Fall in Love with the Lonestar Flight Museum Near Pasadena, TX

Are you looking for an intriguing activity for the family to enjoy together? If so, why not check out the Lone Star Flight Museum? It’s one of the prime highlights of the Pasadena, Texas, area. The museum covers 130,000 square feet and features an extensive collection of aircraft alongside hands-on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) exhibits. You have an exciting world to explore if you haven’t been here yet.

From flight simulators to engineering activities, this museum offers everything children need to take a deep dive into the world of aviation and truly learn about the science behind flight. You can visit the museum and explore on your own or sign up for one of its many unique programs, camps, and events. Read below as our team at Monument Chevrolet shares some of the things you’ll fall in love with at this museum.

Make Your Way Through Flight Academy

The Flight Academy includes four sections with 27 exhibits for hours of hands-on fun and activities. This engaging area of the Lone Star Flight Museum will educate you on the scientific principles behind aviation. You’ll navigate the Design and Engineering Lab, Science of Flight exhibit, Briefing Room, and Ground Training. You can duck into one of three replica cockpits: a Curtiss Jenny and two P-51 Mustangs. You can experience hang gliding with the exhibit’s two live-action simulators.

A committee of pilots thoroughly reviewed these exhibits to ensure accuracy, and a committee of middle-school teachers also checked the information presented to ensure it’s engaging and educational. While the Flight Academy is ideal for middle school-aged children, it has features and functionality that are also sure to delight and intrigue adults.

Explore the Hangars

The Lone Star Flight Museum has two hangars where you can view full-size aircraft in all their glory. The Waltrip Hangar on the facility’s north side spans 30,000 square feet. This area often hosts private events, as it can accommodate up to 1,000 seated guests or 1,250 standing guests. While the hanger features several aircraft, the staff can arrange the planes into different layouts for various events.

Like the Waltrip Hanger, the Heritage Hangar offers 30,000 square feet of space and features additional aircraft. It’s closer to the Flight Academy and Heritage Gallery exhibits. The museum’s collection is made up of dozens of aircraft, including a Cessna L-19/O-1A Bird Dog, Douglas DC-3, Piper L-4H Grasshopper, and Boeing PT-17 Stearman.

Try the MaxFlight Simulator Experience

The MaxFlight Simulator Experience has a 360-degree range of motion that lets you experience a world of new adventures, including flying a jet, soaring in vintage aircraft, and using a warbird. The simulator requires double occupancy. There’s a maximum height of 77 inches and a weight limit of 250 pounds per person. You must be at least 42 inches tall to ride with an adult and at least 48 inches tall to ride alone. Flight simulator rides are on a first-come-first-served basis. It costs just $8 for a single ride or $15 for two rides.

Check Out Museum Events

The Lone Star Flight Museum regularly hosts special events that you can attend for even more fun and excitement. Past events have included LEGO Day, Science Day, Black History Month presentations, Breakfast with Santa, Halloween in the Hangar, and more. There’s nearly always something to look forward to. 

When the kids are out of school, you can check the Lone Star Flight Museum for engaging camps to keep everyone occupied. The summer camp lasts from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday. Staff members customize activities by age, including crafty aircraft games for kids 8 and 9, WWII mission recreations for kids 10 to 12, and advanced pilot training for those 13 and 14.

Attend the Aviation Learning Center

The Aviation Learning Center (ALC) provides STEM-based educational activities for attendees. The ALC features three primary learning centers. The Learning Lab covers the fundamentals of flight science. Computer software helps illuminate the complexities of flight, while hands-on experiments help to demonstrate these concepts clearly in an understandable way. Participants will learn about weather patterns, weight and balance distribution, flight dynamics, and more.

The Mooney Hangar features several replica aircraft allowing hands-on experiences with preflight planning, flight path mapping, and aircraft inspection. Students can check safety gear, complete inspections, and step into the cockpit to familiarize themselves with the plane’s controls. 

In the Flight Simulator Bay, students can try out their flight skills in the Mooney Ovation simulator. The simulator follows a flight path from Ellington Airport to Scholes Airport using real-time displays of the Houston-Galveston area for the most authentic experience outside of an airborne craft. During this virtual trip, students can manipulate the control yokes, rudder pedals, and flight controls.

Become a Member

As a member, you’ll receive free admission to the Lone Star Flight Museum anytime. You’ll also get free admission to special events like Drone Demo Day and Mechanic Mondays. While the public can purchase tickets to many events, others are for members only, such as the recent Top Gun: Maverick movie night. As a member, you’ll also get some surprise perks. Last year, members received a surprise gift of an Easter egg hunt in the hangars.

Becoming a member gets you a $1 discount on the MaxFlight Simulator Experience, 15% off purchases in the Museum Gift Shop, and 50% off tickets for any guests you bring with you. Scout and American Heritage Girls Badge workshops are $5 off for members. With select memberships, you can access additional perks, such as discounted camp registration, discounted birthday party packages, and free admission for guests. As a member, you’ll help actively support the museum’s engaging activities and educational pursuits.

Are you a fan of the Lone Star Flight Museum? Do you know some interesting facts or must-see activities we’ve missed? Contact our team at Monument Chevrolet online or call us at (713) 581-8123 and let us know. We want all the best local recommendations for our customers when they’re headed off the lot looking for adventure.

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