History Department Tours Flight Museum

A group of SAGU faculty and students recently toured the Cavanaugh Flight Museum in Dallas, Texas.  The trip was part of the department’s emphasis on giving students the opportunity to experience history beyond the classroom.

Cavanaugh Flight Museum houses one of the largest collections of vintage aircraft in the world.  The exhibit allows participants to trace the steps of a century of flight.  Biplanes from the First World War share the museum’s four hangars with classic combat planes of World War II and a number of jet aircraft from the Korean War and Vietnam eras.

Much of the museum’s quality aircraft display is airworthy, and many museum aircraft continue to fly on a regular basis.  For example, the museum has a B-24 bomber that is one of only two of its class still capable of flight.  Visitors also have the opportunity to look beneath the skin of such famous aircraft as the Sopwith Camel, the P-51 Mustang, or the German Me-109 and to talk with the mechanics who keep these warbirds flying.

"History came alive at the Cavanaugh Flight Museum,” commented Professor David Clemons.  “Our group was especially dazzled by the museum’s collection of WWII fighters! It was a great experience."

The department is planning an overnight field trip to San Antonio and Austin, Texas, later in March.