Following the end of the recent federal government shutdown, two of the nation’s premier aviation museums are reopening their doors to the public on Friday, Nov. 14: the National Naval Aviation Museum at Naval Air Station Pensacola and the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. Both institutions will resume normal operations and welcome visitors back to explore their world-class collections.
At NAS Pensacola, admission to the National Naval Aviation Museum remains free. Visitors can once again experience the museum’s extensive array of historic naval aircraft, interactive exhibits, flight simulators, and the iconic Blue Angels display. The reopening will also coincide with a Blue Angels practice session at 1 p.m. on Friday, with flight-line gates opening at 11 a.m. This will be the team’s final public practice of the year. Public access to NAS Pensacola will be available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. via the West Gate on Blue Angel Parkway. Visitors aged 18 and older must present a REAL ID-compliant ID or valid U.S. passport. Foreign nationals must be escorted by a U.S. citizen driver who will undergo a background check at the visitor center. All individuals and vehicles are subject to security screening. All bags must comply with the museum’s Clear Bag Policy: permitted bags must be transparent and no larger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″. Small clutch bags up to 4.5″ x 6.5″ are allowed, while backpacks, large purses, and other opaque bags are prohibited. Parking is free but limited; once lots are full, base access may be restricted.
Meanwhile, the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force will reopen on Friday at 9 a.m. Visitors can explore more than 350 aerospace vehicles and thousands of artifacts displayed across four expansive hangars, covering the full breadth of American air and space history. For more information on exhibits, hours, and visitor requirements, guests are encouraged to visit each museum’s official website. For the National Naval Aviation Museum at Naval Air Station, visit www.navalaviationmuseum.org, for National Museum of the U.S. Air Force the visit, www.nationalmuseum.af.mil.
