What a pleasant surprise! The NC Aviation Museum and Hall of Fame is a true military gem hidden in the Uwharrie National Forest, a short drive from Greensboro, Asheboro and the Seagrove potteries. We were impressed by the stunning collection of vintage military aircraft, uniforms, weapons and memorabilia from World War II through the Cold War.

The museum is open Monday to Saturday (Wednesday to Saturday, December through March), from 10AM to 5PM (1PM on Sundays). Admission is $8 adults, $5 students and free for children 5 and under.

Here are the most popular airplanes (data from the exhibits and the museum website)

Marvel at the S-56 Savoia Marchetti open-cockpit seaplane, similar to the one flown by Smith Reynolds in 1931-1932, in his 6,000 miles solo flight from London to Hong Kong. Today, only 2 of the original 30 airplanes built are left in the world!

Love the Cessna “Bird Dog”, the most versatile non-combat military aircraft ever deployed. In Vietnam, the Air Force, the Army and the Marines used it as forward air controller, liaison aircraft, artillery spotting, reconnaissance, and aerial photography aircraft.

The L-19 was named “Bird Dog” by Cessna employees. While flying low and close to the battlefield, the plane observed and adjusted the fire, much like a bird dog will do during hunting.
On April 30, 1973, during the Saigon evacution, a South Vietnamese Air Force major, boarded his wife and five children into a “Bird Dog” and flew out toward the US carriers.

Low on fuel, the pilot spotted the Midway (CV-41) carrier and requested permission to land by dropping a note onto the deck as he circled above. Without assistance of a tail hook or a barrier, the pilot made a slow approach to a successful landing. He became the first pilot to land a “Bird Dog” on a carrier deck!

The Piper J-3 “Flitfire” was designed to honor British military pilots, were successfully raffled off to raise money and never saw active duty. Only 13 of the original 49 Flitfires survived. The NC1776 is the only one in its exact original configuration, including engine, propeller and three-piece windshield and it was flown by Orville Wright in 1943!

Be touched by the hundreds of messages left on this beloved 1946 Piper J-3 “Cub”. For more than 30 years it was flown by ICA Hall of Fame Charlie Kulp (aka “Silas the Flying Farmer”) at air shows nationwide.

Admire one of largest collection of aircraft models in the southeast, ranging from 10 centimeters to 10 feet in wingspan! The jewel is a 1/5-scale of the 1903 Wright Flyer, built and donated by area resident Mark Glazer.

War history buffs will be delighted to see a large variety of authentic military uniforms, equipment, weapons, war photographs, memorabilia and intriguing enemy captures from the late 1800s to present days.

The “Stearman” was one of our military’s most widely used training aircraft in the 1940s. The museum proudly features the PT-13D version of this classic aircraft. Perfectly built for aerobatics, the “Stearman” has taught many fighter pilots essential combat techniques.

And its Swiss counterpart, the dandy-looking 1955 Pilatus P3 trainer…

Nearby attractions and fun things to do with kids

• Be wild at the NC Zoo in Asheboro, the best and one of the largest zoological park in the Southeast ($10 adults, $8 seniors and $6 kids 2-12, or half the price with a accredited zoo membership card, like the Riverbanks Zoo)

• The kids favorite Greensboro Children’s Museum ($6 admission) and the Natural Science Center with its terrific Animal Discovery Zoo ($8 admission, or half the price with a accredited zoo membership card, like the Riverbanks Zoo)

• Spin the wheel at Seagrove, the pottery capital of the world!

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