Planes of Fame Air Museum

Planes of Fame Air Museum
CindyN · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Planes of Fame Air Museum
Established	1957
Type	Aviation museum
Location	Chino, California; Valle-Williams, Arizona
Founder	Ed Maloney
Collection size	~100 aircraft (airworthy and static)
Website	(official site)

Planes of Fame Air Museum Planes of Fame Air Museum is an aviation museum renowned for its collection of historic aircraft, many of which are maintained in flying condition. The museum preserves and operates examples of Boeing P-26 Peashooter, Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, Supermarine Spitfire, Messerschmitt Bf 109, and other significant types from World War I, World War II, and the Cold War. It hosts public airshows, restoration programs, and rotating exhibits that connect visitors to milestones such as the Battle of Midway, Doolittle Raid, and Normandy landings.

History

Founded in 1957 by collector Ed Maloney, the museum grew from a private collection into a public institution with international recognition. Early acquisitions included warbirds tied to veterans from the United States Army Air Forces, Royal Air Force, and Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service, reflecting histories like the Pacific War and the European Theater of Operations. Over decades the organization expanded through donations and exchanges involving entities such as the Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of the United States Air Force, and private collectors associated with restorations of North American P-51 Mustang examples. Key moments include relocation and expansion initiatives that intersected with regional aviation communities, including partnerships with Chino Airport, Yanks Air Museum, and the Experimental Aircraft Association.

Collections and Exhibits

The museum's holdings span fighters, bombers, trainers, and utility aircraft from manufacturers such as North American Aviation, Grumman Corporation, Douglas Aircraft Company, Lockheed Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and Aichi Kokuki. Notable flyable examples have included the Grumman F6F Hellcat, Douglas SBD Dauntless, Handley Page Hampden, Hawker Hurricane, and rare types like the Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw and Curtiss JN-4 Jenny. Exhibits feature artifacts connected to figures and units such as Jimmy Doolittle, Eddie Rickenbacker, Richard Bong, Tuskegee Airmen, and squadrons from the Royal Canadian Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force. Rotating displays highlight events and technologies tied to the Battle of Britain, Leyte Gulf, Korean War, and developments from Wright brothers-era innovations through Jet Age milestones.

Restoration and Maintenance

Restoration efforts are conducted by volunteer and professional teams experienced with airframes from Bristol Aeroplane Company, Fiat Aviazione, Nakajima Aircraft Company, and Aero Vodochody. Technical work involves airworthiness certification aligning with Federal Aviation Administration standards and interactions with preservation best practices from institutions like the Imperial War Museum and Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace. The museum has undertaken full restorations of rare types such as the Mitsubishi A6M Zero, Heinkel He 111, and Bristol Beaufighter, sourcing parts through networks including the Commemorative Air Force, Aircraft Recovery Group, and international collectors from Japan Air Self-Defense Force alumni. Conservation projects often reference archival materials from the National Archives and veteran testimonies associated with units like VF-17 and No. 303 Squadron RAF.

Airshows and Public Programs

The museum organizes airshows and flight demonstrations that have featured historic formations, aerobatic teams, and memorial flyovers tied to commemorations like Veterans Day, Memorial Day, and D-Day anniversary events. Participants have included aircraft from organizations such as the Collings Foundation, Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum, and private operators of P-38 Lightning and B-25 Mitchell examples. Programs pair flight displays with living history presentations involving reenactors portraying roles from United States Navy, Royal Navy, and Marine Corps aviation history, as well as seminars led by pilots who flew in campaigns such as Operation Overlord and Battle of the Coral Sea.

Locations and Facilities

The museum operates major facilities in Chino, California adjacent to Chino Airport and a satellite facility in Valle-Williams, Arizona near Williams Gateway Airport. Hangars house airworthy aircraft, restoration workshops, research archives, and exhibit galleries; outdoor ramp space accommodates fly-ins from owners of types ranging from Beechcraft Model 17 Staggerwing to McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. Support infrastructure includes machine shops, paint booths, avionics benches, and climate-controlled storage for artifacts comparable to setups at the National Air and Space Museum and regional institutions like Palm Springs Air Museum.

Education and Outreach

Educational initiatives target schools, enthusiasts, and researchers through docent-led tours, internship programs, and collaborative projects with universities such as California State Polytechnic University, Pomona and aviation programs at Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University. Outreach includes STEM-focused curricula referencing aeronautical topics from early Wright Flyer developments to turbofan propulsion, plus oral-history projects documenting veterans from units like 301st Bombardment Group and 352nd Fighter Group. The museum engages veteran organizations including the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion to preserve firsthand accounts and promote public history.

Category:Aerospace museums in California