The following is Scott Fais' weekly blog detailing discoveries made while traveling through Florida and along the road of life.
Right now, there are men and women across the world protecting us in the skies above. The efforts of these heroes serving in our Armed Forces often times goes unnoticed as the hustle and bustle of daily life consumes our conciseness.
Thanks to the sacrifice of veterans from “The Greatest Generation,” we continue to enjoy the freedoms they fought to protect. Here’s a sobering statistic, on average 1,000 WWII veterans die everyday, according to the Veterans Administration.
These heroes leave behind a legacy of Liberty. Their dedication to the pursuit of happiness spreads its wings daily in Titusville.
The Valiant Air War Bird Museum in Brevard County is a hidden gem. Inside the hangars off the Space Coast Regional Airport landing strip, you’ll more than 20 aircraft, dozens of displays and history of what it took for the Allied Forces to again restore peace to the world.
However, the museum’s dateline begins well before WWII, when aircraft was in its infancy.
Many of the early pilots wore motorcycle gloves, since there was no real flight gear yet. Other planes used reverse propellers, along with jet engines on the same wing. One of the stars of the show is an F-14 A Tomcat, the same bird Tom Cruise flew in the 1986 hit "Top Gun."
The “Maverick” of this collection is in the hangar next door. The “Tico Belle” is the signature aircraft here, but the old girl is sick. Following a hard landing on the runway just steps away, the Belle is now undergoing a massive restoration. Visitors are welcome to stroll out on the tarmac and take a peek inside the hangar.
Kids will enjoy climbing into several cockpits where they can feel the cramped quarters and push buttons and flip switches to their heart's content.
As we get closer to Independence Day and the USA’s showing at the Summer Olympic Games later this summer, you can’t help but experience American pride at the Valiant Air War Bird Museum.
Until next week, safe travels,
-SCOTT
Scott Fais believes in the “miracle” of flight and loves to fly. Know of a great place in Florida he can “fly” into? Drop him a line atsfais@cfnews13.com.