Champaign Aviation Museum
1652 N Main StUrbana, Ohio 43078
937-652-4710 | https://www.champaignaviationmuseum.org
Champaign Aviation Museum
Located at Grimes Field, a National Aviation Hall of Fame location, the Champaign Aviation Museum is a National Aviation Heritage site that allows close encounters with historic World War II aircraft and shares the stories of the men and women involved in aviation during the mid-twentieth century.
Located on historic Grimes Field, a National Aviation Hall of Fame location, the Champaign Aviation Museum is a National Aviation Heritage site that allows close encounters with historic World War II aircraft and exhibits personal stories of those involved in aviation during the mid-twentieth century. This museum prides itself on the hands-on experience it offers visitors, allowing them to connect with the aircraft.
The museum’s featured airplanes are a B-17 known as the “Champaign Lady,” currently being restored, and a refurbished B-25 bomber, the “Champaign Gal.” Approximately 12,731 B-17 Flying Fortresses were built for the Allied fleet in World War II, but only fourteen are operable today. Since 2005, the Champaign Aviation Museum has been working to add to this number through its work on the “Champaign Lady.” Visitors are encouraged to closely inspect the aircraft, even climbing aboard when appropriate, and volunteers are on hand to answer questions about the planes. One of the most moving exhibits in the museum features the WASPs, America’s first women military pilots.
Notes for Travelers
The museum periodically offers flights in the B-25. For flight schedules and tickets, visit the museum’s website. The exhibits are family-friendly, but a lack of barriers around the planes and tools within reach of curious hands may pose hazards for unattended children. A list of safety precautions is posted at the museum’s entrance.
Credits
Kristen FlemingAdditional Resources
Stephen Ambrose, The Wild Blue: The Men and Boys Who Flew the B-24s over Germany, 2001.Edward Jablonski, Flying Fortress: The Illustrated Biography of the B-17s and the Men Who Flew Them, 1965.