Cradle of Aviation Museum
Mon Jan 30, 2006 12:00 pm
Took a ride Saturday out to Long Island and the Cradle of Aviation Museum.
For a place I don’t hear much about, I was pleasantly surprised.
Museum is on the site of the old Mitchel Field. A real nice collection of aircraft.
Beginning of flight, WWI, Golden era, WWII, early jets and modern aircraft
represented.
F4F Wildcat, F6F Hellcat, TBM, P-47, F-84, F9F, F-11, A-10, A6
and Waco CG-4 (glider) just to name a few.
A Very nice space section also including the Lunar Module that was to be used on
Apollo 19. IMAX theater there also.
Swung by American Airpower Museum next. Was told some there expect their newly
acquired PBY to arrive shortly, but was also informed by the same person,
he’d believe it when he sees it.
I didn’t find these places easy to get to at all, but not a bad trip for middle of winter.
Bill
For a place I don’t hear much about, I was pleasantly surprised.
Museum is on the site of the old Mitchel Field. A real nice collection of aircraft.
Beginning of flight, WWI, Golden era, WWII, early jets and modern aircraft
represented.
F4F Wildcat, F6F Hellcat, TBM, P-47, F-84, F9F, F-11, A-10, A6
and Waco CG-4 (glider) just to name a few.
A Very nice space section also including the Lunar Module that was to be used on
Apollo 19. IMAX theater there also.
Swung by American Airpower Museum next. Was told some there expect their newly
acquired PBY to arrive shortly, but was also informed by the same person,
he’d believe it when he sees it.
I didn’t find these places easy to get to at all, but not a bad trip for middle of winter.
Bill
Mon Jan 30, 2006 7:57 pm
Thanks for the report Bill. I thought I remember someone mention on the WIX recently that the C.O.A. Museum was in some financial trouble. I hope they have resolved that ok.
Mon Jan 30, 2006 9:52 pm
Hey Bill,
Out of curiosity, did you find it interesting (or sad) that the areas surrounding both museums are hardly recognizable from their past glory? The parking lot for the Cradle of Aviation may contain some pavement from the Michel Field ramp, and the great Republic Aviation Corp. is now a big shopping center with a Multiplex Cinema at the end of the runway. There is one decrepit building left on the other side of the road. Someone had posted a link to some aerial photos of Michel Field, and you could make out the general layout of the runways, intersected by roads and highways, and dotted by a lot of development. Grumman's Bethpage and Calverton properties will be the next to disappear.
I'm glad that the musuems are there to recognize LI's contribution to the aerospace industry.
Out of curiosity, did you find it interesting (or sad) that the areas surrounding both museums are hardly recognizable from their past glory? The parking lot for the Cradle of Aviation may contain some pavement from the Michel Field ramp, and the great Republic Aviation Corp. is now a big shopping center with a Multiplex Cinema at the end of the runway. There is one decrepit building left on the other side of the road. Someone had posted a link to some aerial photos of Michel Field, and you could make out the general layout of the runways, intersected by roads and highways, and dotted by a lot of development. Grumman's Bethpage and Calverton properties will be the next to disappear.
I'm glad that the musuems are there to recognize LI's contribution to the aerospace industry.
Mon Jan 30, 2006 11:52 pm
Pat Carry,
I have read attendance was down since it opened a few years ago, but
I will also tell you there was a very long line waiting to get into the IMAX
12 noon show at $16.50 a pop.
Pat M
There was no way I could tell that was once Mitchel field till
I saw the writing on the one hanger and aerial photos in the museum.
At least Republic Airport is still active and the old control tower
is there and open for tours as part of AAM.
And yes, the aerospace exhibit was very good at the Cradle of Aviation Museum.
The one guide we spoke to actually helped build part of the Lunar Module.
He showed us around all the space stuff and made it very interesting.
Bill
I have read attendance was down since it opened a few years ago, but
I will also tell you there was a very long line waiting to get into the IMAX
12 noon show at $16.50 a pop.
Pat M
There was no way I could tell that was once Mitchel field till
I saw the writing on the one hanger and aerial photos in the museum.
At least Republic Airport is still active and the old control tower
is there and open for tours as part of AAM.
And yes, the aerospace exhibit was very good at the Cradle of Aviation Museum.
The one guide we spoke to actually helped build part of the Lunar Module.
He showed us around all the space stuff and made it very interesting.
Bill