Wondrous Wanders: Halifax, Nova Scotia

Today is the 2nd post in a guest blog series featuring some of our social media aviation community members. The series highlights the favorite travel destinations that inspired wonder in the guest blogger as they wandered there. Today's post is from Kristin Vanderhey Shaw.  She works for SITA and self-describes as loving her baby boy, airplanes, airports, classic cars, sports, Italy, and dessert; not necessarily in that order.

There’s something special about Halifax, Nova Scotia. This was my third trip to Halifax, and I count it as one of my favorite places in the world. As I wandered the streets recently for a few precious hours before my meetings began, I tried to put my finger on what it was. It’s not just the quiet elegance of the city, nestled in a now-popular cruise ship port. It’s not just the abundance of lobster, which is exported on 747s around the world. It’s not just the Halifax-Stanfield airport, which has clearly established a sense of place through natural décor, gift shops, and restaurants that reflect its personality. It’s not just the people, who are as friendly as you would expect from a Scottish-heritage town. It’s all of these things and then some.

Traveling to Halifax is not going to include a hopping night life and 5-star hotels and restaurants. The Westin is a little worn, but the rooms are clean and comfortable, the room service is well above par in terms of service and food (the crab cake and spinach-strawberry-goat cheese salad are excellent), and the chef called me personally to ensure that he understood my food allergies before proceeding.

Go to Halifax in the fall and wonder at the jewel tones of autumn in crimson, amber, and gold. Drive along the shores, and walk among the locals in town. You’ll find that you can learn how to navigate very quickly… up to the Citadel, and down to the boardwalk. Grab a lobster roll from Murphy’s on the water, and don’t forget to stop at the stand outside for a Beaver Tail (a delicious whole-wheat pastry fried and topped with various treats; I prefer the simplicity of cinnamon-sugar and lemon). In the evenings, seek out a local bar where you can hear lilting Celtic music and dance along, or watch the Halifax Mooseheads hockey team, a Quebec Junior Major League team with 16- and 17-year-olds training for the NHL.

If you have time, there are some fantastic quick trips you can take from Halifax, including Peggys Cove, the Swissair memorial site, and Lunenburg. If you’re an aviation buff, don’t miss the Swissair 111 site, a gorgeous piece of landscape just around the corner from Peggys Cove. Swissair 111 was lost in 1998 roughly five miles from the spot where the memorial site sits today. The site itself is not remarkable; it’s the serenity and natural beauty of the area that gives it an ethereal quality. For more information on the memorial site, click here.

From the Swissair site, follow the road around to the Peggy’s Cove lighthouse, which is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world. A photographer’s paradise, if you’re lucky enough to catch it on a foggy day, you’ll find enough material here to fill a coffee table book.

Lunenburg is a picturesque village on the shores of southwest Nova Scotia, about 80 km from Halifax. Deeply mired in Maritime culture, the heritage of the town is easy to spot in the “widow’s peaks” (also called “Lunenburg bumps”) the fishermen’s wives used to look out from the tops of their houses to watch for their husbands’ return from the sea.

The Bluenose II is being completely refurbished in a warehouse in Lunenburg. You can tour the site and see how the restoration is coming along and see a piece of history in progress: the original Bluenose is featured on the Canadian dime.

Also famous is this seaside town is Iron Works micro-distillery, offering tasting tours and bottles for sale of their molasses-finished rum with a warm, smooth finish. They also sell silky-smooth blueberry, cranberry, and raspberry liqueur. In case you can’t make it to Lunenburg from Halifax, you can purchase these potables at the Bishop Cellar, just off the boardwalk in Halifax, and they will package them up properly for checking your bag or shipping.

You may not find the connection to Halifax that I have, but I’d be surprised if you didn’t. If you get the chance, visit this corner of North America and let yourself be carried along by the song of Atlantic Canada.

Have you been to Nova Scotia, specifically Halifax?  What did you enjoy most about your visit to this city?  If you've not been there, do this post inspire you to a future visit?

Wondrous Wanders: Bali

Today we're starting a new guest blog series featuring some of our social media community members.  The new series will highlight the favorite travel destinations that inspired wonder in the guest blogger as they wandered there.  We begin the series with a post from Max Graham about his wonderous wandering in Bali.  Max is a full time international touring DJ and Record producer who has visited over 65 countries in his career.  As a “Million Miler” with Air Canada his Twitter bio says “Either in the studio or on a plane."  More info about Max can be found at www.maxgraham.com.

In 2002, I was introduced to Bali, and more specifically the “Gili Islands”. A trio of islands off the coast of Lombok. A small trek by plane, car and boat from Bali; these islands are a heaven for divers and people looking to relax. I’ve spent a lot of time on GIli Trawangan (the largest and the main tourist destination), including learning to dive there.

What catches you about this island, other than the clear blue water and relaxed vibe, is that there are no cars. To get around the island you either rent a bike for your time there or take the donkey taxi carts which are plentiful. On the main strip of the island you can find plenty of food options including the famous “Irish Bar,” where you’ll find the ex-pats hanging around talking about the good old days. Diving is amazing and there are enough spots to keep you going for a few weeks without getting bored. Weather is perfect and the locals were very helpful and nice, as it has that small community feel.

It’s a bit of extra work to get there but very worth it if you envision yourself spending your days diving and your nights eating and drinking under the stars.

Have you been to Bali, specifically the Gili Islands?  What diving spots do you recommend there?  If you've not been to Bali, when will you be planning your island vacation?


Want to fly to Bali from MDT?  A few of our air carrier partners can get you there with a couple of connections.  Save Money, Distance and Time choosing to fly to Bali from Harrisburg!

The Aircraft of MDT: Airbus A319/A320

Welcome to the sixth regular installment of The Aircraft of MDT. In this series we are taking a look at some of the aircraft that you may spot flying to and from Harrisburg International Airport.

Ground crews prepare a US Airways A319 for departure.

Seating as many as 138 passengers, the Airbus A319 and A320 are the largest commercial airliners to make regularly scheduled flights to and from Harrisburg International Airport. US Airways flies the A319 between Harrisburg and Charlotte, NC, and United Airlines flies the A319 and the A320 between Harrisburg and Chicago.

The Airbus A320 family includes the A318, A319, A320, and A321. The first member of the family, the A320, was introduced in 1984 and entered service in 1988. The first variant of the A320, the A321, was introduced in 1988 and entered service in 1994. It seats a maximum of 220 passengers, compared to the A320’s 180 seat maximum. After the first two members of the family proved successful, Airbus launched the shortened A319, which entered service in 1996. The A319 is 12 feet 3 inches shorter than the A320 and seats a maximum 156 passengers, but it has a similar fuel capacity to its larger sibling, giving it the longest range in the A320 family. The baby of the family, with a maximum of 132 seats, is the A318, which began commercial operations in 2003.

An A319 in United Airlines livery.

The A320 is notable for being the first commercial airliner to feature a digital fly-by-wire control system and a full “glass cockpit.” Digital fly-by-wire systems, which first appeared in military aircraft in the 1970s, use a computer to interpret input from the pilots and aircraft sensors, and then adjust the plane’s control surfaces as necessary. A glass cockpit replaces traditional analog instrument panels with readouts on electronic displays. The cockpit innovations of the A320 mean that all members of the family have a common flight deck and so share a pilot type rating. That is, pilots certified to fly one member of the family require minimal, if any, additional training to fly any of the other members. The A320 cockpit also shares a great deal of commonality with other Airbus models, including the A330, A340, and the world’s largest airliner, the A380.

US Airways flight 949 departs for Charlotte aboard an A319

Records from 2005-2007 indicate that the A320 family is the fastest-selling family of jet airliners in the world. As of the end of last month, Airbus has delivered 4,790 aircraft in the A320 family, all but 90 of which are in active service. They also have firm orders for more than 3,100 more. At Harrisburg International Airport, aircraft in the family bring more than 7,500 passengers to and from Central Pennsylvania every month.

Airport Life: Human Resources Administrator

We like to give readers a look at the "behind-the-scenes" aspects of airport operations that aren't obvious or necessarily directly visible to passengers in the terminal every day.  So far we've taken a look at fleet maintenance, airport fire fighters and the AvFlight FBO (fixed base operator).  Today's Airport Life post features Heather Blake, the Human Resources Administrator for MDT.  Heather kindly shared a high level overview of what she does in a given day at the airport.  She's an integral part to the personnel operations at Harrisburg and a valued member of our staff.


Every job should be rewarding, being in Human Resources is no different, and in fact that is a big part of the job.  As the Human Resource Administrator at Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority (SARAA) my day is never the same, I go from completing payroll to checking on employees that are out on disability and workers compensation.  In a brief minute I can be yelling at the short term disability company and the next minute I am saying congratulations to an employee for the birth of their new child. I attended a seminar last summer; I listened to Andrew Greenberg, Esquire from The ChartwellLaw Offices.  He gave a definition of an HR professional that fit, “the job of a human resource professional is a challenging one that requires a wide range of skill sets.  It insists that at any given moment, the director assume the role of a social worker, accountant, physician, psychologist, benefits coordinator and attorney.”  When I am asked to describe my day the definition can range into any of those items listed.  


My day, as with any position, has ups and downs and highs and lows.  The difference is that my position allows me to involve myself in an employee’s everyday life.  While I may not interact with passengers or tenants very often, I do interact with employees every day.  In a sense I am attached to them, and sometimes to their families.  I become closest to them during tough times, such as extended illnesses.  We had an employee that everyone loved; he was extremely happy and had an amazing outlook on life.  When he approached me one morning on my way in and told me that he had terminal cancer, I did not say a word; I hugged him and cried with him.  I talked to him or his wife every other day until his passing, during this time I received multiple letters from him expressing how thankful he was for the help that I had given him and his wife.  Afterwards I met with his wife and she thanked me as well.  I did not call every day to check because I wanted thanks or appreciation; I cared about them very much and wanted them to know that pure and simple fact.  That is the bittersweet part of being in Human Resources, the attachment that is made with so many good people and families.  It is both the best part and worst part of HR.    


Luckily we have amazing folks that work here at the airport, I am beyond thankful every day to have them to work with, they make things much easier.  I do of course do other things than hang out and talk to employees!  I do payroll every other week and insurance benefits and all that entails.  Benefits are something that I do not expect anyone to understand, it is complicated, and sometimes I think they do that on purpose!  A lot of times employees have questions, if I do not know the answer I will call the company and get back to them fairly quickly, after all, most of the time they are very important questions.  I also handle workers compensation claims and cases, as well as disability filings and Family MedicalLeave Act (FMLA) information.  


HR should be a place that an employee feels comfortable, they should be okay talking to the HR person and not be afraid to ask questions or give new ideas.  I can only hope that I do that for SARAA, because the employees we have here deserve nothing but the best working for them.


Thanks Heather  for sharing what you do at Harrisburg International Airport! 

Travel Fit

Are you someone who travels frequently?  Living life out of your suitcase as you hop one flight to the next for that urgent sales meeting, conference or client presentation?  And most seasoned frequent flyers understand that maximizing this lifestyle can be tough and if they're not careful can lead to poor eating and fitness habits.  We're looking out for our road warrior customers have rounded up a few healthful eating tips and simple exercises that can keep you on the road to "wellville!"

While plentiful food choices may not always abound in small and medium hub airports, we think you'll find these tips universally applicable when traveling.  When ordering off the menu, visiting the grab and go kiosk, or even packing your own snacks; we recommend considering the following:

• Ordering a slice of veggie pizza instead of the pepperoni.
• Selecting a baked potato as your side in lieu of the french fries.
• Pack raisins to nosh on instead of a candy bar.
• Purchase a bottle of water, not the bottle of soda.
• Ration yourself some carrots instead of cheese puffs.
• Need some cereal?  Choose the whole-grain, no sugar option instead of the sugary variety.
• An apple will be better for you in the long run instead of the fruit pie.
• Want dairy?  How about low-fat yogurt instead of ice cream.
• Opt for the turkey sandwich instead of the fried chicken.
• Have a plain bagel with your morning cup of coffee instead of the donut.
• Pretzels can provide a salty fix instead of the potato chips.
• 1% milk has less calories per glass than whole milk.
• Have a sweet tooth?  Try graham crackers as opposed to the chocolate chip cookies.

Couple these healthy food selections with these on-the-road exercises and you may just have a bit more energy than you planned on when returning home from that week away.  The best part about these exercises?  You don't need equipment to do them!

• Take the steps instead of the elevator.  Get that blood flowing.  If you're up to it, take two steps up at a a time!
• Lunges, if you do these in the hotel room after taking the stairs, you're sure to get a great leg workout!
• Sit-ups and push-ups are a great floor exercise.  Any reasonable hotel room will have enough floor space for you to throw down a bath towel as an exercise mat after you get back from meetings, dinner or the like.
• Hold up the wall!  Lean against an empty wall in your hotel room as though your sitting in a chair with your legs bent at a ninety-degree angle.  Hold this position as long as you're able without falling.  The more you practice, the longer you should be able to hold this position. 
• If you have time to visit your hotel's fitness facilities, add it to your trip agenda!  If you schedule the time and make a point to consider it a "to do," you may be more likely to stick with the healthy routine while on the road.

Bear in mind that these fitness tips are suggestions and may not be applicable for everyone.  We hope you're able to find something useful and apply it toward your healthy travel pursuits!

What tips do you have to share?  Do you have favorite healthy food choices that you've discovered in airports and hotels during your travels?  Do tell! 

The Aircraft of MDT: Boeing 717

Welcome to the fifth regular installment of The Aircraft of MDT. In this series we are taking a look at some of the aircraft that you may spot flying to and from Harrisburg International Airport.

A Boeing 717 in AirTran livery.

When McDonnell Douglas and Boeing merged in 1997, McDonnell Douglas was developing the MD-95. The new aircraft would be a grandchild of the Douglas DC-9 by way of the MD-80. It anticipated a need to replace the earliest DC-9s, which were nearly 30 years old at the time. Although many believed that the merger would signal the end of the MD-95 project, Boeing chose to go ahead with production of the aircraft, rebranding it the 717-200.

Boeing had produced a 707 and a 727. Though it appeared to the public that  they had skipped over the 717 designation, it had been used internally; the KC-135 Stratotanker, a military cousin to the 707, had originally been referred to as Model 717. Since that name had never been widely known outside the company, however, it made the perfect name for the new aircraft.

AirTran flight 1004 departs for
Orlando (MCO) on a 717

The 117 seat 717-200 made its first flight in September of 1998 and entered commercial service the following year. Three variants on the base model—a 130 seat 717-300, an 86 seat 717-100, and a 75 seat 717-100 lite—were proposed, but never built. Production of the Boeing 717 ended in 2006 with 156 having been built. The final aircraft was delivered to AirTran Airways in May of 2006. AirTran was the launch customer for the 717 and currently operates 88 of the 133 still in service. AirTran is also the only airline that flies the 717 to and from Harrisburg International Airport. As many as 5,700 passengers a month fly between Harrisburg and Orlando on the aircraft.

The Aircraft of MDT: B-17

Welcome to a special installment of The Aircraft of MDT. In this series we are taking a look at some of the aircraft that you may spot flying to and from Harrisburg International Airport.

Aluminum Overcast on her last visit to CXY

This week, HIA’s sister airport, Capital City Airport (CXY), will receive a visit from the B-17 Flying Fortress Aluminum Overcast. Aluminum Overcast is a B-17G that has been fully restored and makes an annual tour of the country.

The B-17 was originally developed in 1935 as a contender to replace the US Army Air Corps’s Martin B-10s. Although a crash of the prototype (known as the Model 299) meant that the contract was awarded to the Douglas B-18, the USAAC (soon to become the US Army Air Forces) did end up placing an initial order for thirteen of the Boeing bombers. The B-17 proved itself extremely capable, and by the end of production in 1945, more than 12,700 of the aircraft, across several variants, had been built. The B-17 saw combat across all theaters of World War II.

The B-17 earned its famous nick-name, the "Flying Fortress," when it was rolled out of the hanger prior to its maiden flight; reporter Richard Williams of the Seattle Times remarked on its many mounted machine guns, saying, “Why, it’s a flying fortress!” Boeing subsequently trademarked the name. The Model 299 that made that first flight had seven machine guns, the B-17G, the final production variant, had thirteen and could carry as many as 17,600 lbs of bombs. Of all the bombs dropped by the US on Germany during WWII, nearly 43% were dropped by the Flying Fortress, more than by any other aircraft type.

Aluminum Overcast is one of the nearly 8,700 B-17Gs that were built. The G variant was considered the definitive B-17 and more were built than any other variant. The particular craft that would become Aluminum Overcast, however, never saw combat; it was delivered to the USAAF on May 18, 1945, ten days after VE Day. After being stored as surplus, the aircraft was sold as scrap in 1946. It was resold shortly thereafter and went on to serve as an aerial mapping platform, a cattle hauler, and a pest control and fire-fighting aircraft. In 1978 the aircraft was purchased by a group known as “B-17s Around the World.” They named it Aluminum Overcast in honor of a B-17 that had been shot down over France in 1944. Facing financial difficulties, B-17s Around the World donated Aluminum Overcast to the Experimental Aircraft Association in 1979. The EAA put the aircraft on display until 1983 when it began a ten-year restoration project that refitted Aluminum Overcast with original and replica hardware. The aircraft is now an almost completely authentic recreation, inside and out, of a World War II era B-17, though allowances have been made for modern radio and avionics equipment to meet current airworthiness standards.

Aluminum Overcast

Each year Aluminum Overcast tours the United States and Canada allowing the public to walk through the aircraft on the ground or take half-hour flights. The tour is stopping at Capitol City Airport on August 30 and 31. Self-guided ground tours are available from 2–5 pm on both days. For more details, including information about flights, please visit the Aluminum Overcast website at B17.org.

The Aircraft of MDT: Bombardier CRJ

Welcome to the fourth installment of The Aircraft of MDT. In this series we are taking a look at some of the aircraft that you may spot flying to and from Harrisburg International Airport.

The Bombardier CRJ does not make the most flights to and from Harrisburg International Airport (that distinction goes to the Dash 8), but, with a potential maximum of over 24,000 per month, it does carry the most passengers. Aircraft in the CRJ family are operated by three of MDT’s airline partners: Delta, United Airlines, and US Airways. The CRJ comes in several variants, but the three that fly into Harrisburg are the CRJ200, CRJ700, and CRJ900. They are able to carry 50, 66 or 70 (depending on the airline), and 86 passengers, respectively.

Delta flight 5254 to Atlanta (ATL) prepares
to depart on a CRJ200

The CRJ name is an initialism for Canadair Regional Jet. The line is manufactured by Bombardier Aerospace, but the CRJ program was initiated by Canadair shortly before they were acquired, and after the purchase, the name stuck. Based on the Canadair Challenger business jet, the CRJ100 was introduced in 1992. The CRJ200, identical to the 100 except for its more efficient engines, followed shortly thereafter.

Following the success of the CRJ100/200, Bombardier launched the CRJ700 program. The CRJ700 family is based on the CRJ200, but features a new wing design as well as a body with a slightly larger circumference. The family includes the 66-78 seat CRJ700, the 75-90 seat CRJ900, and the 86-104 seat CRJ1000. The CRJ700 began service in 2001.

The Aircraft of MDT: Embraer ERJ-145

Welcome to the third installment of The Aircraft of MDT. In this series we are taking a look at some of the aircraft that you may spot flying to and from Harrisburg International Airport.

An ERJ-145 in American Eagle Livery

The Embraer ERJ-145 is a regional jet that entered service in 1995. It’s a common sight here at Harrisburg International Airport. Although the ERJ-145 isn’t the aircraft that makes the most flights in and out of MDT (that honor is held by the Dash 8), it is the most popular by number of airlines that operate flights on it. Of our seven airline partners, four—American, Delta, United, and US Airways—operate flights to and from Harrisburg on the ERJ-145.

Seating 50 passengers, the ERJ-145 is the largest of a family of jets manufactured by Brazilian aerospace company Embraer. The family also includes the ERJ-140 and the ERJ-135 which seat 44 and 37 passengers, respectively. As of May of this year there were nearly 1000 aircraft of the family operating around the world. Those operations include carrying as many

An ERJ-145 parked on the apron.

as 18,000 passengers to or from Harrisburg International Airport every month.

Aviation Field Trips for the Young & Young at Heart

Our Facebook fan page wall is a great place to crowd source the answers to many questions.  We know that many of you L-O-V-E to travel and be a tourist.  So we took the opportunity to ask our fans where they found to be the best spots for an aviation-themed field trip.  We were so pleased with the response!  

Looking for a great place to check out aircraft in your local area, or perhaps a new place to plan a trip to?  Well why not plane spot at these fantastic locations?  This list is not comprehensive and is in no particular order, but certainly includes some thoughtful recommendations from MDT fans: 

Wright Memorial (Kittyhawk, North Carolina)
Wind, sand, and a dream of flight brought Wilbur and Orville Wright to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina where, after four years of experimentation, they achieved the first successful airplane flights in 1903. With courage and perseverance, these self-taught engineers relied on teamwork and application of the scientific process. What they achieved changed our world forever.

St. Maartin

As the second busiest airport in the Caribbean after Puerto Rico's San Juan airport, St. Maarten/St. Martin airport serves as a gateway to the Lesser Antilles as well as an alternate route to the British Virgin Islands. And, given its famous dual French/Dutch personality, this fabulous destination is itself well worth at least a mini-vacation on its own.

Air Force Museum (Dayton, Ohio)

The National Museum of the United States Air Force galleries present military aviation history, boasting more than 360 aerospace vehicles and missiles on display -- many rare and one-of-a-kind -- along with thousands of historical items and powerful sensory exhibits that bring history to life and connect the Wright brothers' legacy with today's stealth and precision technology. We invite you to take an online glimpse of our galleries. Click on a gallery name to see exhibits, including aircraft, engines, equipment and weapons of the USAF. The section also highlights special exhibits, current exhibits and restoration projects.

Carolinas Air Museum (Charlotte, North Carolina)

The museum is conveniently located adjacent to Charlotte Douglas International Airport, so your visit will include watching all types of commercial and private aircraft land and takeoff.  The excitement of feeling the power of the big jets taking off is sure to be an experience all visitors will remember.

Museum of Aviation (Warner Robins, Georgia)

The summer is in full swing, and it’s the perfect time to visit the Museum of Aviation with vacationing visitors and your family. 

Guided tours are available and geared for people ages 5 to adult. They require a minimum of 10 people. The tours are history-based and led by the trained staff of the museum’s education department.

Museum of Flight (Seattle, Washington)The independent, non-profit Museum of Flight is one of the largest air and space museums in the world, attracting more than 400,000 visitors annually. The Museum’s collection includes more than 150 historically significant air- and spacecraft, as well as the Red Barn®—the original manufacturing facility of The Boeing Co. The Museum’s aviation and space library and archives are the largest on the West Coast. More than 100,000 individuals are served annually by the Museum’s on-site and outreach educational programs. The Museum of Flight is accredited by the American Associations of Museums, and is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution.

Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum (Pooler, Georgia)

The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum preserves for all Americans the stories of courage, character and patriotism displayed by the men and women of the Eighth Air Force from World War II to the present.

The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum’s vision is to sustain our cultural heritage, support lifelong character education, and to be a center of community engagement.

EAA AirVenture (Oshkosh, Wisconsin)

For 51 weeks a year, EAA is an international community of more than 160,000 members that nurtures the spirit of flight through a worldwide network of chapters, outreach programs, and other events.

But for one week each summer, EAA members and aviation enthusiasts totaling more than 500,000 from more than 60 countries attend EAA AirVenture at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where they rekindle friendships and celebrate the past, present and future in the world of flight.

Museum of Naval Aviation (Pensacola, Florida)

Fly high with an adventure at the National Naval Aviation Museum, one of the world’s largest aviation museums. Located aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola, this historic treasure boasts more than 150 beautifully restored aircraft, hands-on exhibits and more than 4,000 artifacts representing Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard aviation. Watch the awe-inspiring Blue Angels at practice air shows from March through November, take a ride in a motion-based or Top Gun Air Combat simulator, have fun with the ultimate seven story giant screen movie experience in the IMAX Theatre and dine in the Cubi Bar Café, an exhibit itself. There are plenty of family-friendly ways to get the most out of quality time with the kids.

Free admission is an added bonus, as well as free tours inside the Museum and on the flight line.

Udvar-Hazy Center (Washington, DC)

The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Washington Dulles International Airport is the companion facility to the Museum on the National Mall. The building opened in December, 2003, and provides enough space for the Smithsonian to display the thousands of aviation and space artifacts that cannot be exhibited on theNational Mall. The two sites together showcase the largest collection of aviation and space artifacts in the world.

Aircraft Graveyard (Tuscon, Arizona)

The Pima Air & Space Museum offers exclusive bus tours of the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG), also known as the "Boneyard." The facility is located adjacent to the Museum at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.

National Museum of the Marine Corps (Triangle, Virginia)

The National Museum of the Marine Corps is a lasting tribute to U.S. Marines--past, present, and future. Situated on a 135-acre site adjacent to Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, and under the command of Marine Corps University, the Museum's soaring design evokes the image of the flag-raisers of Iwo Jima and beckons visitors to this 120,000-square-foot structure. World-class interactive exhibits using the most innovative technology surround visitors with irreplaceable artifacts and immerse them in the sights and sounds of Marines in action. 

CR Smith Museum (Dallas, Texas)
C.R. Smith Museum is named for the innovative aviation pioneer and former President of American Airlines, Cyrus Rowlett Smith. The building of the museum honoring C.R. Smith and his accomplishments was the culmination of a two and one-half year fundraising and building effort led by various AA employee and retiree groups. The museum opened July 3rd, 1993.
Artifacts, which began with the Paul Kent Collection, were acquisitioned, painstakingly catalogued and incorporated into the museum's displays and archives by staff and volunteers. Many of these original volunteers are still actively involved with the museum.


Have we missed any that you think should be added to the list?  Where's your absolute favorite location to plane spot and absorb aviation history?