4th of April, 2026
Spring arrives in spectacular fashion at Planes of Fame Air Museum as we transform the entire day into a celebration of discovery, hands‑on fun, and high‑flying history. Whether you’re bringing curious kids, aviation enthusiasts, or the whole family, this special Spring edition of Junior Aviator’s Day — “Soar into Spring” is packed with activities from morning to afternoon.
Kick off the morning with a burst of excitement as young explorers search the Tank Arena for hidden treasures. We’re hiding dozens of special Easter Eggs in the Tank Arena for kids to find! Each egg is filled with fun surprises.
Kids become engineers as they design and build protective enclosures for an Easter egg — then watch their creations undergo “flight‑testing” from above. It’s creative, potentially a bit messy, and endlessly fun.
10:30am & 11:30am
Young builders get hands‑on with the world of scale model aircraft. With guidance from our Model Room Artisans, each participant assembles their own airplane model — and kids will take home their efforts to share with family and friends.”
Arts and crafts, games, bouncy houses and interactive adventures fill the Museum as we welcome the Spring season. There’s something for every age and every level of curiosity.
We conclude our recent multi-part series about the history and evolution, design and construction, and crew responsibilities of America’s Super Carrier fleet. Today, the Museum’s Michael Quinney focuses on how an aircraft carrier is deployed. Never sent anywhere alone, the Carrier forms the centerpiece of a sophisticated and amazingly capable array of ships known as the Carrier Strike Group. Michael will look in detail at the carrier’s role in this group and focus on the other ships that make up this powerful projection of American might on the open seas.
In honor of the two Korean-era jet aircraft flying at the Museum today, we turn our eyes back to the “Forgotten War,” the conflict that pitted military forces of the United Nations against, North Korea, China, and the Soviet Union from 1950 until 1953. We’ll quickly review the incidents that led to the start of this war and we feature four unique presentations revolving around its impact:
We’re thrilled to have the president of the Historical Unit of Southern California (HUSC) Daniel Bermudez return to the Hangar Talk stage in the persona of a Korean-era veteran who served with the U.S. Army Rangers. Daniel will present the actual words of Doug LaRue, as he recalls his combat service in Korea. It is a moving story of combat in a foreign land.
In spite of its nearly forgotten status, the Korean War has played a role in novels, film, and television. Perhaps none of the episodes of the Korean War were more dramatically portrayed than those of the Medical Army Surgical Hospitals or “MASH” units. In this presentation, the Museum’s Lorie Ann Rodrigues and David Michaels will take us to the set of the popular MASH TV series and relate the real history of these brave doctors and nurses who served during the Korean Conflict and juxtapose these stories with the film and television versions of their service. It will be enlightening and fun!
To better appreciate what we’ll witness during today’s flight, the Museum’s Ken Saltgaver will relate to us the history and development of the Jet Engine. This presentation offers a comprehensive journey through its history, tracing its evolution from early 20th-century theoretical concepts to the powerhouse technology that dominates modern aviation. Moving beyond a simple timeline, this talk explores the collaborative—and often independent—work of key pioneers such as Sir Frank Whittle in Britain and Dr. Hans von Ohain in Germany. Ken will relate insights into the specific technical challenges faced in the 1930s and 40s, including metallurgical limitations, the shift from centrifugal-flow to axial-flow compressors, and the critical quest for reliable performance under high temperatures.
MiG Alley in the northwest region of North Korea was the site of the world's first large-scale jet-on-jet combat, a critical Cold War battleground where U.S. F-86 Sabres faced Soviet-flown MiG-15s, determining air superiority over the Korean peninsula. When the armistice ended the conflict, the U.S. aircraft had achieved a remarkable success rate – by some accounts nearly 10 MiG aircraft lost for every American fighter aircraft lost. The Museum’s Brian Finnegan will introduce us to U.S. Air Force Colonel John Boyd who studied the results of these aerial fights, and out of his research came the development of a new decision-making model. Today this model has gained widespread acceptance in business, law enforcement, sports, and most importantly, as the bedrock of American military strategy.
F4U Corsair & MiG‑15 — Korean War Rivals Take to the Sky
Two legendary fighter aircraft — the Vought F4U Corsair and the Mikoyan‑Gurevich MiG‑15 — take to the air in a thrilling 20‑minute aerial demonstration. These aircraft once faced each other in the skies over North Korea; now they’ll “do battle” again above the Museum in a rare and unforgettable performance.
Before startup, enjoy a short presentation on both aircraft. After landing, meet the pilots and ask what it’s like to fly these iconic machines.
Stay as long as you like — the Museum is open until 4:00pm. Enjoy lunch from our food trucks (or stroll to nearby Flo’s Airport Café), explore our collection of 100 aircraft, chat with our knowledgeable guides, and soak in the atmosphere of one of aviation’s most treasured destinations.
A perfect day for families, young aviators, and anyone who loves history, discovery, and the thrill of flight.
Hope to See You at the Museum on April 4, 2026!
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