Wings of Freedom Aviation Museum, Delaware Valley Historical Aircraft Association, DVHAA

Big jets!

No matter what your views are on American military prowess, seeing big jets up close is awe inspiring. The Wings of Freedom Aviation Museum has 17 aircraft that you can check out.  (If you're looking for detailed information on the museum and the aircraft click on the link in the previous sentence.) Most of the aircraft are located outside.  On some visits we've been able to wonder around the aircraft on our own while others times we get a volunteer to take us around and tell us a brief history of aircraft. The indoor museum has thousands of small model airplanes that makes it hard for any small boy to resist the gift shop on the way out.  The indoor museum is a converted hanger and houses 4 aircraft as well as a two cockpit simulators that you can sit in.  So this place is a big hit with kids of all ages.  We've found the volunteers to be friendly and always ready to answer any question.  In this post we'll be highlighting some of the interesting things we've learned at the museum and showing off our photos from the day the "Huey" was open for us to sit it. (The aircraft are not usually open to guests.)  The Wings of Freedom Aviation Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday. (Click here for hours)  It's a great place to visit for an hour or so with the kids.  Even if the weather makes it tough to get outside to see the majority of the aircraft, the indoor museum can be lots of fun all by itself.  The museum is free to visit but they do ask you to sign in and there is a donation box at the front counter.  Enjoy our little insights and our photo tour.

 

The helicopter inside is like the one that flew into view on the opening credits of every episode of M*A*S*H*. 

Below is the Viper.  This is the kind of jet John McCain was shot down in in Vietnam.

Below is a close up of the Viper art work on the nose.

The C-1A "Trader" below has wings that fold up and a propeller that you can get real close to (but not touch.)

The Grumman F9F-2 "Panther" became the US Navy's "Blue Angel" demonstration teams first jet. (Also the first picture at the beginning of this post.)

I couldn't get confirmation on this but the flag below looks to be taken from a kamikaze from WWII. If you've got better information on this, please leave a comment at the end of this post. 

This was our lucky day!  Below is Max in the "Huey" with Frank attempting to climb on board.

Max flying.

Frank flying.

Max and Frank next to the Piasecki HUP-2 - a search and rescue helicopter for aircraft carriers in the 1950's.  (The volunteer that cuts the grass keeps some tools in this helicopter and let us take a look inside.  He framed this picture for us so we'd have a memoir of where we were - kind of cute.)

Please be aware that you cannot enter the airbase to get to the museum.  The entrance in on route 611 just south of the the entrance to the airbase.  It's a small parking lot and there is usually a large "open" sign posted near the entrance when they are open.  This last photo is the standard star and stripes taken from the HUP-2 helicopter.

We hope this give you a little taste of the museum.  If your kids like planes, you can't go wrong.

  

Review: Van Sant Airport

Outdoor Appeal: 10 (note: a 10 rating is usually given to a place that is primarily a natural setting. But Van Sant Airport is an outdoor gem that is worth a 10)

Setting: The park and airport sit on top of a ridge in Upper Bucks County. To the north is a view of another ridge. To the south and east the land falls away to the valley of the Delaware River. There are commanding views in all directions without the normal two dimensional sense you get from an airport on flat land. The runway is grass and planes typically take off towards the river, so it looks as though they are flying off the top of the ridge. It's a gorgeous setting.

Facilities: Civilized. The airport has restrooms, picnic tables and chairs in shaded areas and a very small area to sit inside the airport.

Review: It's sunny, in the mid 70's, a few puffy clouds in the sky and you're kicking back to watching the mirical of flight for a few hours. It's hard to beat Van Sant Airport on a sunny weekend. It's one of my favorite passive activities in Bucks County. We've been a few times and it's always been a treat. So what makes Van Sant Airport so different from other aiports? As I described above, the setting is phenomenal. Watching planes fly off the side of a mountain is just more exciting than taking flight from a flat stretch of land. Also, I mentioned the miracle of flight? Well the planes you see at Van Sant aren't your normal CESNA's and the like. It's a sports aviation airport, which I've gathered to mean that the planes are a bit unique and it truly is a miracle to see how some of these planes get off the ground and how they land. You'll see restored and vintage planes from the early part of the 20th century a la the Bloody Red Barron, gliders, ultra-lites, stunt planes and others that I can't identify. Many of them are brightly colored with bull's eyes and stars. Some look as though they couldn't possibly fly. We once saw an ultra-lite that had no sheet metal or fiberglass covering the body of the plane. It was just a series of triangulated pipes welded together, wings and a propeller - kind of like something the Wright brothers might have built. It was astonishing to see the thing land. Van Sant also attracts a large biker crowd which can be a show all in itself. By mid-day Harleys line up along the runway and it makes the whole place feel more festive. Plus, as pictured to the right, you can get a very close up view of the planes. There are picnic tables and chairs in the shade and sometimes on the weekends there is a grill going. It's a beautiful setting and a great atmosphere. Any given weekend day in the warmer months can make you feel like you are seeing a truly unique spectacle.
Recommendations: Bringing some picnic supplies is highly recommended. Although lots of planes go in and out of the airport, there are times when most of the planes are flying and the air-traffic slows down. Consider stocking up at the Kimberton Whole Foods in Ottsville. If you're coming from 611 it's on the way. There is plenty of shade to escape the sun but sunblock, a hat and sunglasses will go a long way. Staring at the sky for hours does funny things to your eyes and face. Happy trails.

Review: Doylestown Airport

Outdoor Appeal: 5

Setting: Local small craft airport, flat land, not much of a geographic view outside of airport grounds although the sky is wide open. Small picnic area

Explorable Op's: Very few. The main attraction here is the air-traffic. The area to view the planes is very small.

Difficulty: NA. This is a place to view planes take off and land. There are about 50 yards of flat ground to cover.

Facilities: Civilized. The airport has restrooms, vending machines and an indoor seating area. All are within seconds of the picnic area.

Review: We've been to the Doylestown Airport dozens of times with the kids and it is always a sure way to get some free entertainment. Like most small craft airports, the best days to visit are on the weekends. Doylestown has planes taking off and landing every few minutes on most Saturdays and Sundays. The outdoor area to view the planes is a small fenced in grassy yard so it's ideal for small children. They have a sense of freedom to roam yet they can never get too far away. The staff and pilots are friendly and often wave to the kids as they taxi down the runway. It's a great way to spend an hour or so on a Saturday or Sunday.

Recommendations: The picnic area has plenty of tables so bring a snack, lunch or even dinner if the timing is right. There is very little shade so think about sunglasses, sunblock and hats. We've noticed that a helicopter lands on Wednesday nights around 6 pm. This may actually happen every evening but we just happen to go on Wednesdays. Also, if your kids are into it, bring a toy play or helicopter with you to play with. It's a real hit with everyone.