Western North Carolina Air Museum - Museum in Hendersonville - 1340 E Gilbert St, USA

Cute place off the beaten path hidden in a neighborhood. Admission is free, but donations are welcome as that is what keeps the museum open. The gentleman who first greeted us was very funny, helpful, and informative. I could see and hear another man getting a thorough tour and explanation. All aircraft with the exception of one has flown and could fly again. Very cool. This is the first air museum I have been in where I have seen oil trays with sentiments coming out of the aircraft. It makes it quite real feeling. If you’re in the area, I would recommend a stop here.

This is the museum I most wish I lived close to... but I get ahead of myself. It's small, but don't let that fool you. This place is jam packed with planes, gliders, models, memorabilia, and fascinating stories. The hangar is lovingly maintained by a dedicated group of volunteers. They are ridiculously knowledgeable and hospitable, and their passion about airplanes (past and present) is infectious. I could spend hours just listening to their stories. It's easy to lose track of time taking it all in. There's plenty of well-restored and maintained aircraft, including a Sportfire (a functional, home-designed replica of a WWII Spitfire) and a 1970s autogyro that you can climb inside if you'd like. They also have an impressive library of airplane-related books that I'd love to explore further if only I were local. Admission is free, but I highly recommend donating so they can keep running (and maybe even expanding 🛩️). 12/10 stars 😉 Definitely going back.

My 4 1/2 year old grandson loves anything mechanical, so I knew he would love this place. A whole hangar of planes, replica planes, vintage equipment, photos, pilot uniforms, etc. Many of the planes you are allowed to get inside. He loved sitting in the fighter plane replica with the top closed, so he could get the real experience! He looked around the cockpit, grabbed the stick, and said "this is GOOD!" The volunteer on duty was very knowledgeable and pleasant and answered all our questions. The museum is free to visit with donations, which we were happy to give. An interesting and fun place for kids and adults.

Lots to see here. Lots of documentation of the varied exhibits. Nice recognition of some historically unrecognized groups - red tail squadron and WASPs.

Always enjoy coming here. Some of the animals were not there so disappointed but overall it is always a good trip. Bears needed water.

Awesome museum, very informative. My teens & my hubby loved it. Can't believe they had soooo many planes in one building. Definitely worth a visit

A must stop if you're in the area! We had a blast and we will absolutely be back again the next time we're in town. Philip was very knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful while we were there. The entry is free but do consider a donation while you are there. We need more great resources like this in the world.

Stopped by while travelling in the area. Nice hanger layout with lots of historical items and media to see and discover. Numerous very interesting aircraft on display both suspended above and on the floor. You are able to get up next to and see inside a lot of the displays on the floor. During my visit, I was able to take a ride in a helicopter, but don't expect that to be normal or available outside of special events. Museum entry was free and relies on donations and sponsors. The helicopter ride was $25 and up per person depending on the duration of flight.