Champaign Aviation Museum

Champaign Aviation Museum occupies a working corner of Grimes Field in Urbana, where World War II aviation history is interpreted through active restoration rather than static display. The centerpiece is “Champaign Lady,” a B-17G Flying Fortress whose airframe began life in 1945, later serving as a JB-17G engine testbed before years of work as an aerial firefighter and eventual crash recovery. Volunteers have been methodically rebuilding the aircraft from scattered components and recovered structure, illustrating the complexity of heavy bomber design, from spars and control surfaces to powerplant systems. Alongside the B-17 project, the museum maintains a collection of primarily vintage military aircraft, including a North American B-25 Mitchell and other transports and attack types acquired over time, emphasizing the diversity of mid-century airpower. As part of the National Aviation Heritage Area, the site ties local Ohio aviation heritage to the broader wartime industrial and operational story, while exhibits such as the Women Airforce Service Pilots interpretation bring attention to underrepresented participants in the air war and the intertwined experiences of the 1940s home front and front lines.