The non-profit Chico Air Museum first opened in May 2005 to celebrate the history, technology, science and romance of flight.  The indoor museum contains displays and exhibits that showcase memorabilia and an aviation library.  Outdoors, several classic aircrafts are on display.  The museum will continue to acquire additional aircraft to add to its collection.  Admission to the museum is free; donations are gladly accepted.

 

The Chico Air Museum is a gathering place for men and women who flew airplanes commercially, recreationally or during wartime.  Many a Saturday the indoor quarters are lively with discussions ranging from near misses while flying a load of freight to what they flew, where they flew, and where they were based during the war.  The museum receives and preserves donations of documents, artifacts, photos, and stories from pilots, crewman and their families concerning aviation history.  Professional pilots are honored and remembered.

 

School tours designed to interest and educate local youth in aviation are scheduled by arrangement.  Entire classes may visit the museum free of charge.  Please call the Museum to schedule a school tour.

 

The Chico Air Museum has begun its Aviation Speaker series featuring famous aviators and local aviators.  The talks are held locally and a schedule is available on the museum Web site at www.chicoairmuseum.org.

 

 

North Valley is the birthplace of aerial firefighting.  Chico Municipal Airport is home to Aero Union Corporation, a world leader in fire suppression technoloty.

This Russian built aircraft was donated to the museum in 2003.  Since then, over 2300 volunteer hours have been dedicated to restore this aircraft.