The fascinating San Diego Air & Space Museum, which is located in the historic Ford Building (25) is directly under the flight path of aircraft bound for nearby Lindbergh Field. You can hear these massive jetliners overhead as you browse this astounding collection of aircraft.

This huge museum displays famous aircrafts, engines, spacecraft and aviation artifacts from the dawn of aviation through the space age. Also here is the International Aerospace Hall of Fame, which honors heroes of aviation and aerospace history.

The museum’s newest exhibit is How Things Fly… Experience the Adventure entertains, challenges and educates visitors of all ages! Visit the four zones of How Things Fly: Aerodynamics, Propulsion, Meteorology and Air Traffic Control—each giving an insight into the wonder of flight.

You can also explore the Atlas Rocket Exhibit an exciting new exhibit that tells the story of the Atlas rocket series from the late 1950s to the present. Both graphics and videos will detail the history of the project describing its role in the space race, the manned Mercury orbital missions, its effect on the San Diego area, and finally its enormous successes in helping launch many space projects benefiting mankind in general along with lessons in rocketry and guidance.

In honor of the first 100 years of Naval Aviation, the Museum will present an exhibit Centennial of Naval Aviation, featuring a pictorial and textual description of significant events, technological advances in aircraft and aircraft carriers, and profiles of historic naval figures all which have made an impact on the service overall. On a pedestal at the center of the exhibit, the Museum’s flyable Curtiss A-1 Triad will call attention to the very first aircraft purchased by the Navy in 1911 and flown using a water takeoff from San Diego Bay.

You can also be one of the first to exprience the new 3-D/4-D Zable Theatre, which is the first of its kind in Balboa Park! The theatre uses advanced 3-D technologies employing interactive seats and unique special effects to give a multi sensory experience the whole family will enjoy.

The museum now has open a special play area for kids, the Kid’s Aviation Action Hangar! This special “kids only” area has an abundance of attractions for kids of all ages. Preschoolers can enjoy magnetic toys and aviation coloring books, a dry erase board where they are able to sketch out their favorite airplane and pedal planes to whisk them around our kid-size airport. Grade school age aviators will thrill at the “U-Fly-It” machine, a flight simulator experience in a real wind tunnel atmosphere and also enjoy a romp in our simulated moon’s surface in a space suit. Two flight simulators put future pilots’ skills to the test and all can enjoy creating and flying their own miniature parachutes. A large F-104 Starfighter cockpit mock-up, perfect for photo opportunities provides the ultimate take-home memory for all Museum visitors.The Kid’s Aviation Action Hangar is included with regular admission to the Museum.

The museum is open 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. daily, with the last admission at 4 p.m. Extended summer hours till 5:30 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

Admission to the museum and the special exhibit is ($24) for adults 12 and over; ($21) for seniors, students and retired military with ID; ($12) youth ages 3–11; children 2 and under are admitted free. Active duty military ($6.50); adult members of the SDASM ($6); and SDASM youth members ($4).

Admission to the museum only is ($16.50) adults 12 and over; ($13.50) seniors, students and retired military with ID; ($6) youth ages 3–11; children 2 and under are admitted free. Active military with ID are admitted free. Be sure to use their $4 off adult admission coupon.

For a one-of-a-kind wedding venue, reception or unique special event, check out The San Diego Air & Space Museum’s incredible museum facility. It’s a special place for special events.

Early Flight Exhibit	World War I Era Planes	Space Module & Helicopter