Aviation history buffs looking to explore all the options the state of Washington has to offer will enjoy a visit to the Pearson Air Museum at Fort Vancouver.
Located about 120 miles south of Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Vancouver, the museum gives visitors the chance to experience the "Golden Age of Aviation," entering a world of wild barnstormers, experimental aircraft and aces of World War I and II.
Operated by the nonprofit Fort Vancouver National Trust, the Pearson Air Museum is located adjacent to the historic Pearson Air Field, one of the oldest operating airfields in the United States.
At the museum, visitors can learn about the inception of aviation - when flying was new to the world and those who flew in open cockpit aircraft, with the wind in their faces, were the ultimate daredevils.
The Pearson Air Museum's historic hangar was built in 1918 as part of the Army Spruce Division's cut-up plant, the world's largest such facility. The building was moved to its present location by the Army Air Service in 1924 and has since served as an aircraft hangar. During World War II the hangar was used briefly to house Italian prisoners of war. The Pearson historic hangar is the nation's oldest wooden structure still used to house aircraft.
Some of the museum's permanent exhibits include the world's first bomber, a reproduction of a World War I-era Fokker DR-1 tri-plane (the same kind of plane flown by the Red Baron) and a collection of priceless Russian Transpolar Flight memorabilia.
Other aircraft in the collection include a 1913 Voisin III (one of only three in the world), a 1941 DeHavilland Tiger Moth, a 1932 Fleet II, a 1941 Ryan Recruit, a 1941 Boeing Stearman, a 1942 Myers OTW, a 1943 AT-6D/SNJ-5 Texan, a 1953 Cessna 170 (which flew around the world in 1956-1957), a 1979 Baby Great Lakes, a Formula One Air Racer and a Piper L-4 Grasshopper.
Children will also get a kick out of the museum's hands-on science area and the Flight Simulator Lab, where they can practice takeoffs and landings. There is also a bookstore that carries aviation-themed books, movies, toys, models and more.
The Pearson Air Museum will also kickoff its 2012 guest speaker series Jan. 27 with a visit from E.E. Van Valkenberg, who served as chief communicator for Air Force One and flew with six presidents, vice presidents, heads of foreign countries, secretaries of state and many movie stars.
The lecture runs from 7 to 10 p.m. Those interested in attending must RSVP.
Museum admission is $7 for adults, $5 seniors/active military, $5 children ages 6-17, children 6 and younger are free.
The museum is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information or directions, visit www.fortvan.org.

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