The museum holds the only permanent display of a North American XB-70 Valkyrie, a Mach 3-capable experimental bomber.
The hangar dedicated to Presidential aircraft allows visitors to walk through the actual Boeing 707 used by multiple U.S. Presidents, known as SAM 26000.
The museum collection includes a segment of the Berlin Wall housed within the Cold War gallery.
It is home to the Memphis Belle, the famous B-17F Flying Fortress that completed 25 combat missions over Europe.
The facility contains the world’s only surviving XB-70 Valkyrie, which was designed to cruise at three times the speed of sound.
The museum is an official field unit of the Air Force Heritage Program.
The museum grounds feature a dedicated memorial park with numerous monuments honoring Air Force personnel.
The Space Gallery exhibits a Titan IV space launch vehicle, one of the largest rockets in the U.S. inventory.
The National Museum of the US Air Force is the official aviation museum of the United States Air Force and the largest military aviation museum globally. It houses over 350 aerospace vehicles and missiles across more than 19 acres of indoor exhibit space. The collection is organized into four main hangars representing the history of flight from the early years to the Space Age. Notable artifacts include the B-29 Superfortress Bockscar, the Apollo 15 Command Module, and several presidential aircraft. The museum is located on the grounds of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton. Extensive galleries cover the Cold War, the Space Race, and various global conflicts. Interactive flight simulators and specialized theater screenings are available for visitors. It serves as both an educational facility and a repository for aerospace research and development history.
The rotunda entrance of the fourth building, which offers a panoramic view of the massive aircraft suspended from the ceiling.
Wear comfortable, supportive walking shoes as the facility covers a massive footprint with significant walking distances between galleries.
Start at the fourth building if you arrive early to see the Presidential and Space galleries before crowds peak.
Check the daily schedule upon arrival for volunteer-led tours or special demonstrations.
Attempting to see the entire facility in less than three hours, as the scale of the galleries often surprises first-time visitors.
Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
Maintain a respectful demeanor; large bags and backpacks are subject to inspection and may be restricted in size.
