Located at Ellington Field, the Lone Star Flight Museum is a new addition to Houston tourist destinations. The museum focuses on Texas’ role in aviation history and includes the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame. Not too far from NASA’s Johnson Space Center, it’s easy to tour both in one day.
Aircraft Displays
Two hangars flank the main entrance hall and the theater featuring an introduction to the museum. We started with the Heritage Hangar to the right of the theater where about a dozen early aircraft welcomed us.
The museum opened in the fall of 2017 so everything was new and shiny. The planes were in a similar condition. I’ll just say upfront that I’m not an aviation buff. However, the mint condition these planes exhibited impressed me. I walked by most of the exhibits until a commercial airplane peaked my interest.
Intrigued by early passenger air travel, I read all the information posted near the plane. Did you know early versions of the DC-3 came with sleeping berths?
Texas-based American Airlines originally flew the DC-3’s commercially in 1936. However, manufacturers also built them for military purposes during WWII. After the war, engineers converted many of the military models to commercial purposes making it inexpensive for airlines to purchase and thus advancing passenger air travel’s popularity.
The Waltrip Hangar focused more on military planes and helicopters such as the Bell TIH-IP Cobra and the Sikorsky S-76.
Flight Academy
By far my favorite exhibit, the Flight Academy explains fundamentals of flight in layman’s terms. With interactive displays, we explored different areas of flight such as lift, wing shape and the effect of weather on flying. Visitors could “pilot” a hang glider with the help of a 3-D screen and a docent.
Texas Aviation Gallery and Hall of Fame
We walked through placards detailing how Texas and Texans played a major role in aviation history. The Hall of Fame honors over 75 aviators who made significant contributions to the industry. Members include commercial airline executives: Paul and Tom Braniff (founders of Braniff Airlines), Herb Kelleher (founder of Southwest Airlines) and Gordon Bethune (CEO of Continental Airlines); as well as several famous astronauts: Jim Lovell, Gene Certain, and Alan Beam. Famous pilots Wiley Post and Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger (Miracle on the Hudson) are included as they were born in Texas.
Surprisingly, I learned Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry flew B-17s and U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen commanded a B-24 squadron in WWII. The Hall of Fame also features several women: Bessie Coleman, Jeanna Yeagar and Azalea White.
Flight Simulators in the Aviation Learning Center
The free weekend flight simulator sessions drew us to this museum in the first place. With six children in our group, we anxiously awaited the 11 am opening session. The docent explained the Learning Center is mostly used for 5th-12 grade student field trips during the week. These students learn fundamentals of flight, file an FAA flight plan and fly one of the simulators.
Fortunately, the museum opens the flight simulators to the public on weekends (limited hours). Participants must be over 10 to sit in the pilot’s seat, but anyone can be a “co-pilot.” With about 10 simulators, nobody in our group waited for a spot. The ride took about 10 minutes and the staff answered questions for all the participants.
Drone Demos
On the day of our visit, the museum offered drone demonstrations. Participants donned reality glasses which tied into a camera from the drone. As the technician flew the small drone, participants laughed, ducked and screamed as the drone whipped around them for several minutes. It was the perfect way to conclude our visit.
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