The airport itself has a rich history. During WWII, it was a B-24 Liberator training base that
prepared more command pilots than any other B-24 training base. An original B-24 hangar still
stands hauntingly empty nearby. The original WWII runways are still visible from the air, and
two are still in use. An old Beechcraft manufacturing plant that stands where a B-24 hangar once
did is the home to the Mid-America Air Museum. When it was a manufacturing plant a variety
of Beech aircraft were built there including the Skipper, Musketeer/Sport 150, Sundowner,
Sierra, and the Duchess. One Sport 150 that was built there is on display in the museum, along
with a Stagger Wing, a Twin Beech, a V-Tail Bonanza, and a Star Ship.
Coupled with the airport’s rich history and over 100 aircraft of all types including: 15 WWII
planes including a B-25, TBM Avenger, and a rare F4U-5N Corsair on loan from the National
Museum of the Marine Corp, 11 Korean War era aircraft, 15 Vietnam era aircraft, over 25
commercially produced aircraft, 26 experimental class aircraft, 6 helicopters, 2 gyroplanes, an
interactive hot air balloon, an F-14 Tomcat on loan from the National Museum of the Navy, and
11 different aircraft engines , a 57 T-Bird, Willy Jeep, a 40’s & 50’s era Valentine Diner all
make the museum a “must see.”
If you are flying in, a full-service jet center sits down the ramp from the museum and those
driving in will find ample parking for cars & RVs. Guided tours are available if scheduled in
advance. The collection spans 80,000 square feet of exhibits and over 90 years of aircraft design and development.

Read about the experience here: midwestwanderer.com/mid-america-air-museum.