Explore the story
of flight
35,000+
Unique Artifacts
40+
Air and Space Vehicles to see
20
Galleries to explore, from Dreamers to Space Flight
The story of flight – it’s science, innovation, wonder and adventure – told comprehensively through objects and narratives in more than twenty galleries and displays.
CREE MAIN GALLERY
Dreamers & Early Flyers
This gallery focuses on man’s aspirations for flight from Leonardo da Vinci to the Wright Brothers, to other early flyers before World War I.
The first private pilot's license issued in America is on display in the gallery!
Lighter Than Air
This gallery focuses on the development of balloons and airships (both rigid and non-rigid), from the Montgolfier Brothers first balloon ascension in 1783 to current day technology.
This gallery features the radio operator's chair from the doomed dirigible "Hindenburg" and also includes objects from the Vice Admiral Charles E. Rosendahl Lighter-than-Air Collection.
General & Commercial
This gallery focuses on all aspects of general and commercial flight from the 1920s to the present and hosts the greatest diversity of aircraft types— from Piper Cubs to the Boeing 747.
Did you know that the airplane flight recorder (commonly referred to as the "black box") is not black?! It’s painted a high-visibility orange to aid in recovery after an accident.
World War I
This gallery focuses on aviation between the years of 1914 and 1919, during the First World War and includes a “ready room”-styled theater.
The 1/5 scale Vickers Vimy IV model aircraft suspended above the gallery has a wingspan of just under 14 feet.
World War II
This gallery focuses on aviation between the years 1939 and 1945, during World War II and features a large scale-model B-17G “Flying Fortress”.
Wartime DFW had two major aircraft manufacturing plants in the region: North American Aviation in Grand Prairie and Consolidated Aircraft Corporation in Fort Worth. Aircraft built here included the B-24 "Liberator", T-6/SNJ "Texan", and P-51"Mustang".
Early Cold War/Korea
This Gallery focuses on the immediate post-World War II period, 1945-1955 and features a replica of the famed torii gate leading to the Sabre flight line at Kimpo Air Base.
This gallery is proud to include six artworks by the famed aviation artist Roy Grinnell (1933-2019) who became known as the "Artist of the Aces" and was the Official Artist and Honoree of the American Fighter Aces Association.
Late Cold War/Vietnam
This gallery highlights military aviation from 1960 to 1990 including the Vietnam War through Desert Storm, and includes our Bell TH-1L “Iroquois” (“Huey”) helicopter.
We honor the sacrifice of a generation of Americans who fought in Southeast Asia. The divisiveness of war, combined with the rapid changes in American society, led to an undervaluing of the efforts of the American soldier.
Modern Air Power
This gallery focuses on aircraft and missiles post 1980 and features our Raytheon 109C “Tomahawk” Cruise Missile.
Don’t miss our short film about modern air power in this gallery’s theater.
Space Flight
This gallery focuses on manned space flight and our exploration of the universe and features artifacts from the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo Programs.
It includes the Apollo 7 Command Module, the only Moon Rock on display in North Texas, as well as Space Shuttle and International Space Station artifacts, plus lots more!
NORTH HANGAR
Southwest Airlines – Heart of Our History
This gallery was a gift to the Museum from Southwest Airlines and focuses on its rich history.
Did you know that the Boeing 737 family of airliners is the best-selling commercial jetliner in history? There’s about 357,000 parts in a 737-300 and about 600,000 bolts and rivets fasten these parts together.
Flight Trainers
This gallery focuses on the development and use of flight training aids to advance the safety and reliability of manned flight.
Edwin Link invented the first flight simulator in 1929 using bellows parts borrowed from his father's organ (the musical instrument) manufacturing company to complete his machine.
SECOND FLOOR
Golden Age
This gallery focuses on The Golden Age of Flight (between the world wars 1919 to 1939) when significant advances in technology made airlines more reliable and safer, which led to the population’s wider acceptance of flying.
The Golden Age featured some of the greats of aviation history: Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, Jimmy Doolittle, Wiley Post, and more. The gallery includes several large scale-model aircraft built by volunteers in our Model Shop.
Braniff Gallery
This gallery traces the history of Braniff International, one of America’s most colorful airlines, from its humble one-aircraft beginnings in 1928, through its worldwide expansion during the 1960s and 1970s, to its final flight in 1982.
The gallery includes a hand-painted model, signed by artist Alexander Calder, of a Braniff International Douglas DC-8. The model was painted to test out a Calder paint scheme before the artist applied it to an actual aircraft.
TX Aerospace History Walkway
Proudly supported by the Summerlee Foundation
Love Field
Learn about the history of Dallas Love Field in this gallery.
The Curtiss JN-4D “Jenny” displayed in the Museum was actually based at Love Field and flown here during World War One.
The windows near the gallery overlook the Love Field flight-line and are a great place to watch planes take off and land.
