it. Staff is eager to direct, explain and even share a story or two. Highly recommend a visit!