Navy Test and Evaluation Museum

Hi-de-ho road warriors. Ya know, nothing gets my day started faster than the smell of jet fuel in the mornin'. So I think today's trail ride will be a real treat, since it is one very special to me.

The U. S. Navy's Test and Evaluation Museum in Lexington Park, Maryland is one of about a dozen (I think) authorized museums around the country, and this one is one of the crown jewels. One of the most special treats about visiting the museum is that you may wander in and see some of our finest Americans retiring from military service.

The museum provides a very dignified backdrop as my shipmates swallow the anchor and close out a career of honorable service to our country. As a matter of fact, Red retired from the Navy in this very venue, among the planes and artifacts of our great Navy's aviation history.

While I'm at it, I will strongly encourage you, if you happen to be in the presence of a retirement ceremony, sit down, shut up, and learn something. Ya might want to thank them for their service, and buy them a beer while yer at it.

The museum is located just outside Gate 1, which means you don't have to deal with getting onto the base. Unfortunately, it's not as well marked as it should be, so you have to pay attention. The museum is kind of small, and will only take about 2 hours to get through. There are some wonderful old pilots who volunteer there (most of these geezers were flying while I was still thinking girls carried cooties), and are happy to provide almost personalized tours of the building. They tell some great sea stories, too!! Outside are displays of test aircraft, including our newest Joint Strike Fighter. There are helicopters (yay!) and fixed-wing aircraft (yuck!) that have played major roles in our Navy's and our country's conflicts.

Inside the building is one of the last inflatable planes made by Goodyear. It's in a frightfully fragile condition, and there are efforts to try to preserve it. Also included in the museum are a Pioneer Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), helmets, simulator cockpits, a sort of iron lung designed to simulate G-forces, a short history and display of ejection seats, and some engines.

It's not a big place, and there are plans to build a modern, glass and steel, high tech building that will eventually include more planes and (from what I hear) other Aviation Test and Evaluation efforts like missiles, propellers, engines, and stuff like that.

There is a small gift shop, but has a varied selection of Things Aviation, books, shirts, keychains, the usual junk. I mean souvenirs.

TNT, (that's 'til next time')

Peace and Aviation Grease

Red

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Navy Test and Evaluation Museum

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