Destinations / Tennessee Museum of Aviation

A fascinating history of Tennessee aviation awaits locals and tourists alike at the Tennessee Museum of Aviation in Sevierville. This brand new museum opened its doors only seventeen months ago but the aviation exhibits are ‘first class.’ Executive Director Bob Minter says, “This is a living museum a fun place for vacationers and Tennessee families.” Minter’s enthusiasm and appreciation for Tennessee’s role in the beginnings of aviation is obvious, as he relates stories about the unique exhibits. The introductory wall of the museum honors Tennessee’s early aviation pioneers. Rev. Melville Murrell from Morristown patented an ornithopter flying machine 23 years before the Wright Brothers flew their plane at Kitty Hawk. Glider designer Edward Huffaker, was born in Sevierville; he assisted the Wright Brothers in their flight trials. Evelyn B. Johnson at 92 years is the oldest living active flight instructor in the world and she lives in Morristown. Johnson still teaches aspiring students and has logged well over 57,000 flight hours. Rotating exhibits honor distinctive periods of aviation history. “The Home Front” displays WW II ration books, posters, cookbooks and other memorabilia from the 1940’s. Scale models of the Wright Brothers’ planes built by Frank Tokash from Jonesborough demonstrate “The First Decade of Flight.” The actual Medal of Honor presented to Colonel Jimmy Doolittle, for leading the daring raid on Tokyo in April 1942, is displayed along with a portrait of the famous B-25 pilot. A wall mural depicts the history of aviation and, simultaneously, Tennessee’s contribution to aviation history and development from 400 BC to the present day. The Tennessee Aviation Hall of Fame introduces visitors to inductees Frederick Smith, Colonel James R. Haun, William Keschner and Evelyn Johnson. The “Go Flying” exhibit allows kids to learn about the basics of flying. Interactive exhibits explain the aerodynamics of flying and define terms such as lift, drag and thrust.  Visiting school groups participate in a “flight” scavenger hunt and teachers are given a pre-field trip curriculum. Leaving the exhibition area, you enter the 50,000 square-foot “Warbird Hangar” containing original aircraft including a Curtiss P-40 Flying Tiger used to defend China and Burma in the early days of WW II; a speedy P-38J Lightning; two P-47 Thunderbolts; an Avenger; a Soviet MIG-21 Interceptor; a Vietnam-era UH-34g helicopter and others. The Tennessee Museum of Aviation is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm and on Sunday from 1 pm to 6 pm. Admission is $12.95 for adults; veterans and military personnel are free with one paid general admission. Senior citizen rate is $9.95; children age 6 to 12 years is $6.95; children under 6 are free. The museum is located north on Hwy 411; turn right on Air Museum Way past the Church of God next to the Sevierville Airport. For more information call 865-908-0171 or visit web site www.tnairmuseum.com. Faye Hochnedel is retired from the UT Extension Service and her features have been published in Sevier County for more than 30 years. She and her husband, ‘Moe’ Greenwood, now operate MoeFaye Travel Inc.