M&A - Castle Air Museum – Atwater, California - 2019

Castle Air Museum – Atwater, California, USA

Castle Air Museum – Atwater, California, USA 2019 

I visited the Castle Air Museum during September 2019 as part of an aviation road trip. The museum is situated to the south west side of what used to be Castle Air Base (now Castle Airport). It is situated in the Californian town of Atwater, just off Santa Fe Drive. This is quite a large, open space museum with copious exhibits that showcase the best of American military aviation through the years. It is a ‘must visit’ if you are passing through the area. 

There are approximately 70 airframes on display at the museum, including helicopters, military transports, training aircraft, bombers and fighters. Most of the aircraft are outside in a large expanse of land where photography of airframes is more than reasonable in comparison with other museums where exhibits are more tightly packed in. Airframes include a Douglas B-18 ‘Bolo,’ Fairchild C-123 ‘Provider,’ Kaman HH-43B ‘Huskie,’ Boeing WB-50 ‘Superfortress,’ Boeing B-47E ‘Stratojet,’ McDonell F-101B ‘Voodoo,’ North American B-45A ‘Tornado,’ and a Convair RB-36H ‘Peacemaker.’ The latter takes some walking around!! 

If it is raining whilst you are there, the museum also has an indoor section, but it is recommended to pick a day where it is dry. You won’t be disappointed. 

Of course, it’s impossible to list all of the aircraft types at the museum, but it is safe to say that the opportunity to walk around such a wonderful array of aircraft types synonymous with American military aviation is inspiring. Up close, personal… with great opportunities to photograph the exhibits. 

It isn’t all American either, there’s an ex RAF Avro Vulcan B2, what looks to be an ex-Czech Air Force Mig-21and an ex-Danish Air Force Saab TF35 Draken amongst the exhibits. There is the opportunity to tour an ex-Presidential Douglas VC-9C (used by Reagan and Clinton) and as you drive into the car park, an imposing Lockheed SR-71 ‘Blackbird.’

Very much worth a visit, and with Castle Air Base (closed 1995) being the spiritual home of the B-52, it is poignant that the museum has a resident B-52D variant.

Author & Photography
David J. Bray
Share by: