Lyon Air Museum, Aviation museum at John Wayne Airport in Orange County, US

Lyon Air Museum is an aviation museum in Orange County located at John Wayne Airport, housing a large collection of military aircraft, vehicles, and motorcycles in dedicated exhibition halls. The collection includes several functional aircraft alongside restored ground equipment and memorabilia from different military periods.

The Lyon Air Museum opened in 2009 at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, founded by William Lyon, a real-estate developer and U.S. Air Force Reserve major general. Its collection centres on World War II, with eight airworthy aircraft including a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, a Douglas DC-3 and a North American B-25 Mitchell. Each year the museum also mounts a themed summer car exhibit.

The museum's eight aircraft are kept in airworthy condition, among them a Douglas DC-3 and a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. The DC-3 carries the markings of American Airlines, whose president was C. R. Smith; the airline's Douglas fleet was known as the Flagship line, and the aircraft bears U.S. Mail lettering. Each summer a car exhibit follows a chosen theme.

The museum sits on the west side of John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana. Eight aircraft in airworthy condition are on display, among them a B-17, a B-25 and a DC-3, so allow time to walk around the hangar floor. Each summer a car exhibit follows a set theme, worth checking before a visit.

The Douglas DC-3 on display carries the markings of American Airlines, whose fleet was led by C. R. Smith; the airline's president from 1934, Smith was the father of William Lyon's wife, and the aircraft is painted as a tribute to him. Look for the "AMERICAN AIRLINES", "U.S. MAIL" and "FLAGSHIP OF" lettering along the polished silver fuselage.