The Pacific Aviation Museum is located at Ford Islands, an area 441
acres in the middle of Pearl Harbor purchased by the US army in 1918 and
used as an airfield for the strategic defense of Honolulu and Pearl
Harbor. When the area became crowded, the army moved to a new location, leaving Ford Island for the Navy.
Having gone through and shown
many scars of war, Ford Island was considered as a National Historic
Landmark. The Navy sought to preserve some historic buildings which,
with the initiative and help of some Hawaiian citizens, a plan was put
in motion for the creation of a world class aviation museum.
The
Pacific Aviation Museum can be visited for obtaining experience and
insight of aviation history in the United State. Exhibits such as B-25B
like the ones used during the Doolittle raid on Japan, SBD dauntless
dive bomber, F4F wildcats, are just some of the historic planes that can
be seen and which have played a major role in various wars, particularly the two World Wars.
The planes are located in
various hangars that have been preserved and dates back to the 1940s.
Visitor also have the opportunity to experience being behind a combat
flight simulator. The museum also includes a cafe and a museum store
where different items can be obtained as a souvenir. The museum often provides
educational experiences to children in a flight school where the kids
learn and explore the principles of flights. Throughout the year,
various events are organized.