Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum, Aviation museum in San Diego, US.
The Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum is a collection of military aircraft and equipment that documents the history of United States Marine Corps aviation. The exhibits showcase cockpits, weaponry, navigation instruments, and personal items belonging to pilots from various combat eras.
The museum was founded in 1991 at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro and relocated to Miramar in 1999 to accommodate its growing collection. In 2025, the institution moved again, transporting its aircraft to a new location in Irvine, California.
The museum shows the evolution of aviation through the eyes of pilots and mechanics whose stories are displayed throughout the galleries. Visitors can understand how these aircraft shaped American military operations and the people who flew them.
The museum is accessed through the new Great Park location in Irvine, which is easily reachable by car with ample parking. The hangar interior is air-conditioned, but the grounds can be sunny during warm weather, so sun protection is recommended.
One aircraft in the collection flew the American ambassador during the evacuation from Vietnam in 1975 and carries this historical weight today. This particular plane connects visitors directly to a pivotal moment in American history.
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