Air Base Cafe

We stopped in Astoria, Oregon as one of our ports of call on our Celebrity cruise. We picked the Ultimate Oregon excursion which drive us down the coast to Tillamook. I was excited to see this museum and pleased at what we found. The tour company provided us with a bag lunch and everyone seemed very happy with the sandwiches provided from the small food counter. A great gift shop with cool little souvenirs.

Displays developed over years by dedicated volunteers in a rare blimp hangar. This immense wooden structure is awe inspiring and can easily be seen from the highway. There are cockpits to clamber into, a helium room, (no you can't inhale helium in the helium room! but it is pretty cool to learn how the gas was reclaimed to float WWII blimps). There are some sobering displays about the perils of flight for one local pilot and the Holocaust. Flight enthusiasts have assembled a collection of small planes and experimental aircraft that visitors can view up close. Don't miss the room with uniforms and personal memorabilia from women and men who served America during WWII. If you've never been inside a guppy you can do that, too. It's a freebie to the north end of the hangar. Tickets are required to enter the hangar space but the gift shop and cute weekend diner are open to the public. The ticket prices are modest and they do support the great work this volunteer organization puts together for all of us to enjoy. Did I mention? There's also a train locomotive inside.

I love this place. My grandfather served here and my mom was born on this base. So many great exhibits. I just wish there was more history about the base and the people who served. It seems like there is little info to gleen about it. Even from the navy. Still worth the stop to see the building and all the planes they have collected.

Nestled along the stunning coastline of Oregon, the Tillamook Air Museum is a hidden gem that aviation enthusiasts and history buffs alike must not miss. While the museum boasts an impressive collection of vintage aircraft and artifacts, it's the breathtaking scale model exhibit that truly takes visitors on an unforgettable journey through aviation history. The scale model exhibit at Tillamook Air Museum is nothing short of awe-inspiring. As you step into the exhibit hall, you're immediately greeted by an expansive panorama of meticulously crafted miniature aircraft and detailed dioramas that recreate iconic moments in aviation history. The attention to detail is astonishing; every aircraft, every building, and every landscape element is rendered with an astounding level of accuracy and precision.

Great experience at the Tillamook Air Museum. A large hangar with a multitude of planes and aircraft. We have been to a few air museums but none have been as enjoyable as this one. What made it fun was so many aircraft that our child can climb into and sit in. Very interactive experience. We thoroughly enjoyed it. Afterwards our kid was able to take a bi-plane ride over Tillamook. What a wonderful ending to a perfect day. Highly recommend.