Santa Monica Flying Museum Day Trip: Soaring Through History

The Museum of Flying in Santa Monica is a gem for aviation enthusiasts curious about history, especially because of its deep roots in Southern California. Housed at the Santa Monica Airport, it focuses heavily on the legacy of the Douglas Aircraft Company, which churned out over 10,000 planes during World War II and pioneered commercial air travel with the iconic DC-3, the world’s first successful commercial airliner.

A Soaring Legacy: The Museum of Flying’s Roots

Originally opened in 1979 as the Douglas Museum and Library, the museum’s collection primarily showcased items belonging to Donald Wills Douglas, the founder and president of the Douglas Aircraft Company. A new building was eventually constructed on the north side of the Santa Monica Airport and opened in 1989 as the Museum of Flying, with various vintage aircraft, including numerous World War II fighter planes. Over the next decade, the Santa Monica Museum of Flying expanded its unique collection but shut down in 2002 due to budget constraints.

From Past to Present: A Journey Through Time

In 2012, the museum reopened in a new location on the south side of the Santa Monica Airport, just half a block from the original site.
Today, although in a smaller building than the first, the museum houses many of the original artifacts related to the Douglas Aircraft Company. There are various exhibits, aviation art, and an array of aircraft, from a Wright Flyer replica to the jet age.

Icons of the Sky: Aircraft That Shaped History

Upon arriving at the 22,000-square-foot museum, visitors are greeted by a massive monument to the iconic Douglas DC-3 aircraft adorning the museum’s entrance and a Boeing 727, donated by FedEx, that protrudes straight out of the museum’s ribbed metal wall on Airport Avenue. The DC-3 is supposedly Douglas’s plane. Inside, the two-story structure planes that are on display range from replicas of a Wright Flyer to a single-seat BD-5 microjet featured in the opening scenes of the James Bond movie “Octopussy.”

Inside the Hangar: Exhibits and Artifacts

A replica of a Lockheed Vega-like, flown by aviation legend Amelia Earhart, a Lockheed T-33, and a Boeing 727 cockpit exhibit. More planes dangle as in flight from the museum’s ceiling, including a Cassutt III Formula One Air Racer, a Mono Sailplane, and a Rutan Veri EZE. Outside are more distinctive aircraft, like a Douglas A-4 “Skyhawk,” a Cessna 172, and a North American F-86H. Visitors can also monitor the local control tower radio communications and enjoy a direct view of the runway of the Santa Monica Airport from the outside plaza area.

Hands-On Adventure: Interactive Experiences

On its ground level and mezzanine, the Santa Monica Museum of Flying features a collection of artwork, rare artifacts, and biographies of famous aviators, as well as various displays about Douglas Aircraft Company and other Los Angeles area companies that helped drive the area’s once-burging industry. The mezzanine level also offers a 30-seat theater, a replica of the Douglas Aircraft executive boardroom, and includes Douglas’ desk and drafting table. There is also a 360-degree flight simulator.

A Nonprofit Gem: Visiting the Museum Today

Finally, there are numerous hands-on interactive exhibits in the children’s area, where children learn about things like the control surfaces of an aircraft. The museum is operated as a nonprofit organization; the Santa Monica Museum of Flying is located at 3100 Airport Avenue in Santa Monica. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Parking is free. Visit the Museum website for more details.

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