The San Diego Air & Space Museum in San Diego, California is located in Balboa Park and is housed in a building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Air & Space museum is separated from the cluster of museums near the San Diego Zoo. No wonder that I could only count the visitors who made the walk from the busy and crowded zoo to the museum. When I was there, there were about 20 airplane and spacecraft enthusiasts.

Although some of the exhibits are reproductions, there are some noteworthy and original items in the museum. For example, the Apollo 9 Command Module has been in the museum since 2004 when it was moved from Michigan Space and Science Center. Then there is the Aeronca C-3 Collegian light aircraft that’s been in there since 1983. If you like an attack aircraft, see the Bell AH-1E Cobra Helicopter displayed in the Pavilion of Flight with rockets, Tow anti-tank missiles and a three-barreled 20mm Vulcan cannon. For those wanting to see a Boeing GPS-12 Satellite, there is one hanging on the ceiling.

Outside the building is the Convair YF2Y-1 Sea Dart — the first combat-type plane equipped with retractable hydroskis, the first delta-winged seaplane, and the first supersonic seaplane in the world. The Sea Dart has been in the museum since 1984.

The museum is quite huge. It’s circular layout is designed for visitors not to miss an exhibit. It took me 2 hours to see all of what’s inside.

There are flight simulators at the very end of the exhibits. For $8 per person, you can experience a 360-degree pitch, roll, spin and spiral action.

Admission Fee.

Adults (12 and over): $19.75
Youth (3-11 years): $10.75
Children 2 and Under: FREE

Hours.

The Museum is open seven days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m and closed on Thanksgiving Day & Christmas Day.

See more museums and attractions within San Diego.

Address.

2001 Pan American Plaza, San Diego, CA 92101

Museum Experience Rating.

My rating for this museum is 8/10.

Here is a video I took inside the museum:

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See also: My other travel adventures in the USA.

See also: List of National Parks.