Group Tours are NOT available during the Museum's Relocation
Exploring the Museum
The Museum of Flying offers groups an opportunity to share in the stories and the works of men and women who participated in the growth of aviation. Located on the north side of the Santa Monica Airport, visitors to the museum can watch planes taxi and take off. See over 30 vintage aircraft many in flyable condition, view films, and learn about our historical aviation heritage. The Museum of Flying features one of the most extensive collections of World War II fighter aircraft in America. It is also home of the Douglas World Cruiser "New Orleans", which first circumnavigated the world over 75 years ago. Also, since Hollywood was one of the first industries to embrace aviation early on, the Museum is proud to display the James Bond mini jet used in the movie "Octopussy" and the Gee Bee racer from the film the "Rocketeer".
Airventure for Children
Featured at the Museum of Flying is Airventure, one of only a handful of children’s interactive learning areas in the United States dedicated to flight. This attraction gives young people the opportunity to learn and play as they pull throttles and push buttons among the many hands on exhibits. The exhibits detail such things as airplane maneuvers, pilot procedures, the properties of air, and aircraft design. It is the only area in the museum where children are encouraged to touch and climb into cockpits and simulators. Airventure is part of a wider aviation educational program for children established by the Museum of Flying to include not only interactive learning at the museum, but also community outreach programs. By developing these programs, we hope to promote aviation museums as not only informative, but also as fun for old and young alike.
General Tour Information
The Museum of Flying is designed so that everyone can enjoy it on their own with the help of our Self Guided Tour Brochure. Self Guided Tour Brochures are available as you enter the museum. Best of all they are free of charge. Guided tours are available depending on the availability of docents. Please ask the front desk for a docent as you enter if you are interested in a guided tour. Guided tours include a walk through the three levels of the museum, a stop at Airventure, and a visit to our tarmac area. Groups of 10 to 100 may take advantage of regular tours, usually 60-90 minutes in duration, with one experienced docent assigned to each 10-15 people. Group rates available with reservations. The Museum of Flying is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Suggested donations are as follows: Adults $7.00; Seniors $6.00; Children 3 to 17 $4.00; and Children under 3 free of charge.
School Tour Specifics
School group tours are scheduled Wednesday through Friday, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. or 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.. The groups must have a minimum of 10 children and no more than 120. There must be at least one adult for every 10 children. Tours are 90 minutes and are designed for children no younger than 6years old and up to the 12th grade. Regular tours must be booked at least 14 days in advance to receive a group rate of $6.00 per adult and $3.00 per child. Morning tours always book fast leaving the afternoon tours almost always available.
Adult Group Tours
Our tours are best arranged for groups of no less than ten and no more than 50 persons, with participants from ages 13 years of age on up. Regular tours must be booked at least 14 days in advance to receive a group rate of $6.00 per adult, $5.00 per senior and $3.00 per child.