USS Dolphin (AGSS-555)

Your journey through the history of flight begins as you stand beneath a model of the Montgolfier brothers’ hot air balloon of 1783 - the first manned vehicle in recorded history to break the bonds of gravity and lift humans above the Earth. Rare specimens of aircraft suggest the excitement of air combat in the World War I Gallery. Marvel at the entertaining and dangerous antics of the barnstormers of the 1920s in the Golden Age of Flight Gallery. Mint condition aircraft in a mint condition museum - a Spitfire Mk. XVI, a Navy F6F Hellcat and an A-4 Skyhawk jet - these beautifully restored airplanes help you appreciate the increasingly complex technology represented in the classic military aircraft of World War II, Korea and Vietnam. The Museum’s display of space age technology, like the desire to journey to the stars, may never be finished, for it represents an adventure which the human race has truly just begun. (This description was sourced with permission from the San Diego Air & Space Museum)

The Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum contains exhibits and artifacts relating to the history of United States Marine Corps Aviation. The museum features 48 aircraft with 31 aircraft in outdoor exhibits, multiple military vehicles and equipment. Indoor exhibits feature photographs, artifacts and artwork from the early days of aviation to the present. Indoors there are 8 galleries displaying artwork, photographs, uniforms and artifacts. The museum frequently undertakes large restoration efforts such as the SBD-1 Dauntless in their collection. The Dauntless was recovered from the bottom of Lake Michigan and has been with the museum since 2012. The Flying Leatherneck museum has various educational programs in addition to their main exhibits. The museum frequently hosts field trip tours, virtual visits, and even has a podcast. They also host art and essay contests, open cockpit days, and “picnic with a pilot” days. The museum has a 27,000 square foot restoration hangar. There are future plans to build a 90,000 square foot museum building for indoor displays. Be sure to check out the museum website.