he Alaska Aviation Museum, located on the shores of Lake Hood in Anchorage, Alaska, celebrates the rich history of aviation in the Last Frontier. With a focus on the pioneers, aircraft, and stories that helped shape Alaska’s development, the museum offers visitors a unique and immersive experience into the challenges and triumphs of flying in one of the world’s most rugged environments.
Alaska Aviation Museum
+1 (907) 248-5325
May – September
- Daily 09:00 – 17:00
October – April
- Wednesday – Saturday 09:00 – 17:00
- Sunday 12:00 – 17:00
- Closed Monday, Tuesday
Admission fee
Gift shop
On the shore of Lake Hood
Aircraft collection
| NC22483 N709Y – – 265 N1047B N22W 65-12849 NC168N NC16707 N740AS N3115G – NC30023 C-FSAT N57875 N92MK – N76H 241 – N43872 N6174C 23-1229 NC709Y NC7034 N3212 – N4390E NC8403 N13122 N66645 N789 N8563F NC7791 NC374V – N1347B 74-0084/AK NC725E 54-4004 N2869P N60AK N15062 – NC17602 N10TS N5415 N79458 N9795H NC13831 NL1ZS N2251 – N15135 NC18419 N97713 N47648 NC8159 – N13409 NC14066 | Aeronca 65C Chief (parts) American Pilgrim 100B Arctic Sparrow Bede BD-5 Beech SNB-5 Expeditor Beech UC-45F Expeditor Beech C50 Twin Bonanza Bell UH-1H Iroquois Bellanca CH300 Pacemaker Bellanca 31-42 Senior Pacemaker Boeing 737-290C Centrair L-13A Cessna UC-78B Bobcat Cessna UC-78B Bobcat Consolidated Canso A Consolidated PBV-1A Catalina Consolidated LB-30 Liberator Curtiss JN-4D Jenny Curtiss Robin C-1 Curtiss P-40E Warhawk de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver Douglas C-118A Douglas DC-6A Douglas DWC (parts) Fairchild Pilgrim 100B Fairchild FC-2W2 Fairchild 24G Fairchild 24W40 Fairchild C-123J Provider Ford 4-AT-E Trimotor (parts) Grumman J4F-2 Widgeon Grumman J4F-2 Widgeon Grumman JRF-5 Goose Grumman OA-12 Duck Hamilton H-47 (fuselage) Keystone Loening K84 Commuter Lockheed P-38L Lightning (wing) Luscombe 8E Silvaire McDonnell Douglas F-15A Eagle Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman IV Piasecki CH-21B Work Horse Piper PA-18A Super Cub Rutan 61 Long EZ Sikorsky S-43 (front) Sikorsky H-5G Dragonfly Spartan 7W Executive (wreck) Spencer S-12E Aircar Stearman C3B Sinson AT-19 Reliant Sinson AT-19 Reliant Stinson Junior SR Stinson L-1F Vigilant Stinson L-5G Sentinel Stinson SM-8A Junior Stinson SR-6 Reliant Stinson SR-9C Reliant Stinson 108-1 Voyager Taylorcraft DCO-65 Grasshopper Travel Air S-6000B Volmer Jensen VJ-23 Waco UIC Waco YKC-S |
Alaska Aviation Museum
Key Exhibits and Attractions
- Historic Aircraft Collection
- The museum features an impressive array of vintage and historic aircraft, including:
- Fairchild Pilgrim 100B: One of the early bush planes crucial to remote communities.
- Grumman Goose: A versatile amphibious aircraft used for passenger and cargo transport.
- Piper J-3 Cub: An iconic light aircraft widely used in Alaska for short-range flights.
- Many of these planes were used in bush piloting, a critical part of Alaska’s history.
- The museum features an impressive array of vintage and historic aircraft, including:
- Flight Simulators
- Visitors can try their hand at flying through interactive flight simulators, providing a firsthand experience of the challenges faced by Alaskan pilots.
- Restoration Hangar
- The Alaska Aviation Museum’s restoration hangar offers a behind-the-scenes look at how vintage aircraft are restored and preserved. Visitors can observe skilled technicians working on rare planes and learn about the meticulous process of aircraft restoration.
- Bush Pilot Hall of Fame
- This exhibit honors the daring pilots who braved Alaska’s harsh conditions to deliver mail, transport people, and provide essential services to isolated communities.
- Lake Hood Seaplane Base
- The museum is adjacent to Lake Hood, the busiest seaplane base in the world. Visitors can watch seaplanes take off and land, offering a dynamic glimpse of modern Alaskan aviation.
Conclusion
The Alaska Aviation Museum is a must-visit destination for aviation enthusiasts, history buffs, and anyone fascinated by the rugged spirit of Alaska. It offers an engaging journey through the stories of pilots and aircraft that overcame extreme conditions to connect and shape the state. Whether you’re exploring vintage planes or watching modern seaplanes in action, the museum provides an unforgettable experience.