Dayton Airplane Museum

[SWR]

Looking for all hints, tips, tricks for going to see the museum. How should I plan it, what method or direction to go about seeing all efficiently. Where to eat in the area and where to stay ( does not have to be close by but within 15-20 minutes is good.

Thanks
Steve

 

[kentucky yeti]

Looking for all hints, tips, tricks for going to see the museum. How should I plan it, what method or direction to go about seeing all efficiently. Where to eat in the area and where to stay ( does not have to be close by but within 15-20 minutes is good.

Thanks
Steve

We attend a car show there every year. Technically, the museum and Trans Am Nationals car show are in Fairborn, Ohio outside of Dayton. We stay at the Holiday Inn on Presidential Drive. There are several very nice hotels there in all price ranges, and you are about 7-8 minutes from the museum/base with very easy access. Probably should decide on a tour (they have a few different ones) and make that reservation as soon as you arrive that morning, since they book full every day. We stop there every year for a half-day walkabout, and it honestly has taken 3 years to see everything. You will only be able to do one tour via bus (to the base) per day. That's all time will allow. The rest of the day is up to you to walk around the museum.
As for eating- about 30 minutes from Fairborn is a town called Clifton. The Clifton Mill is one place we make a point to eat at every year. The scenery, covered bridge, the country drive to get there, everything about it is great. Also in Dayton, at the I-75 exit 59 to Benchwood Rd/Wyse Rd, exit, turn left, then right on Miller Drive. Smoky Bones gets 5 stars from us! Otherwise, there are several nice eating places around the hotels I mentioned, many within walking distance.
They have a few planes outside- I get permission to take pics of my cars with the outside planes when we are there.

Hanoi Taxi 2010 (2019_12_02 00_43_02 UTC) by kentuckyyeti, on Flickr

1 by kentuckyyeti, on Flickr

 

[Dave P.]

We always visit when I run the Air Force marathon.
There are plenty of places to stay within a few miles of the museum. Most are
chains that are ok...we're not talking fancy high end stuff and plenty of restaurants
around. The museum has a few food court types in it also.
We always stay at the Comfort Suites Dayton-Wright Patterson, almost across the
street from the museum entrance which is off Springfield ( DR ? street ? ) on the
north side of the museum. Again nothing fancy but convenient location.
Google it and you will see what I'm talking about.
I like to go basically when it opens on a weekday morning, it's been pretty much
deserted that time of day when we've been there. Depending on your interests
and how much detail you'll want to see maybe figure a day to wander around in it.
There's a lot of "stuff" there with obviously more focus on Air Force compared to
the Smithsonian Air and Space museum in Washington.
Dave

 

[sceva]

They have it laid out with a starting area, go slow and enjoy the sights. Do not even begin to think you can see it all in a day. ( Unless you lived nearby and have been there many many time like me ) Save the outside displays for later and, if you have enough time take the bus ride over to the annex building(s)

 

[SWR]

No more bus ride to the aux buildings. That part of it has been eliminated. They would not clearly confirm what had been moved over or what I was going to miss. Probably all of the experimental planes --- great , when I finally get the chance to go they take away all the really interesting stuff

 

[kentucky yeti]

No more bus ride to the aux buildings. That part of it has been eliminated. They would not clearly confirm what had been moved over or what I was going to miss. Probably all of the experimental planes --- great , when I finally get the chance to go they take away all the really interesting stuff

Dang, I hate that for you. The Presidential plane tour was also a great tour.

 

[Dave P.]

Most of the stuff that was in the annex area has been moved into the main hangers.
Dave