Washington DC area

Jerry Yagen keeps his superb, extensive collection of airworthy warbirds at Suffolk Airport, Virginia. It’s well worth travelling south to see it.

I recommend telephoning before you go. His website encourages visitors to the hangars. http://www.tidetech.com/fighterfactory/visit.html

Sounds excellent, many thanks for the help.

The College Park Aviation Museum is certainly worth a look – although not particularly large it’s a modern facility based on a very historic airfield.

If you have a car, there are some good museums in Virginia – the Viriginia Air & Space Center (Hampton) & Virginia Air Museum (Richmond)

There is a very good collection at the Marine Corps Air/Ground Museum in Quantico, VA – but I’m not sure if it’s still open with post 9/11 security and all that.

For non-aviation (but somewhat related) Museums, the Holocaust Museum and Spy Museum in DC are very good.

Thanks for that, but I understand the facility is not currently open, due to the movement of aircraft to the new museum.

Steve,

Although its part of the Smithsonian, did you ever visit the Paul Garber facility? The Garber facility is located in Silver Springs Maryland, (Close to DC) and is where the VAST majority of the aircraft that are owned by the Smithsonian are stored. Also its the place where restorations are done. I was thewre in 1991, and it was way better than any regular museum because you get a guided tour by volunteers who are mostly ex mil guys who flew alot of these aircraft. You need to call now to book a reservation for the tour, and its free. The great part about this tour is that the facility is a complex of small warehouse type bulidings, that give one no hint of whats inside. Our guide turned out to be an old Hellcat pilot, who was very knowledgable. When He found out we were a bunch of Air Force pilots, he grabbed us and took us out to this old buliding, fished a key out of his pocket and slowly opened the door, and said, ” I’m sure a few Air Force guys would know whats in here!” It was the fuselage of the Enola Gay and about 40 old fighters and others aircraft. Some were in restored condition and awaiting their turn to be displayed at the Main Museum, and others looked like the day they were towed off the flightline. The best part was since He trusted us, (being Pilots and all) He let us walk about and sit in all the planes. Their were some interesting German stuff there an ME163, and Arado Blitz.
I can’t be sure what the current situation with the Garber facility is now, since the New Hugazy Center is suppossed to become the main complex/restoration facility, so Please call and ask! Sorry to go on for so long but it was one of the coolest days of my life!!!! good luck!