To Contact Me


Date of visit: November 2019.
Preserve, Inspire, Educate and Celebrate is the motto of the San Diego Air & Space Museum, a Smithsonian affiliate
housed in the former Ford Building, Balboa Park, San Diego.
San Diego is a city which has one of the richest aviation heritages in the country. Convair was founded here, Ryan Aeronautical
was located here and the North Island Naval Air Station located in San Diego Bay is considered the home of naval aviation.
The San Diego Aerospace Museum as it was formerly known opened in February 1963, housed in the Balboa Park's Food & Beverage
Building and in 1965 the nearby larger Electric Building. In February 1978 the Electric Building suffered a devastating fire, which
destroyed more than fifty aircraft and the museum's extensive artefact and archival collections.
With public support and the formation of an Aerospace Museum Recovery Fund the museum re‑opened in February 1980 housed in
the old Ford Building (originally built by the Ford Motor Company for the California Pacific International Exposition
of 1935 and 1936).
In 1993 an annex was opened at Gillespie Field,
El Cajon, to house additional and larger aircraft and in 1996 the museum changed its name to the San Diego Air & Space Museum to better
reflect its mission and collection.
The museum is divided into galleries containing original and reproduction aircraft and spacecraft, emphasising the contribution
San Diego has made to aviation.
During my visit the museum was preparing for a function that evening in the Edwin D. McKellar Pavilion of Flight, which considerably
hindered photography and as a result i was unable to capture all the exhibits. The Pavilion of Flight was closed to the public but the
staff were very considerate in allowing myself quick access to capture the images shown.
Click on a Photo to activate the link. All photographs open in a new window.
Outside Exhibits
YF2Y-1 Sea Dart (135763)
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Lockheed A-12 (60-6933)
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World War 1 Gallery
Curtiss A-1 Triad
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Fokker E-III Eindecker
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SPAD VIIC.1 (B9916)
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Fokker Dr.1
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Fokker Dr.1
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Nieuport 28C-1 (6169)
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Albatross D.Va
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Nieuport 11 (N1256)
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Nieuport 11 (N1256)
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The Golden Age of Flight Gallery
Regarded as the period between 1919 to 1939 when aviation truly came of age.
Lincoln-Standard J-1 (N2826D)
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Ryan STA (NC17361)
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Ryan M-1 Messenger
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Ryan M-1 Messenger
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Gee Bee R-1 (NR2100)
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World War II Gallery
A6M7 Zero (23186)
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F6F-3 Hellcat (42874)
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F4U-7 Corsair (133704)
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P-51D Mustang (44-73683)
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P-51D Mustang (44-73683)
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Spitfire Mk XVI (SL574)
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Edward D. McKellar Pavilion of Flight Gallery
Originally an open courtyard, the now covered centre section of the musuem is where special events are held and where some of the larger aircraft are displayed.
Ford 5-AT Trimotor (NC9637)
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Ford 5-AT Trimotor (NC9637)
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PBY-5A Catalina (48406)
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AH-1E Cobra (77-22778)
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MiG-17 (3020)
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MiG-17 (3020)
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F-4J/S Phantom II (157267)
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F-4J/S Phantom II (157267)
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Modern Jet & Space Age Gallery
A-4B Skyhawk (142905)
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F/A-18A Hornet (161963)
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