Day Trip Destination: Museum of Aviation

5:43 PM, Aug 24, 2011   |    comments
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The school bells have started ringing for most Central Georgia students, but many of you will still be looking for day trip destinations to enjoy during the weekends.

13WMAZ Junior Journalist Hannah Williamson toured the Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins Wednesday.

Williamson found out that the staff at the museum hopes to fill your day with imagination.

She climbed in a flight simulator, and said, "It feels like I'm really flying."

Lead Flight Instructor Wayne Carley says the simulator is as close to flying as you get without getting into a real airplane.

Carley said, "We have a program where a math and science class, or maybe a whole 8th grade will come here and spend the day, and go through a flight simulation program.

Carley's program is for the older students and costs $13 each, for classes of ten or more.

Deputy Director for Education Cindy Groves teaches camp and classes to the younger students in first through fifth grades.

Groves said, "We do all kinds of really cool, hands on science stuff. Were based on the Georgia Performance Standards and National Standards. So, when teachers come here with students, it doesn't really count as a field trip, because were doing all academics."

That program costs $3 per student, but teachers can come to the Museum of Aviation to learn too.

Claire Swinford offers weekend programs for teachers, based on NASA science. She said, "They learn about aeronautics and learn about science and literature. So, it's really a neat program."

Williamson liked the four hangars full of planes and Air Force memorabilia. Her favorite was the SR-71 in the Century of Flight Hangar. It's a rare plane, and Groves said the museum is fortunate to have one on display.