The local Commemorative Air Force (CAF) chapter held a pancake breakfast last Saturday (3rd Saturday of each month).  I did my part to rid the world of excess pancakes and while eating had a nice conversation with Doug Ritter,  the head of the Reno Aviation Museum. After our meal Doug offered to give me a guided tour of the museum facilities and collection. How could I not take him up on his offer?

The collection is housed in what used to be the DataMotive facility on Bismark Street just off of the Reno-Stead Airport. The Museum is currently short of personnel so unfortunately it is open only by appointment.

They have quite a collection of aviation-related items from entire aircraft to test articles to simulators.

Here are some photos of what I saw:

In addition to the artifacts housed inside the museum, they have a restored DeHavilland Herron cockpit on a trailer that can be taken to aviation events such as EAA Young Eagles Rallies so that kids can climb in for photos and get hands-on experience in an aircraft cockpit.

It was a fun tour and presents all sorts of opportunities for involvement to aviation-minded individuals and organizations.

To round out the weekend,  on Sunday our local EAA Chapter had a fly-out to McClellan Airport to visit the Aerospace Museum of California.