The
throaty rumble of an idling World War II P-51D fighter, once heard,
is never forgotten. The snarling roar of the 12-cylinder Merlin
engine on its nose can be heard and felt for miles when it lifts
off the runway. Thanks to the Planes of Fame Museum, you don't need
a time machine to experience these sounds from the past. You just
have to head for Chino Airport in southern California.
Whether
you're an aviation buff looking for a unique destination or a southern
California resident with an interest in airplanes and flying, Chino
Airport and the Planes of Fame Museum make a great roadtrip destination
and are an easy drive from anywhere in southern California.
Most
museums are filled with once-useful artifacts that are now only
relics of the past. While the Planes of Fame Museum houses its share
of aviation mementos, it also offers something far more unusual
and exciting: historic planes that still fly. You never know what
you'll see taxiing or flying by at Chino - trainers, bombers, fighters,
antiques. It could be any of them, because the airport is also a
center where museums and private collectors restore military and
civil aircraft of all kinds.
Planes
of Fame hosts special events and seminars on the first Saturday
of each month. If the weather cooperates, planes from their collection
are flown after the presentations. These events provide a unique
opportunity to meet and hear men and women who made aviation history
and to watch aircraft you'll never see flying anywhere else.
A
P-51 Mustang prepares for take-off
On
my latest visit, I attended a seminar on air commando operations
presented by men who flew these challenging missions in World War
II, Korea, and Viet Nam. After the fascinating talks, the museum
cranked up their P-51D and a B-25 and flew a number of low-level
passes. They also offered rides in the B-25, but you need a heavier
wallet than I have—the requested donations for flights go upwards
from three figures.
The
Planes of Fame collection is eclectic, ranging from an 1896 Chanute
Hang Glider to relics of the early space age. It includes more than
150 aircraft, and over 30 of them are flyable. Primarily U.S., Russian,
and Japanese, many of these are the sole surviving examples of their
type. One remarkable specimen is the only totally authentic Mitsubishi
"Zero" fighter in the world, complete with its original
engine.
Parked
in and around the display hangars is a small collection of military
ground vehicles from World War II, and you'll also find a huge assortment
of aviation trophies, photos, models, and other memorabilia. Among
the mementos is aviation pioneer Roscoe Turner's 1933 Bendix air-racing
trophy, on loan from the Smithsonian Institution in Washington.
ROADTRIP
FACTS
Time to allow: For a weekday visit or on weekends when
there are no special events, the museum can be browsed
in 2-3 hours. Many people interested in aviation take
longer to consider specific displays.
Location/Phone/Admission/Special
Events: The museum normally has a special program, including
flights of war birds, on the first Saturday of each
month. Check
their Web site for information.
What
to bring: Slow and fast film or digital camera; walking
shoes, sun hat, binoculars if attending a special event.
Food:
Hotdog stand just outside meeting area; Flo's
Café nearby.
Area
Attractions: If your companions do not share an interest
in airplanes, Ontario
Mills, one of the largest and most unusual shopping
malls in the western U.S., is just a few miles up the
road. Or, if you are going in mid-September, a visit
to the Los
Angeles County Fair in Pomona, "the largest
county fair in the world," might be in order.
GETTING
THERE
From Union Station in downtown Los Angeles, take I-10
(San Bernardino Freeway) 24.8 miles to Cal-60 (Pomona
Freeway), 10.3 miles to South Euclid Avenue, then turn
right (south) 3.5 miles to Merrill Avenue, then left
0.2 miles along the airport boundary to the Museum.
