Mid-Atlantic Air Museum

11 Museum Drive
Reading, PA 19605
(610) 372-7333
http://www.maam.org/

Flying! Now there's a romantic pursuit. Aviation history and aircraft are fascinating subjects. And museums that feature them are as rare as . . . well, a P-61 Black Widow. The Mid-Atlantic Air Museum's got one of those. In all, the Museum's collection includes nearly sixty aircraft. Some are being restored, and many are ready to go right now. And many of them do go -- to various airshows around the country, so call before you visit on April through October weekends.

It began in 1980 when founders Gene and Russ Strine dreamed a dream: to recover a Black Widow from the jungles of Indonesia. They and twenty-three others began acquiring and preserving aircraft and aviation artifacts. In less than twenty years they have built the area's greatest air museum.

Just a few of the planes featured here:

• Douglas R4D-6 Goony Bird, the Museum's first acquisition
• The award-winning B-25J Briefing Time
• Lockheed P2V-7 Neptune bomber
• The beautiful Sikorsky HH-52A Seaguard, an amphibious helicopter
• The Vickers-Armstrong 745 D Viscount turbo-prop airliner
• A 1935 Kellett Autogiro
• The elusive Northrop P-61B Black Widow -- there are only four known to exist. Rescued from that Indonesian jungle, this one will be the only flying example when restoration is complete!

Many other great and historical aircraft can be seen, some in the Museum's 1943 Hangar, and others on the display ramp. Some of the aircraft are open to tour.As well as the aircraft themselves, the Museum offers wonderful exhibits, including World War II Aviation, Aviation in Cinema, Aviation Toys and Models, Airline History, Aircraft Designers and Manufacturers, and others. Cool airplane rides in a Navy Trainer are available during the summer.Throughout the year the Museum features great family events. The most famous is the weekend-long WWII Commemorative. Visitors step back in time to a WWII airstrip, complete with encampments and re-enactments. Flybys, aerobatics, parachute jumps, demonstrations, big band music, and other activities combine with the Museum's own aircraft and exhibits and many visiting aircraft to provide two solid days of fun and excitement. Don't miss it.Groups are welcome for tours, and teachers will get bushels of apples for bringing their School Groups of any age to this fantastic place.

Hours: Daily, 9:30 am - 4 pm. Closed major holidays.

Admission: Adults $6.00, Children 6 - 12 $3.00, Children 5 and under FREE. School Groups: Call for details.

Group Reservations: 2 weeks.

Lunch: Nearby restaurants and picnic area available.

Handicapped: Accessible.

Directions: I-76 West to Rt. 422 West to Reading (Rt. 422 Business) to Rt. 183 North to Reading Regional Airport. Pass terminal entrance and turn right onto Van Reed Rd. Museum is on right.

Time: 90 - 120 minutes northwest of Philadelphia.

Nearby: Berks County Heritage Center , Christmas Village , Roadside America , Daniel Boone Homestead , Merritt Museums , Pottsgrove Manor , Hopewell Furnace .