November Is National Aviation History Month

Distracted by the more traditional holidays, you might not have noticed that the entire month of November is designated "National Aviation History Month." If there's an aviation museum near you—and there probably is—now might be a good time to check out what they have to offer, and what new things might be going on there. Wikipedia lists dozens of museums across the U.S., from tiny local collections of antiques to sprawling acres full of airplanes. Women, helicopters, Pipers, and just about any kind of airplane are highlighted in special collections around the country, and virtually every state has at least one museum devoted to things that fly.

If you've yet to visit one of our national aviation museums, the Smithsonian's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, in Chantilly, Virginia, will be celebrating its 15th anniversary next month. On Dec. 15, the museum will offer special curator talks, concerts and free parking. Museums haven't lost their appeal, and continue to expand. The National Museum of World War II Aviation, on the west side of the Colorado Springs Airport, broke ground this month for a new 40,000-square-foot exhibit hall, which will include a pair of flying boats from the war and two one-of-a-kind fighter planes.