Oregon: Oregon Air and Space Museum

Posted on by rjhoughton

I was looking through the Eugene, Cascades, and Coast website for unique places to visit and ran across the Oregon Air and Space Museum. I am a big fan of aviation museums (see Oregon: Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, Inside the Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum, Part 1, and Inside the Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum, Part 2), so I knew we had to go check it out.

A college friend of mine has a personal connection to this museum. His dad flew for Pan American Airways and collected a lot of memorabilia during his employment. His dad recognized in the Commercial Airlines exhibit display for his contributions and his volunteer hours.

The museum has several display areas.

The first thing you see in the museum is the light. While it was initially off when I entered, as soon as they saw me taking pictures, they turned it on.

 

A light just inside the entrance to the museum.
A light just inside the entrance to the museum.

Planes

Here’s a sampling of the planes found on the museum floor. Don’t forget to look up!

A replica of a Messerschmitt BF 109 plane.
A replica of a Messerschmitt BF 109 plane.
A half-scale replica of a Wright F4U Corsair
A half-scale replica of a Wright F4U Corsair airplane.
A 5/8ths scale replica of a Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero in a paint scheme from the carrier "Hiryu" during the Pearl Harbor raid.
A 5/8ths scale replica of a Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero in a paint scheme from the carrier “Hiryu” during the Pearl Harbor raid.
A 3/4 scale replica of a P51 Mustang, built by Tom Preuss of Creswell, Oregon over a 16 year period.
A 3/4 scale replica of a P51 Mustang, built by Tom Preuss of Creswell, Oregon over a 16 year period.
A full-sized flying replica of a Neuport 17c, built by Jack Henry of Jacksonville, Oregon over an 11 year period.
A full-sized flying replica of a Neuport 17c, built by Jack Henry of Jacksonville, Oregon over an 11 year period. Donated to the museum in 1999.
The Bede BD-5J, the world's smallest jet, with a teddy bear in the cockpit.
The Bede BD-5J, the world’s smallest jet, with a teddy bear in the cockpit.
Marion Carl's 1937 J-2 Taylor Cub from the back.
Marion Carl’s 1937 J-2 Taylor Cub from the back.

Engines

The Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major radials engines. 8 of these powered the Spruce Goose.
The Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major radials engines. 8 of these powered the Spruce Goose.
The Wright 1820 Cyclone engine.
The Wright 1820 Cyclone engine.

Douglas A-4 Skyhawk

Front view of the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk plane.
Front view of the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk plane.
Cockpit of the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk plane.
Cockpit of the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk plane.
Wing of the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk plane.
Wing of the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk plane.

Grumman A-6 Intruder

The Grumman A-6 Intruder from the back.
The Grumman A-6 Intruder from the back.
The Grumman A-6 Intruder from the side.
The Grumman A-6 Intruder from the side.
The cockpit of the Grumman A-6 Intruder.
The cockpit of the Grumman A-6 Intruder.

We spent at least two hours there, looking at all the exhibits, planes, and engines.

Published by rjhoughton

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