A pilot's bucket list

[jb747]

My bucket list includes a number of aviation museums. I've been to some on my work travels, but I'm currently planning a trip to the USA to tick off some of their offerings. I'm going to try to use points to get me there. Staff travel is just too iffy.

The list I want to see:
1. Chino (in LA) has two museums, and lots of flying warbirds.
2. Houston, for obvious reasons.
3. Pensacola, USN aviation museum.
4. Orlando, for KSC.
5. Washington, Smithsonian.
6. Dayton, USAF museum.
7. Seattle, Museum of Flight.

It's basically a loop around the USA. Which means I can start, or stop at any place along the line. I'd rather not have to hire a car, as I hate driving in the USA, but I expect that I might have to in a couple of these places. Hopefully Uber will suffice otherwise.

So, first question...what's Houston like as an entry or exit port from the USA?

 

[mrsterryn]

No answers but have to say it is lovely to see a pilot's list of must do's

 

[drron]

IAH is fine as an entry or exit port.We found it an easy place to navigate.
We were on an award on NH so got to use UA's Polaris lounge.It was very good.

 

[drron]

I also enjoyed my visit to this museum in Georgia.

Museum of Aviation | Preserve. Inspire. Educate.

The Museum of Aviation is the 2nd largest museum in the US Air Force, preserving aircraft, inspiring visitors, and educating future leaders.

www.museumofaviation.org

 

[snabbu]

I have no personal experience entering via Houston however the in-laws have had no issues entering/departing via IAH twice off UA100/101 in the last year or so.

 

[Himeno]

I've only been through Houston twice and both times for domestic flights. IAH is a long way from the places you'd likely want to visit (I'm guessing NASA related), so far that the shared super shuttle to/from the airport was $50 and over an hour each way to my hotel which was about half way between IAH and NASA. Every other airport shuttle I've used in the US has been under $30 each way, and except when NY traffic to Manhattan was bad or LAX to Anaheim, less then 30 minutes ride.

If you're planning to go to NASA in Houston, you might be better off flying into DFW or LAX, then connecting to HOU.

 

[Spongbob]

If you like military aviation and dinosaurs, the Virginia Beach VA museum is an option: Military Aviation Museum

 

[RooFlyer]

The experience at Houston is much the same as most of the others ( but better than Miami!!). Might be efficient, might be excrable.

It's a major UA hub and flying in once from Argentina, and flying onto Calgary both on UA, I managed to do a true transit of the USA. That is, I didn't need to clear US immigration and customs. I assume due to some deal done by UA for its sole-use terminal there.

 

[jb747]

I've only been through Houston twice and both times for domestic flights. IAH is a long way from the places you'd likely want to visit (I'm guessing NASA related), so far that the shared super shuttle to/from the airport was $50 and over an hour each way to my hotel which was about half way between IAH and NASA. Every other airport shuttle I've used in the US has been under $30 each way, and except when NY traffic to Manhattan was bad or LAX to Anaheim, less then 30 minutes ride.

If you're planning to go to NASA in Houston, you might be better off flying into DFW or LAX, then connecting to HOU.

Houston's NASA sites really only got into the mix because IAD is a destination for one of the airlines. I don't think there's much there that isn't at KSC, so, it's possibly only going to be used for that international connection.

If you like military aviation and dinosaurs, the Virginia Beach VA museum is an option: Military Aviation Museum

There's no shortage of museums to visit. I haven't even included any of the aircraft carriers. The final sequence will depend upon who (and how many) come with me.

 

[exceladdict]

Came into IAH on QR; airport was a bit old, I seem to remember many corridors and a bit of walking after the 16.5hr flight. Then straight off to bed. Standard grumpy border guard; tell them where you're staying, how long in the US, how much cash you have and nothing else unless asked.

On your list, I loved the Smithsonian in Washington, could easily spend a day or two there; Mrs excel loved the national art gallery so it was easy to divide and conquer.

I visited the Dayton museum in my tr linked below "28 flights in 28 days". We stayed in Indianapolis and I drove out there, again on a day Mrs excel did something else. I blew a tyre on the way but swapped the car over at Dayton airport. If I recall correctly the airport wasn't that far from the museum. Anyway, one wing of the museum was still under construction when I visited, would love to go back and spend a day there. Anyone interested in flight or military history will love it.

You mentioned you haven't included an aircraft carrier - if you can be bothered with the hassle of visiting New York I'd add the intrepid air and space museum to your list: Aircraft Carrier Intrepid

I really enjoyed it, though I didn't pay extra to go in the Concorde, I did go through the submarine iirc. Was a nice day away from the group ok that holiday too.

 

[Comoman]

I landed in Houston on SQ 3 weeks ago. They have electronic passport terminals for ESTA (not first visit) and I was out in 20 mins. It was all very quiet at 2.30 in the afternoon.

Certainly much better than LAX or JFK.

edit to add - it’s quite a painless drive to NASA.

 

[jb747]

Already some 'flux'. The USN museum is closed to the public (open if you have US military ID). Perhaps not that huge a loss, as I think pretty well all of the USN aircraft are covered by the other museums.

Apparently all of the work at the USAF museum is complete. I'm really going there just to see the XB-70. Everything else is a bonus.

Did the Smithsonian on the Mall back in 2008. It's been rebuilt since then. Didn't get to Dulles that time around.

I've been to the Intrepid in NYC a couple of times. If Pensacola gets dropped I might put San Diego in...that has a carrier too.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Visited the Museum of Flight in Seattle way back in '07. Was definitely fun!

 

[Major]

We took the Air NZ flight AKL-IAH in January and had no problems or holdups. We were out of there fairly quickly.

The Carrier in San Diego has an A4 on the deck

 

[jb747]

The Carrier in San Diego has an A4 on the deck

There's no shortage of A-4s. If I get to Lakeland, in Florida, that's the home of Draken, so I might even be able to visit some of our old A-4s ... which are still flying.

 

[RSD]

I guess it depends on which airlines(s) you have points available for? QF or ?

 

[RSD]

There's no shortage of A-4s. If I get to Lakeland, in Florida, that's the home of Draken, so I might even be able to visit some of our old A-4s ... which are still flying.

Blimey that's a good effort to keep them going!

 

[Himeno]

I've wanted to go to the Future of Flight Aviation Center/Boeing Tour for a while, but have always had problems working out how to get up to Paine Field from Seattle. Limited public transport between Seattle and Everett with the public transport in the area designed for peak time commuting, so a car is more or less required and I don't drive.

I did the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field with some local friends in an afternoon on the way to a SeaTac hotel after a weekend in Bellevue. That was er... 9 or 10 years ago, before they got the 787. Should try to get back there some time.

 

[Major]

There's no shortage of A-4s. If I get to Lakeland, in Florida, that's the home of Draken, so I might even be able to visit some of our old A-4s ... which are still flying.

If you have any ID from your RAN days take it with you. They accept retired Australian Military ID for free entry to all US Military Museums

 

[jb747]

If you have any ID from your RAN days take it with you. They accept retired Australian Military ID for free entry to all US Military Museums

That's 35 years ago!!! I've got a "thanks for attending medal", but everyone has that.

The notice very specifically says that it has to be ID that would allow entry to the working base. It's not just a case of free entry, it's effectively closed.