Misawa Aviation & Science Museum

Building in Aomori Prefecture, Japan

40°42′31.15″N 141°23′29.71″E / 40.7086528°N 141.3915861°E / 40.7086528; 141.3915861OpenedAugust 8, 2003Technical detailsFloor count3 above groundFloor area10,840.66 m2Websitewww.kokukagaku.jp/01_museum/01_frame.html

Misawa Aviation & Science Museum, Aomori (青森県立三沢航空科学館, Aomori Kenritsu Misawa Koku Kagaku Kan) is an aerospace museum in the city of Misawa, Aomori Prefecture, Japan. The museum was opened on August 8, 2003, and is located adjacent to Misawa Airport.^[1]

History

The museum received an F-16 in 2005.^[2]

The prototype HondaJet was placed on display at the museum in April 2021.^[3]

Museum building

The highlight of the display on the ground floor of the museum is a NAMC YS-11 formerly operated by Japan Air Commuter.

Other displays concentrate on the history of aviation, including a full-scale model of the Wright Flyer and of the Miss Veedol, the first aircraft to make a successful nonstop transpacific flight, which originated from Misawa's Sabishiro Beach in 1931.^[4] Other full-scale models include that of a Mitsubishi A6M Zero, Tachikawa Ki-54 and the Gasuden Koken, as well as a McDonnell Douglas DC-9 cockpit.

The second floor of the museum has flight simulators and displays on aerospace engineering and the third floor is an observation deck with a view of the runways of Misawa Air Base.

Aircraft on display

NAMC YS-11A-227, registration JA8776
Westland WS-51 Dragonfly, registration JA7014
General Dynamics F-16A, serial 78-0021
McDonnell Douglas F-4EJ-kai, serial 57-8375
Fuji T-3, serial 91-5516
Lockheed T-33, serial 81-5344
Lockheed F-104J serial 76-8699
Lockheed UP-3A, serial 150526
Mitsubishi F-1, serial 00-8247
Mitsubishi T-2 (in Blue Impulse livery), serial 59-5108
Mitsubishi T-2, serial 29-5177
Mitsubishi LR-1, serial 2209
Kawasaki/Hughes OH-6D, serial 30270
Pitts Special S-1C, registration N122EZ

References

^ Specht, Wayne (August 12, 2003). "Misawa city's aviation museum soaring high". Stars and Stripes. Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
^ Svan, Jennifer H. (22 July 2005). "Misawa museum lands an F-16 fighter for its air park". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
^ Thurber, Matt (9 April 2021). "HondaJet Prototype Debuts in Japan Aviation Museum". AIN. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
^ Paur, Jason (May 10, 2010). "Oct. 5, 1931: First Nonstop Trans-Pacific Flight Ends in Cloud of Dust". Wired.