The Classic car Season is just around the corner and Clubs and others are always looking for a place to Cruise to and make a day of it.  

This past weekend I ran across a place that I think anyone from 5 years old to 100 years old would enjoy. You are surrounded by aviation history and the nice thing is, it’s not that far away, and not expensive at all!

I’m talking about The Aviation Museum of Kentucky. It is located in Lexington, Kentucky, just off US 60 on Hanger Road.

Last Sunday we took to the road to check out some places for the Car Club to Cruise to this summer and we ran across this Museum.

I was so impressed with not only the Museum but our guide also. His name is Bob Cole, 87 years old and he himself was a pilot in the military. His knowledge of aircraft and the history behind each plane made the tour a wonderful adventure.

Bob was a textbook of information on each plane, where they were used, when they were taken out of service and even who built the planes.

As you listened to him talk and looked at the planes and the engines he was explaining it made you feel like you had been at the place he was talking about and experienced the things he told about.

In the exhibit we saw a Pratt Red Sailplane. This plane was used in WW II as a training plane. This plane holds the world’s multi-place glider altitude record of 44,255 ft. It has a wingspan of 55’ and only weighs 770 lbs.

There was a Helicopter “Cobra” that was in service in Vietnam.

It had a shark’s mouth painted on the front of it. According to Bob Cole this was to psychologically intimidate the enemy.

Also in there was a Crosley Moonbeam airplane that was built in 1929 by Powel Crosley.  This plane is very rare because there were only five of them ever built.

Yes, this is the same man who built the Crosley car and developed the Crosley Field. The former home of, the Cincinnati Reds ball team. According  to our guide, Bob, the Crosley plane on display there was the fifth and last plane that Crosley built.

There were airplanes there from WW I, WW II, Vietnam, and Desert Storm along with private aircraft from the past.

As you walk in the door to the Museum you see a blue stripe painted on the floor. It goes under the airplanes and from the doorway to the corner of the hanger. The first thought that popped into my head was, I wonder what that blue line is for?

Before I had the chance to ask, our Guide explained that the blue stripe painted on the floor was the actual length of the first flight by Orville Wright.

It is 120 feet long and the flight took 12 seconds.

There is so much to see and so many stories to be heard at the Museum that you would enjoy going with your club or even just a family looking for something to do on a nice day.

Something that the kids would enjoy also, there is a camp held every year for kids 10 to 15 where they learn about aircraft and at the end of the camp they actually get to fly a plane. It’s really inexpensive also.

Everyone from young to old will enjoy the flight simulators.

You get into the simulator and fly the plane just as if you were flying a real plane. It’s a lot of fun and a great experience for all.

I can’t say enough about our guide, Bob Cole either. Maybe if you are lucky you will get Bob for your guide.

If you would like more information or plan a trip there you can check it out at www.aviationky.org or give them a call at 859-231-1219.

If your Car Club is having an event and you would like us to tell everyone about or someone who you would like to see featured in this article send all information to, djron47@yahoo.com . All information on upcoming events needs to be in at least two weeks before the event.

If your Club or church or group is having an event and you would like to display some classic cars at that event let me know at least two weeks before the event.

I will put you in contact with one of the clubs that will gladly bring their cars out for display.

Until next time, Keep Cruisin!