Mississippi Aviation Heritage Museum brings visitors close to history and honorary aviators

October 31, 2022October 30, 2022 By Ashley Prima Entertainment / Eventsevents,Mississippi,museum,Travel

Two years ago, during the Covid-19 pandemic, a great asset to the State of Mississippi was built from nothing in a completely abandoned, dilapidated building to a place where people could come and have a joyful time while learning about the heritage of Mississippi aviation. The Mississippi Aviation Heritage Museum displays history and aviation while showcasing great aviators such as Gulfport’s own Colonel John C. Robinson, the man called “Brown Condor.” People flock from all over to tour the museum and explore all it has to offer.
     The Mississippi Aviation Heritage Museum was recently awarded Trip Advisors Traveler’s Choice Award, a prestigious recognition given each year to only 10 percent of all attractions in America. The museum also was nominated Best Museum for WXXV Fox 25 Viewer’s Choice Awards. Winners will be announced Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022, at noon, on WXXV Fox 25.
          Executive director of the Mississippi Aviation Heritage Museum, Francisco Gonzalez, of Biloxi, has a great passion to help bring awareness to the museum and the significance of what it has to offer.
     “When people walk in the museum, they are in awe of what we have,” Gonzalez said. “Most people don’t know what we have. Most people see that front and think it must be a tiny little museum.”

The Mississippi Wing Civil Air Patrol is one of many aviation organizations featured at the Mississippi Aviation Heritage Museum. The non-profit humanitarian group is the official auxiliary of the United States Air Force.

A U.S. military jeep is parked alongside a replica of the United States’ Apollo 13 space craft on display at the Mississippi Aviation Heritage Museum.

But walk through the doors of the museum, and you’ll quickly realize that this museum has tons to offer. Do not be deceived by what you see from the outside. The museum is giant-size and will eventually open up 23 more galleries on its upper levels.
“The museum is very educational with a lot of hands-on,” said Gonzalez. “The education component and honoring of military is extremely important to the mission of the museum, while also providing a great place for tourism.” Teachings from the museum include Aerodynamics, Flight Simulation, Robotics, Metalurigi (also known as Aviation Sheetmetal), Engine Mechanics, and 3D Printing.
“This museum is a gift from God because everybody that walked through that door, as I was building it, every person, came selflessly to help and every day something new happened. Miracles happened,” said Gonzalez. The Mississippi Wing of the Civil Air Patrol recently donated a beautiful frame of all the Civil Air Patrol aircraft.

This is one of hundreds of historical photographs that adorn the walls of the Mississippi Aviation Heritage Museum. The museum recognizes Gulfport’s “Brown Condor” John C. Robinson, the first African American pilot to ever fight in combat, and numerous others in the State of Mississippi whose influence has significantly contributed to the field of aviation.

The museum’s nonprofit is the John C. Robinson “Brown Condor” Association. “I would love to invite legislature to come and see the museum to see how they can help us get to the second and third floors. The third floor will be an observation deck to see airplanes taking off,” said Gonzalez. Gonzalez’ passion and determination to bring awareness to Mississippi aviation is strong.
With very little money, people kept walking through the door of the museum offering to help and giving donations. Currently, the museum is seeking donations from the community for a larger-than-life statue of an aviator to be displayed at the museum on the front of the building looking up to the sky as the airplanes fly by the museum sign, as they come to land. The museum has a goal to raise $5,000 for the project. Donations can be made online at www.msaviationmuseum.org. Another project the museum has in the works is the restoration of “Little Bill,” a plane that will be featured in the Veterans’ Day parade in Gulfport in November.

Airplanes of all shapes and sizes are on display at the Mississippi Aviation Heritage Museum.

Unique space crafts and replicas, old and new, are also featured at the Mississippi Aviation Heritage Museum.

     Volunteers are very important to the museum as it is a volunteer-led operation. Currently, volunteers are needed to continue to build the second floor. A Vietnam exhibit is also planned to open in a year or so as necessary funds are still needed to help finish the exhibit. “Volunteers are the most beautiful gift,” Gonzalez said. “The Navy, in particular, was the miracle that built this museum.”
     To become a volunteer, Gonzalez encourages people to stop by the museum for more information on how they can help. Volunteer Karen Peterson of Gulfport does check-in and tours for the museum. “I enjoy it here very much,” said Peterson.
     Another volunteer, Christian Haley of Saucier said, “This is the greatest place for history. Everything here is history. We had an astronaut visit. We are trying to get more people to come and see all of the detail inside the museum and all of the hard work put into it.” Haley added that he loves his job at the museum so much that he “looks forward to coming in on his three days each week.”

Mississippi Aviation Heritage Museum Volunteer Christian Haley of Saucier is proud to give his time to the facility and its mission “To educate our visitors by honoring Mississippi aviation heritage and the heroes that forged it, from the Delta to the Gulf Coast and from the Alabama line to the Mississippi River.”

Volunteer Karen Peterson of Gulfport checks in guests at the Mississippi Aviation Heritage Museum.

     Volunteer Todd Young of Gulfport is the museum’s educational director who runs the STEM programs. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Electronics, and Math. From making paper airplanes to aviation education, Young truly has a passion for teaching children all that the Mississippi Aviation Heritage Museum has to offer. Young runs the camps for the museum which are all aviation oriented. “The camps are a huge success,” said Young. “Being a part of the museum to come alive for the kids is what I want for them.”
     Volunteer Katie Peterson added, “The kids were amazed at the camp.” Peterson has put a lot of her time and effort into helping the museum as a volunteer and truly enjoys every minute of her devotion to the facility.
     Other events held at the Mississippi Aviation Heritage Museum include an annual Gala, and a Cruisin’ The Coast Fly-By. You can even have your birthday party at the museum. If you want to host a Christmas party there, you can do that too. And the museum also has a conference room available for rent for meetings and other needs.

Ariana Grace enjoys making paper airplanes and blowing up balloons with Mississippi Aviation Heritage Museum Volunteer Todd Young of Gulfport.

Tourists, from left, Precilla Wilkewitz of Baton Rouge, La., Glenda Garbe from Indiana, Linda Poole from Maryland, and Ida Bates from Florida, enjoy a trip to the Mississippi Aviation Heritage Museum after it was highly recommended.

“I believe in integrity, for the people to do the right thing when no one is watching,” said Gonzalez. “That is very important to me, as is work ethic. This museum is for the community, to pay respects to the military of this community, and to educate children from all walks of life to learn about aviation. Reason is, I don’t see color. I honor all aviators of Mississippi and bring a place for anybody to see history and integration, not segregation.”
The museum, located at 429 Pass Road, Gulfport, is open weekly Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call the museum at (228) 864-6359, or go to, www.msaviationmuseum.org.

On the cover: Mississippi Aviation Heritage Museum Executive Director Francisco Gonzalez is proud of the growth of the facility and what the future has in store for its visitors as the museum prepares for expansion.