The Museum of Flight is dedicated to the collection, preservation and display of the aviation history of the Central Coast, and education of the general public in the field of Aviation.

Description:
We own two buildings on property leased from the Santa Maria Airport District: the main entrance to the Museum is in the wooden hangar which was constructed on the airport site for the movie "The Rocketeer". The second building is a metal hangar we built in the late 1980's. We have an extensive library of aviation films (VHS) and books, old 16mm films from North American Aviation, and a series of dioramas showing the history of aviation. There is also an extensive display of material from the WWII training base which was at the current site of Allan Hancock College. We also have a Gift Shop featuring clothing, models, books, patches, pins,and VHS/DVD films.

History:
The Museum was started in the 1970's, and was first located in the Santa Maria Airport Terminal as a small gift shop. We then moved to the metal hangar when it was constructed, and expanded into the wooden hangar in 1995. We have acquired many artifacts and display items, such as a Fleet biplane of the type used in training at the WWII base mentioned above, a Stinson Reliant, several experimental aircraft, two gliders, a hot air balloon, and a replica of the Wright Glider.
There are also many military aircraft on loan, including an A-4, an F-4, an F-86, and a Hawker-Siddeley Gnat advanced trainer.
We also have space age material and artifacts from the now closed Lompoc Space Museum,

Contact people:

Michael Geddry, Curator/Director, (phone), (email) Tom Reedy, Office Manager, (phone), (email) Brian Hall, Treasurer, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (805) 922-8958

Address:

3015 Airpark Drive Santa Maria, CA 93455 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.smmof.org

Directions:

From 101, take the Santa Maria Way exit, turn left at Bradley Road and then immediately right onto Lakeview. Go straight across South Broadway (Hwy 135) onto Skyway Drive. Go past both traffic lights at the airport, and turn left. . . (more)