San Diego Aerospace Museum

One thing you definitely will not want to miss is the San Diego Aerospace Museum during your trip to Southern California. This exhibition is an experience for the entire family that will teach a few things that you might not know about spacecraft and aircraft. Guided tours are available for the family to learn a little of our aviation history.

From the hot air balloon to some very rare aircraft dating to World War I, this journey will take you through the very beginning of air travel. Restored planes from World War II are on display as well ones as from the Korean and Vietnam eras. See a model of the first hot air balloon that was designed by the Montgolfier brothers. This was the first one to actually work and carry man above Earth.

Theodore Gildred Flight Rotunda

One part of the museum that you will not want to miss is the Theodore Gildred Flight Rotunda. See a reproduction of one of the earliest hydroplanes. They were capable of use on land or water and the A-1 which is on display was the first to be used by the U.S. Navy. Making their first test flights from San Diego, the museum is proud to showcase this exciting part of the history of flying.

Leonardo da Vinci

Although everyone knows Leonardo da Vinci as a famous artist, what they do not know is he was also very creative when it came to designing mechanical devices. There are replicas which were put together from drawings of da Vinci had of military, transportation and mechanical machines. Twenty-five are interactive and your family will love the chance to see if they can figure out how these machines were supposed to work. Put together with only the materials that were available during da Vinci's time, the machines show the basis for what we have today.

Learn about the Golden Age of Flight which was the real beginning of flight. During the years from 1919 to 1939, there were stunt flyers that traveled the U.S. going from town to town and performing for the people. The air shows they performed helped to introduce airplanes to the public. These were the first to offer rides to the people and this was an exciting time for the people in these small towns. Everyone in the family will be interested in knowing about this part of history that was the beginning of flight as we know it today.

Located in Balboa Park, the San Diego Aerospace Museum is open seven days a week and there are guided tours available for groups. Many schools use this as a learning tool and schedule their field trips to the museum. If you come to San Diego this is a must see for the entire family. You and your children will learn many things about the history of flight that you did not know. This will be especially interesting for those who have an interest in learning to fly.

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