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.
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