The Museum of Aviation, originally the Southeastern Museum of Aviation, was founded in 1980, after World War I aviator Guy Orlando Stone offered his collection of aviation memorabilia to Robins Air Force Base under the condition that the base could build a museum to house it.[2] The Air Force approved the museum in late 1980, and the Southeastern Museum of Aviation Foundation, a non-profit Organization, was incorporated in 1981 with the support of local civilians and base officials.[2] Also in 1981, the Air Force Logistics Command, under General James P. Mullins, created its Heritage Program to preserve the history of Air Force logistics. The museum became a part of the base's contribution to the program.[2]
The museum opened its first office in 1982 after the acquisition of another private collection.[2] That same year, the Air Force approved the museum's ten-year plan, and fundraising efforts began to collect the $9.5 million in projected construction costs for a permanent museum facility.[2] The museum's first airplane arrived in 1983; a total of twenty-seven airplanes were acquired over the course of the year. The museum officially opened to the public in November 1984 with twenty planes on display and twenty more being restored.[4]
By 1988, the museum's name had changed to the Museum of Aviation at Robins.[5]
In the 1990's, museum facilities expanded with addition of the "Hangar One" exhibit space in a former aircraft hangar.[5] In 1992, the museum dedicated its 60,000-square-foot "Phase II" facility, later named the Eagle Building, which housed a theater, a diorama, and more aircraft, among other exhibits.[5] In 1996, the "Century of Flight Hangar" added an additional 60,000 square feet.[5]
In 2013, the museum announced that thirty-two aircraft were to be removed from display.[8] Some of these were relocated to other museums, while others were scrapped on-site.
In 2019, the museum unveiled a statue of Eugene Bullard, the first African-American pilot to fly in combat. Bullard, a native of Columbus, Georgia, served in the "Aéronautique Militaire", orFrench Air Force during World War I. He was posthumously commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force in 1994.[9]
The SR-71 Blackbird on display is the current record holder for the fastest flight airspeed. Serial number 61-7958 set an absolute speed record of 1,905.81 knots (2,193.2 mph; 3,529.6 km/h) on July 28, 1976, which stands today.[80]
The museum hosts a non-profiteducation center called the National STEM Academy. The academy offers field trip and independent programs that integrate hands-on STEM disciplines with the humanities such as history and literature. The programs is targeted towards gaining career opportunities and workforce development strategies. Field trips, workshops, and special events are conducted both at the Museum of Aviation, through outreach at school sites, and via live virtual field trips.
^"Plan Your Visit". Museum of Aviation. Retrieved 2019-07-09.
^ abcdefgHead, William; Iobst, Richard W. (Summer 1992). "Preserving the History of Air Power Logistics in the Southeast: The First Decade of the Museum of Aviation at Robins AFВ, Georgia" (PDF). Air Force Journal of Logistics: 25–29.
^Museum of Aviation Donor Guide(PDF). Museum of Aviation Foundation. pp. 3–4.
^"About the Museum of Aviation". Museum of Aviation. Retrieved 2019-07-09.
^ abcdHead, William; Truluck, Diane H. (1997). A History of the Museum of Aviation at Robins AFB, The Crown Jewel of Georgia(PDF). Office of History, Warner Robins Air Logistics Center.
^"Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame: About". gaaviationhalloffame. Retrieved 2019-07-09.
^"Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame: Hall of Fame". gaaviationhalloffame. Retrieved 2019-07-09.
^Crenshaw, Wayne (23 March 2013). "Museum of Aviation dropping 32 aircraft". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 26 March 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
^Prior, Ryan (2019-10-09). "The first African-American fighter pilot now has a statue at an aviation museum in Georgia". CNN. Retrieved 2019-10-15.
^"B-17G "Flying Fortress" Undergoing Restoration". Museum of Aviation Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
^"B-29B "Superfortress"". Museum of Aviation Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
^"B-52D "Stratofortress"". Museum of Aviation Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
^"VB-26B "Invader"". Museum of Aviation Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
^"WB-66D "Destroyer"". Museum of Aviation Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
^ ab"LOANED AIRCRAFT BY LOC" (PDF). National Museum of the United States Air Force. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
^"B-57B "Canberra"". Museum of Aviation Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
^"B-1B "Lancer"". Museum of Aviation Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
^"C-45G "Expeditor" Undergoing Restoration". Museum of Aviation Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
^"EC-135N "Stratotanker"". Museum of Aviation Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
^"KC-97L "Stratofreighter"". Museum of Aviation Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
^"UC-78B "Bamboo Bomber"". Museum of Aviation Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
^"C-46D "Commando"". Museum of Aviation Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
^"C-7A "Caribou"". Museum of Aviation Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
^"C-47B "Skytrain"". Museum of Aviation Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
^"C-54G "Skymaster"". Museum of Aviation Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
^"C-119C "Flying Boxcar"". Museum of Aviation Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
^"C-123K "Provider"". Museum of Aviation Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
^"C-124C "Globemaster II"". Museum of Aviation Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
^"AC-130A "Spectre"". Museum of Aviation Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
^"C-130E "Hercules"". Museum of Aviation Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
^"C-141C "Starlifter"". Museum of Aviation Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
^"EC-121K "Constellation"". Museum of Aviation Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
^"VC-140B "JetStar"". Museum of Aviation Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
^"A-37A "Dragonfly"". Museum of Aviation Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
^"F-102A "Delta Dagger"". Museum of Aviation Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
^"F-106A "Delta Dart"". Museum of Aviation Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
^"P-40N "Warhawk"". Museum of Aviation Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
^"A-10A "Thunderbolt II"". Museum of Aviation Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
^"F-16A "Fighting Falcon"". Museum of Aviation Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
^"F-111E "Aardvark"". Museum of Aviation Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
^"F-80C "Shooting Star"". Museum of Aviation Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
^"F-101F "Voodoo"". Museum of Aviation Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
^"F-4D "Phantom II"". Museum of Aviation Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
^"F-15A "Eagle"". Museum of Aviation Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
^Espinosa, Shellie-Anne (28 June 2019). "F-15A becomes signature aircraft at Museum of Aviation". Robins Air Force Base. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
^"RF-101C "Voodoo"". Museum of Aviation Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
^"MiG-17 "Fresco"". Museum of Aviation Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2020.