Air Mobility Command Museum

Since we have moved to Delaware, one of the places that the boys and I love to visit over and over is the Air Mobility Command Museum at Dover Air Force Base.

For one thing, its a free museum that’s only about 30 minutes away, so it doesn’t take much justification for us. But what keeps us coming back is the staff. The docents are largely retired Air Force folks who love to share the stories of the aircraft they worked on during their military service. They are always so knowledgeable and welcoming – especially on days when they host Open Cockpit events.

Most of the museum’s extensive collection is outside. Favorites there include the VC-9C that served as Air Force 2, the massive C-5A, and the KC-10.

The first time we visited the museum, we got to go inside the C-5A. We entered on some air stairs near the rear cargo door, and I noticed a model of the Wright Flyer hanging from above near the cargo door. I asked the docent about it, and he directed my attention toward the front of the cargo compartment where an American flag was hanging near the ladder up to the cockpit. He explained that the span from that Wright Flyer model to the flag was the same distance as the Wright Brothers’ first flight. Incredible that within the span of just 65 years, aircraft technology had progressed that far. It’s still my favorite story from our visits.

Inside the museum building – which began its life as Hangar 1301 during WWII – the coolest aircraft are the C-47 Skytrain which actually dropped paratroopers during the D-Day invasion, and the B-17G. My wife Emily particularly enjoys seeing that one as her “pop-pop” served as a radio operator on a Flying Fortress during WWII.

As I alluded to, we have been to the museum several times. Some days, it’s “just because,” but we have also made the trip for special events like their Open Cockpit days.

During the summer of 2024, the boys were even able to go to their really cool week-long, half-day summer camp program. They spent a week learning about aircraft, spacecraft, land navigation, and other STEM topics. The highlight of the camp was most definitely a 30-minute ride in a Cessna courtesy of the Dover Aero Club. John took his phone along and got some photos of the ride.

John made a post about his experience with the summer camp on his website last year. Isaac wrote about it, too.