While Laura was off catching up with old friends, I visited the Pensacola Naval Avation Museum, sited on the grounds of the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, right across the bay from Fort Pickens. Housed in a large building, the museum contains a large and beautifully restored collection of historical aircraft.
Aircraft range from a Wright Brothers era contraption to modern military jets. It even has a scorched Apollo capsule. I particularly was taken with this biplane—a seaplane with wooden pontoons, hanging over a row of missile toting fighters.
A huge graphic dominates the entry hall. It bears a slogan typical of "can do" military spirit:
UNITED STATES NAVY AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
four-and-a-half acres of sovereign U. S. territory, anytime, anywhere
The museum ranks up there with the world's best. Scores of aircraft. an IMAX theater, and many cockpit trainers and combat simulators provide visitors with a hands-on experience. I could have easily spent a couple of days playing here. But alas, I had only the one morning.
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