We’re taking off into the wild blue yonder – with our head in the clouds and two feet planted firmly on North Carolina soil. We’re in Hickory at the Hickory Aviation Museum.

This place got its start in the early 1990’s when Kregg and Kyle Kirby had a dream for an abandoned North American Aviation FJ-3 “Fury” that was sitting in a park in Taylorsville. Well, that aircraft found a new home here on the campus of the Hickory Regional Airport – which in 2007 dedicated space for an exciting new endeavor – and the Hickory Aviation Museum was born.

Today the museum is home to over 30 aircraft, cockpits and fuselages – as well as curated historical exhibits, a research library, and even a budding partnership with Catawba Valley Community College including high-tech equipment, classrooms, and virtual simulators.

Exploring the museum is amazing. This place has some of the most iconic aircraft in the history of flight. There’s the F-14 Tomcat made famous by the movie, “Top Gun”. The AV8B Harrier Jet – as much a star of “True Lies” as Arnold Schwarzenegger. And one of the most recognized planes in the world, the F/A-18A Blue Angels Hornet.

These aircraft are not only incredible feats of engineering, they represent the pioneering spirit of humanity – higher… faster… further. And when you’re up close and personal with these bad boys you have a whole new level of respect for the brave men and women who strap in for that next great adventure in the air.

Inside the museum’s terminal you can explore artifacts and memorabilia ranging from WWI to present day. There’s a lot to learn, including how aircraft design changed over the years… from the Wright Flyer on through the decades. You can take a look at ejection seats and flight suits and even an early jet engine from the 1940s. In the Naval Aviation Annex you can learn about carrier aviation and more.

And if you find yourself feeling a little peckish after looking at all these beautiful birds you can find some great options at Wingz Grill.

North Carolina is famous for being “first in flight”. And here at the Hickory Aviation Museum they have an entirely new museum coming in 2025. But don’t wait, visit today!