Last September, we visited the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum, located in McMinnville, Oregon. This large facility is a great place to visit, whether you’re an aviator or not.

I featured their star attraction, the Spruce Goose, in a previous post. It dwarfs the other aircraft there. In several of my images, you’ll see parts of the Spruce Goose towering overhead.

I’ve divided this post by sections shown on the Museum map at the end of this post.

Early Flight

Several of the aircraft in this and other sections are replicas of the original. The first is a flying machine as envisioned by Leonardo Da Vinci, 400 years before the Wright brothers.

The next plane is a replica of a Curtiss Pusher.

This de Havilland DH-4 aircraft was used to deliver mail in the 1920s, as weather permitted.

This one is a Curtiss-OX-5. Since it’s displayed without its coverings, you get a unique view of the underlying structure.

This brightly colored one is a Curtiss C-1 Robin. This plane was purchased in 1929 and used for flight training and sightseeing in Michigan.

Spruce Goose at Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum

The Spruce Goose, otherwise known as the Hughes Flying Boat, took its one and only flight in 1947. Howard Hughes, an experienced pilot, flew the aircraft for about about one mile.

The Golden Age

This is a replica of the Spirit of St. Louis. The original aircraft, a Ryan NYP, was flown by Charles A. Lindbergh in a nonstop, solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean.

This is a view from above, taken from the stairway of the Spruce Goose.

This a Beechcraft D17-A Staggerwing. They were marketed as high-speed, comfortable business class aircraft. This is the last known example of this model.

Korean War

This is a Messerschmit ME 262 Swallow. The Me 262 is known as the first jet-powered fighter aircraft.

This is a Gee Bee Model E Sportster.

This one is a Boeing Stearman Model 75 Kaydet. These rugged and maneuverable airplanes were often used in training. This one was built in 1943 as a US Navy N2S-5.

This is a Republic F-84 Thunderstreak. Deliveries of these aircraft began in 1954. They were capable of cruising airspeeds of 535 mph with a maximum speed of 695 mph.

Evergreen Aviation Homebuilts

One section of the Museum is dedicated to Homebuilt aircraft. Aviators often buy kits to build their own aircraft or buy ones others have built.

This is a Van’s RV-6 from the mid-1980s. The side by side seating of this model made it popular with consumers–over 2,500 kits were purchased and assembled. At one time, our family owned both a two-seat RV-4 and a one-seat RV-2.

Here’s another RV.

This one, with its unique tandem wing design, is a Quickie 2. The elevators are fitted to the forward wing, designed to control the pitch. It’s a taildragger-type plane, with fixed wheels on the spats of the forward wing.

I couldn’t resist taking a picture of this strange looking ariplane. This is a Homebuilt BD-5B. Though fun to fly, design flaws in the early versions left many of them half built. This one was built by a Bend, Oregon resident who tinkered away at it for 20 years.

World War II

This is a Ryan P-22 Recruit, used as trainer by the United States Army Corp during World War II.

This is a Fairchild PT-19 Cornell. They were used as military trainers by the United States Army Air Forces, Royal Air Force, and the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Here is a North American SNJ-6 Texan.

This a Beechcraft T-34 Mentor. It’s a military trainer,designed to replace the SNJ-6. This popular aircraft was employed by the military in over twenty nations.

Here’s an overview shot of the World War II section.

This is a nose shot of a Hispano HA-200 Saetas. This was the first Spanish-designed turbojet. They flew their first missions in 1974.

Civilian

This is a Curtiss CW-22 Falcon. They were used as civilian sport aircraft and by the military for reconnaissance, combat training, and general purpose.

Vietnam War

Here’s a McDonnell Douglas F4-C Phantom II. Employed by the US Marines, Navy, and Air Force, beginning in 1958, it was one of the most successful fighters flown.

Here’s a closer look inside the cockpit.

Additional Displays at Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum

On the main floor, you get a glimpse of aircraft being renovated.

If you go upstairs, there are a few more exhibits.

You can get an up close view of a Hughes XF-11 Reconnaissance aircraft. it looks puny with the Spruce Goose in the background.

Or how about an upside down aerobatic aircraft?

This is a display of flight attendant uniforms from all over the world. Remember when they were referred to as stewards and stewardesses?

They have a nice gift store named Rotors, Wings, & Things.

You’ll find old commercial aircraft seats scattered throughout the Museum. Take the opportunity to rest your feet and take in all the sights!

Here’s a map of the Aviation Museum.

I will be featuring the space-themed part of this Museum in a future post.

Be sure to check out my post on the Spruce Goose here.

Word of the Day Challenge – Aviator