Western Museum of Flight — Attraction in Torrance

For such a small footprint, this air museum packs in a lot of great exhibits and information. First surprise is that this museum is in a very suburban area of Torrance, CA. It takes up about 3-4 smallish hangar spaces, and two were just recently acquired and undergoing rearrangement. There is also a fenced area in another part of Zamperini field that contains about a dozen jets. Entry is super inexpensive. There is an area for younger children to play, color, read and look at exhibits. There is also a whole section dedicated to women in aerospace, including engineers, pioneers, and astronauts. We discovered the photo of the first Persian American woman astronaut, whose parents we know. Our 7 year-old grandson got to sit in the cockpit of an F-5 fighter jet where I got to point out the various instruments and controls. Docent Mark Ford drove us over to the fenced-in area, and had a wealth of information and insights about the YF-23 stealth prototype, the T-38, the A-4, a target drone, and the F-14. Our grandson is a big "Top Gun" fan, and had a ton of questions about the F-14, which Mark patiently answered. Even the gift shop is tiny, but well stocked. Not yet open to the public, I spotted a Royal Navy Harrier jump-jet in the newly acquired hangar. Even my wife was fascinated by some of what she learned and saw. This is...

Can I give 6 stars? Easily the most informative and attentive aviation museum staff you will find. Ask Luke about why thrust vectoring isn't all that. Ask Tim about why the yf-23 is better than the f-22 and how the yf-17 got to paris. Parents, bring the kids because this whole place is story time for aviation-loving children.

The museum is not a huge collection, but quality over quantity is the way to live. These aircraft are unique. The f-14 is a former Top Gun aircraft. The A-4 is a former instructor aircraft. The HL-10 is futuristic yet classic. The f-86 is set in the museum main area, and you walk around it as you read up on exhibits and see models of a wide array of aircraft.

Most impressive are the yf-17 and the yf-23, both of which are extremely unique and historic. It is so weird to touch the 23, which was too advanced for its time. The giant moving tail, missile bay doors and massive intakes are all things you can walk up and touch....unless you are in the air force, this is likely the only stealth aircraft you will ever be able to do that to.

Theres more, but I didn't give myself enough time to see the rest because they close at 3pm. But I'm def going back. Worth every penny of the 8 bucks. Ask about activities going on, they have great events coming up. They are letting kids help repaint the yf-23!!!!

An...

My experience was horrible. I don't know even where to begin. At first I believe the museum was going be great, yet I was completely wrong. There was a tall black fence which was lock even though it was well pass opening hours for the door to remain unlock. There was a dial box adjacent to the door which you had dial in order call for someone open the door, yet no number was posted in box you for the front desk so that was useless, but lucky for me someone was coming out and open the door for me. You have to dial 111 to call the front desk to let them know you want to visit the museum. I was given this number already once inside the museum. The day I visit the Western Museum of Flight it was on a weekday and it was well pass 12:00 pm, yet only 3 hangers were open for viewing. The YF-23 prototype nickname "Gray Ghost" was nowhere in sight. I must have seen the whole museum in less than half an hour. The older people will leave you be once you are inside the museum they won't follow you around, maybe perhaps because their old and tired. Overall not the best experience I had in a museum I’ll give this...