Air Force Ingenuity on Exhibition

If you have any interest in the military or its aircrafts, this hands down must be the best attraction in the U.S., if not the entire world.  Located near the Eglin Air Force Base in Fort Walton Beach, the Air Force Armament Museum is an absolute treasure trove of history, artifacts, and military aircrafts on display.  The museum website lays claim that they are “the only museum in the world dedicated to the collection, preservation, and exhibition of artifacts and memorabilia associated with Air Force Armament and its platforms of delivery.”  The museum is not on the Air Force Base itself, making it accessible to the general public.  Remarkably, it is FREE admission and parking, though they do welcome donations to assist in the maintenance, restoration projects, expansion, and availability for all to continue to see and enjoy the facility.  Upon arriving at the museum, you are greeted by a fleet of 29 different aircraft dating back to the WWII, Korean, Vietnam, and Gulf War eras that surround the museum.  I was visually awestruck by the size, the age, and the number of aircraft made available to get up close and personal with.  The grand centerpiece on display was the SR-71 Blackbird.  It is the fastest plane ever built and it is a beast in size.  To add to the experience, present-day military jets from Eglin were performing their exercises overhead as we explored the aircrafts on exhibit around the property.  It was truly a “geek out” moment for me as I love to watch military aircraft do their maneuvers.  To see it happen in the atmosphere we were in was over-the-top for me.  Just outside the museum entrance, MOAB was on display.  It stands for Massive Ordnance Air Blast, representing the largest non-nuclear bomb in the U.S. arsenal.  When you enter the museum, there is a gift shop off to your left that contains a wide selection of items, including apparel, books, patches, flags, coins, and models.  The museum is primarily a self-guided tour experience.  It begins with an optional 32-minute film on the history of Eglin Air Force Base and its contribution to the development of armament.  The museum contains several hundred pieces of armament relating to guns, bombs, rockets, missiles, and much more.  Their collections are presented in various displays, exhibits and interactive mixed-media formats spanning two levels wall-to wall.  There is so much to see and so much information provided, it is overwhelming, yet an awesome opportunity that should not be missed.  I would love to share some of the photos I took, but the museum does not allow photography to be used beyond personal use.  Here is a link to their website to see images of the museum and all they have to offer.  Air Force Armament Museum Foundation | Admission is FREE and all are welcome!

Air Force Armament Museum

100 Museum Dr, Eglin AFB, FL 32542