Explore Aviation History

Journey through aviation history from the Space Age back in time to when the Wright Brothers first took to the skies in 1903.

Apollo 7 Command Module (1968/1968) by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)Frontiers of Flight Museum

Space Age Gallery

The Museum's premier exhibit, the Space Age Gallery, is anchored by the Apollo 7 Command Module, which spent ten days orbiting the Earth in 1968. Also included in the Gallery is a Moon Rock, space suits, and many other significant items in America's race to space. Special thanks to the National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, for many items on long-term loan to the Museum in the Space Age Gallery.

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American Flag from Apollo 7 Mission, Col. Walter Cunningham, USMCR, Apollo 7 Lunar Module Pilot, 1968/1968, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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Space Suit Glove Dip Forms, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), 1969/1969, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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Moon Rock, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), 1971/1971, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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T-33A “Shooting Star” Aircraft (1950/1950) by LockheedFrontiers of Flight Museum

Cold War Gallery

The Cold War Gallery includes numerous aircraft, missiles, and flight simulators from America's longest undeclared conflict between the United States and the former Soviet Union. The Gallery is home to the world's only SR-71 "Blackbird" simulator and one of the few surviving "Regulus II" supersonic cruise missiles.

RF-8G “Crusader” Aircraft, Chance Vought, 1965/1965, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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A-7 "Corsair II" Aircraft, LTV, 1966, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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F-105D “Thunderchief” Aircraft (1959/1959) by RepublicFrontiers of Flight Museum

Lt. Col. Marty Case, F-105 Pilot

T-38 "Talon" Aircraft, Northrop, 1961, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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XQM-93A Aircraft, E-Systems, 1970/1970, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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F-16B “Fighting Falcon” Aircraft, Lockheed Martin, 1979/1979, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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SR-71 “Blackbird” Simulator (1963/1963) by LinkFrontiers of Flight Museum

Col. Richard Graham, SR-71 Pilot

F-4D “Phantom II” Simulator, Link, 1967/1967, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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SSM-N-9 “Regulus II” Cruise Missile, Chance Vought, 1956/1956, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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BQM-MQM-74 “Chukar”, Northrop, 1968/1968, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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109C “Tomahawk” Cruise Missile, Raytheon Missile Systems, 1984/1984, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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TH-1L “Iroquois” (Huey) Helicopter (1970/1979) by Frontiers of FlightFrontiers of Flight Museum

Collings Foundation UH-1 "Huey" Liftoff from the Museum

Bell 47 Helicopter, Bell Helicopter, 1963/1963, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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UH-1D “Iroquois” (Huey) Helicopter, Bell Helicopter, 1961/1961, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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Lear Fan 2100 Aircraft (1982/1982) by Frontiers of Flight MuseumFrontiers of Flight Museum

General Aviation Gallery

The General Aviation Gallery covers over 100 years of the non-military aspects of aviation. In addition to the development of the commercial airline industry, the Gallery highlights aviation’s importance to agriculture, law enforcement, corporate travel, sport flying, and many other applications.

Learjet Model 24D Aircraft, Lear Jet Industries, 1966/1966, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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Flying Boat Display, Pan American Airlines, 1930/1939, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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747-100 Cut-Away Model, Japan Airlines, 1970/1970, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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Commercial Airline “Black Box” Flight Data Recorder, Frontiers of Flight Museum, 1965/1965, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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Flight Suit, Voyager Pilot Dick Rutan, 1986/1986, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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BS-1 Glider, Glasflügel, 1963/1963, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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Meyer’s “Little Toot” Aircraft, James Mahoney, 1968/1968, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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Pitts Special S-2B Aircraft, Curtiss Pitts, 1966/1966, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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Bü 133 “Jungmeister” Aircraft, Bücker, 1972/1972, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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Laser 200 Aircraft, Jim Roberts, 1980/1980, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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Boeing 737-300 Spirit of Kitty Hawk (1984/1984) by Frontiers of FlightFrontiers of Flight Museum

Southwest Airlines Gallery

Anchored by the first Boeing 737-300 named “The Spirit of Kitty Hawk,” the Southwest Airlines Gallery features a wide array of artifacts documenting the history of this iconic airline, headquartered at Dallas Love Field. Also included in the Gallery are interactive kiosks, an authentic terminal ticket counter, and vintage crew uniforms.

Vintage Southwest Airlines Ticket Counter, Frontiers of Flight, 1970/2000, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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Original Southwest Airlines Captain’s Collection, Captain Fred S. Deakins, 1971/1971, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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Boeing 737-200 Nose Section, Boeing Corporation, 2004/2004, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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Braniff Flight Hostess Uniforms (1937/1982) by Braniff AirlinesFrontiers of Flight Museum

Braniff Airlines Gallery

The Braniff Airlines Gallery employs vintage Flight Hostess uniforms, photographs, cabin service items, model aircraft, and other authentic artifacts from hundreds of former employees. This iconic airline first flew out of Love Field in 1929 and was headquartered at the airport from 1942 to 1974.

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A glimpse into life as a Braniff Flight Hostess

Gemini 4” Braniff Flight Hostess Uniform, Emilio Pucci, 1965/1965, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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Food Service Tray, Braniff Airlines, 1940/1949, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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Braniff 727 Flying Colors of the United States Model, Alexander Calder, 1937/1982, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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Braniff Airlines Supersonic Concorde Model, Captain Glenn Shoop, 1979/1979, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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PT-22 “Recruit” Aircraft (1941/1941) by Ryan Aircraft CompanyFrontiers of Flight Museum

World War II Gallery

The World War II Gallery celebrates the heroism and achievement of aviators who contributed so much to the success of the war effort. Included in the Gallery are aircraft, engines, and personnel from the U.S. Army Air Corps, Navy, and Marines as well as the British Royal Air Force and groundbreaking Tuskegee Airmen.

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V-173 "Flying Pancake" Walkaround

Stearman PT-17 "Kaydet", Boeing, 1941, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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“Tiger Moth” DH82H Aircraft, De Havilland, 1940/1940, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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B-17 “Flying Fortress” Autopilot System, Boeing, 1940/1945, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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Merlin”V-12 Aircraft Engine, Rolls-Royce, 1933/1951, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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P-47 “Thunderbolt” Aircraft Model (2012/2012) by Frontiers of Flight MuseumFrontiers of Flight Museum

"High Flight" narrated by Capt. Charlie Mohrle, WWII P-47 Pilot

Gee Bee R-1 Aircraft Model (2011/2011) by Frontiers of Flight Museum Model ShopFrontiers of Flight Museum

Golden Age Gallery

The Golden Age Gallery celebrates the twenty-year period between the two World Wars that saw remarkable advances in aircraft performance, reliability, and utility. Military, commercial, and private aviation all recorded significant progress during this fascinating time of exploration and innovation. Also featured are rare artifacts from the age of the giant airships, which grew from weapons of terror in World War I to luxurious vehicles of intercontinental travel.  

Williams “Texas Temple” Sportsman Monoplane, Frontiers of Flight Museum, 1930/1930, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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The Link Aircraft Trainer, Edwin Link, 1931/1931, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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Floyd Bennett Ford Tri-Motor Model (2014/2014) by Frontiers of Flight Museum Model ShopFrontiers of Flight Museum

Building the Museum's Ford Tri-Motor Model

Hindenburg Airship Artifacts, Frontiers of Flight Museum, 1937/1937, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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USS Los Angeles Radio, Frontiers of Flight Museum, 1920/1929, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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Airship Frame Section, USS Akron, 1929/1929, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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“Firefly 7” Hot Air Balloon Gondola, Frontiers of Flight Museum, 1980/1980, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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Sopwith “Pup” Reproduction Aircraft (1916/1916) by Jim and Alinda Wikert, Dallas, TexasFrontiers of Flight Museum

World War I Gallery

The World War I Gallery displays original artifacts from "The Great War" in which aircraft first saw use in combat during a major conflict. Extensive graphics and highly-detailed model aircraft are supported by authentic military equipment and personal items from actual participants.

Lewis “Type 92” Aircraft Machine Gun, Japan, 1932/1932, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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Le Rhone Rotary Aircraft Engine, Frontiers of Flight Museum, 1918/1918, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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WWI Representation Pilot Briefing Room, Frontiers of Flight Museum, 1917/1917, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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Curtiss JN-4D “Jenny” Aircraft (1918/1918) by Liberty Iron WorksFrontiers of Flight Museum

Love Field Gallery

The Dallas Love Field Gallery contains artifacts and graphics from the airport's nearly 100-year history. A centerpiece of the Gallery is the Museum's Curtiss JN-4D "Jenny," which served as a training aircraft at Love Field during World War I in 1918. The airport is also the site of the first commercial aviation flight in the state of Texas in 1926.

OX-5 Aircraft Engine, Curtiss Aircraft Company, 1915/1915, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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Leather Flying Coveralls, Levitt’s Aviation Togs, 1918/1918, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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Love Field Farewell Party Booklet, Frontiers of Flight Museum, 1919/1919, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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Love Field Taxiway Brick, Dallas Love Field, 1930/1930, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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Wright Brothers Work Shed Representation (1903/1903) by Frontiers of Flight MuseumFrontiers of Flight Museum

Early Flyers Gallery

The Early Flyers Gallery is anchored by a representation of the Wright brothers’ work shed at Kitty Hawk and a full-size model of their first airplane. The Gallery also highlights the achievements of Glenn Curtiss, Louis Bleriot, Lincoln Beachey, and many other early aviation pioneers. 

Early Aviation Tools and Equipment, Frontiers of Flight Museum, 1903/1903, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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Wright Flyer Full-Scale Reproduction, Frontiers of Flight Museum, 1903/1903, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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Wind Tunnel Reproduction, Frontiers of Flight Museum, 1901/1901, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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Glen Curtiss’ Pilot Licenses (1909/1909) by Frontiers of Flight MuseumFrontiers of Flight Museum

Credits: Story

Many thanks to all who made this project a success for the Frontiers of Flight Museum.

Kent Harraid, FOFM Collections Database Manager
Dan Steelman, FOFM VP of Collections & Exhibits
Cheryl Sutterfield-Jones, FOFM President & CEO
Jess Hall, FOFM VP of Development
Erik Johnston, Veteran Tales Project
Sandy Bentley Moore, Ret. Braniff Flight Hostess

Enjoy exploring through the Museum's incredible exhibits!

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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