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· 4 min read

Planning a Group or School Visit: The Hangar, the Chapel and the Train

Groups of 20 to 100, one show a day, and a chapel presentation built for exactly this.

Convair T-29 “flying classroom” navigator trainer on the field at the museum

The museum works well for groups because it was built as a taught experience rather than a self-guided walk. One presenter, one schedule, and a story that holds a room of schoolchildren as readily as a bus of veterans. Everything below needs a phone call to set up: 479-253-5008.

The 3 PM show

There is one show per day at 3:00 PM, running an hour and a half to two hours, April 1 through October 31, closed Sundays and some holidays. Seats are limited, so groups should reserve well ahead. Admission is $20 for adults and $10 for children ages 7–12. We only take cash at the door — for a group, book in advance.

“Meet the Master” at the Silver Wings Field Chapel

The chapel on the field hosts “Meet the Master,” a one-hour presentation performed for groups of 20 to 100. Call for reservations and times — it is scheduled separately from the afternoon show.

The hangar and the aircraft walk

The 30th Aero Squadron Hangar is a working hangar packed with Cadet-era airframes, instruments and uniforms. Outside, the group can walk up to the F-105 Thunderchief, F-100 Super Sabre, T-33 Shooting Star, T-29 navigator trainer, T-34 Mentor and F-5 — no ropes, no glass.

The narrow gauge train

The narrow gauge line runs through the property and is a favorite with families and grandkids. For a school group it is the release valve after an hour of concentrating.

The cadet pipeline wall showing civilians becoming Army Air Corps pilots, navigators and bombardiers
For classes studying WWII or the Cold War, the pipeline wall does a lot of work.

What teachers should know

  • Plan 1.5–2 hours for the show, plus time for the hangar, exhibits and train.
  • Much of the visit is indoors; the aircraft walk is weather-dependent.
  • The exhibits cover WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam and the jet-age Cadet program — primary sources, not reproductions.
  • Reservations are required, and group times are arranged by phone.
  • The museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit; admission and donations keep the aircraft maintained.

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