The Combat Air Museum:
A great little day trip for fathers and sons is paying a visit to the Combat Air Museum in Topeka, Kansas.
Copyright: Stephen Ventura, June 2012
I’ve been to other museums devoted to aircraft, and some of them were much better designed and laid out, such as the one at the Smithsonian, but the Combat Air Museum is by far my favorite. Truthfully, it’s nothing more than a a couple of military aircraft hangars packed with as many old aircraft as they could fit inside. But that’s its charm. Everything from the early days of military aircraft all the way up to present day is represented. They have airplanes, helicopters, drones, gliders, and more. Some of them are even set up for visitors to go inside, such as this old EC-121, set up outside one of the hangars.
Copyright: Stephen Ventura, June 2012
The EC-121 was an aircraft that first saw service in Vietnam. Loaded with radar and other monitoring equipment, the EC-121 provided early detection of MIG fighters, thereby giving some protection to other American aircraft. On the side opposite what’s pictured above, there’s a long set of metal stairs leading up into the plane. Visitors can go inside and walk all around inside the old aircraft. My son and I spent almost an hour inside it. He had a blast pretending to be the pilot and various members of the crew.
Inside the hangars, there are many aircraft to see. Here’s a few images to give you an idea of what to expect:
Blue Angel
Copyright: Stephen Ventura, June 2012
Curtiss JN-4 Jenny
The Jenny was used to train all U.S. World War I pilots. The U.S. government made over 5,000 of them for that purpose. When the war was over, many of them were sold in the civilian marketplace. Veteran pilots, as well as new flight enthusiasts, bought them and used them to make a living as barnstormers and stunt pilots. The one pictured below is actually a functioning replica. Most of it matches the originals, but some parts had to be changed to stay in keeping with contemporary regulations.
Copyright: Stephen Ventura, June 2012
F84F Thunderstreak
The Thunderstreak was in use by the U.S. Air Force from 1954 to 1972. Other NATO countries used a similar aircraft. Its main purpose was to carry out low level tactical nuclear strikes against military targets in Eastern Europe, in the event war ever broke out between the Soviet Union and NATO forces.
Copyright: Stephen Ventura, June 2012
MIG-15
Most people who know anything about military aircraft will remember the MIGs, that were used by the Soviet Union and related countries. The MIG below was donated to the museum by a gentleman named Steve Craig. According to the story given to me by one of the museum curators, Mr. Craig bought the old airplane and then flew it to Topeka, landed it on one of the now out of use airstrips at the museum, and then donated it.
Copyright: Stephen Ventura, June 2012
That’s just a sampling. There are many more aircraft there, as well as engines and other parts on display. Every item on exhibit has useful and interesting information displayed nearby, and I learned a lot about many of the craft there as well as military history. The staff were friendly and demonstrably interested in the subject matter, and were glad to answer our questions and give us interesting historical anecdotes. I recommend the place to everyone, regardless of whether or not you’re a aircraft or military history enthusiast. The three hours my son and I spent there was a great time, and I’ll stop by again next time I’m in Topeka.
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