Warbird Information Exchange

If I only had enough time to visit EITHER the USS Midway Museum, or the San Diego Air & Space Museum, what are the pros and cons of each one?

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Offer me solutions, offer me alternatives, and I decline......

Simple choice really. Do you like NAVY carrier planes better or do you like Air Force planes/ history of aviation better?
both museums are great, Do you have a favorite aircraft?

USS Midway, lots to see.

Depends on the weather, both are good if you haven't seen either. The Midway with a really good seafood place next door if the weather is good or the other if its raining and cold.

The San Diego Air and Space Museum is a great venue offering a good overview of aviation history. Even the buildings offer a great setting. The USS Midway however is unique in that it is a great display setting (Aircraft carrier) as well as a offering a great inventory of aircraft. I would choose the Midway simply because of location (San Diego harbor), setting (waterfront) and view (North Island and the San Diego harbor). It is also very close to the San Diego Maritime Museum.

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Well the aircraft carrier is always a neat museum. The aircraft are in great condition and look flyable. At night the position lights on the aircraft light up. The San Diego Air Museum is also special. There's a PBY Catalina hanging from the ceiling. They also have a really beautiful example of a Japanese Zero that seems to be quite original, originally a war prize and has all it's original metal with all the wrinkles. They also have several Ryan aircraft including a Ryan Brougham. These have gotten scarce as most are converted into Spirit of St. Louis replicas. Yes the Spirit of St. Louis has a civilain counterpart. They also have some original space capsules. The Zero and the Ryan Brougham are special treats.

I'd go to San Diego.

It's regularly featured in "Mysteries of the Museum" TV show.

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They're both in Dago Nathan. It was the San Diego Aerospace Museum when I visited in 1976. After viewing the current museum online, it's now 10 times the museum it was before the 1978 fire. Good on 'em, nice comeback!

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Can't go wrong with either- concur with ALOHADAVE that your interest in carrier aviation is likely the deciding point. If you are a carrier nut, go to the MIDWAY. I have been on several carrier museums including the Intrepid, Yorktown and Hornet, and the Midway is the best in my opinion (Intrepid does have a wider array on non-carriers types as well which can be a plus or minus depending on your view). The Midway is well preserved, and the aircraft are in great shape. You will only really see carrier type aircraft aboard, and nothing that unique- so that is either a plus or minus depending on your interests, but if you have seen your share of Phantoms, A-4's, F-14's etc., you won't see anything too rare.

Both are great settings. Midway on the beautiful bay, Air and Space in a beautiful park.

Allocate 2 hours minimum at each. 3 is better. 4 is plenty.

If you have been to other carrier museums, then perhaps go to the Air and Space.

The Air and Space museum provides a wider array of aviation and space history, and some rather rare aircraft as well. Lots of artifacts, paintings, models and displays as well if you are into that. You kind of walk through aviation history as the building is in a circle. You can skip through eras/displays if they are not your cup of tea. I have a soft spot for the Convair SeaDart and standing under that thing in front of the museum with its big hydro skis is always a must for me every time I go to San Diego (the A-12, SR-71 step sister, is neat also).

If you are into early aviation, golden era, testing etc, (but also through jet aviation) then Air and Space would be recommended.

Gift shop nod goes to Air and Space.

Both have kids activities, theatres and simulators etc, but those are not factors for me.

If you are going with a non-aviation enthusiast it's a wash. Midway may keep them more occupied with places to sit, views etc. If you have a companion that wishes to sit at Air and Space you will likely have to abandon them in the lobby and you won't see them as you walk through the building.

If you are staying in a waterfront hotel. Midway may be walkable to your hotel. Fee for parking at Midway. Air and Space is easy to get to, but you will need to drive.

just a note: the air and space museum has a bunch of very nice archival youtube videos. they posted a bunch of R3Y Tradewind videos which I watch regularly. That thing was a beast!

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Shop the Airplane Bunker At
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I was there in January and got to do both.
It boils down to this:
Do you really like WW1 planes or Lindberg stuff? If so, the San Diego museum. They have an amazing WW1 display there, one of the best I've ever seen. They also have Lindberg's Medal of Honor.
Not so much a 'wind in the wires' type? USS Midway. No question.

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It is with great shame that I will admit not visiting the Midway, yet, despite being a resident of San Diego.

I love the SDASM and hopefully soon, I will visit the Midway.

I'll never forget two soliders I had in my units on active duty. One loved within sight of the glow of Disneyworld in Florida, had seen that his entire life, and left Florida for the Army in his late teen, never once having gone there. "I always assumed I'd go there eventually, until the day I left."
Another grew up within sight of the Capitol building in DC and never once entered the area of the National Mall. Not even one svchool trip out there or family visit to a Smithsonian museum. "The schools were always broke and none of the locals ever wanted to go down there," he said with a shrug.

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Life member, 91st BG Memorial Association
Owner, 1944 Willys MB #366014
Former REMF (US Army, O3)

I am hoping to be in San Diego in May for a day or two, my plan is to try to do both in the same day, looking back at an earlier post this should in theory be possible. Other than the Flying Leathernecks museum at Miramar is there anything else vintage aircraft related I should try to see when I am in the area?

Maybe the Air and Space Museum Annex at Gillespie Field out in the East County. Lots of open air planes and rockets on display.
Like the Douglas A2D Sky Shark!

http://sandiegoairandspace.org/museum/g ... ield-annex

And there is Classic Rotors in Ramona, CA. Even more east and another one I have not seen in person either.

http://www.rotors.org/location.htm