Museum of Flight in Seattle

Long before moon walks or Mars rovers, the daring exploits of fighter pilots fueled our high-flying imaginations. Aviators like Pappy Boyington and Eddie Rickenbacker inspired generations of budding birdmen to reach for the sky.

The Museum of Flight in Seattle salutes these flying aces with its new Personal Courage Wing, which features 28 restored planes from World Wars I and II. They include a Supermarine Spitfire, a Sopwith Camel, and a Fokker Triplane, the same type of aircraft flown by Manfred von Richthofen (aka the Red Baron).

Don't miss the Caproni Ca 20, considered the first fighter plane, in the World War I gallery. Designed and built by Gianni Caproni in 1914, this small monoplane had a forward-facing machine gun and is the only one of its kind ever produced.

Actors portray the men and women who built, flew, and maintained these historic fighters; they share their stories while strolling the galleries and mingling with visitors.

Other exhibits teach you how to direct aircraft from the deck of a carrier at sea and allow you to tour the trenches of World War I France as fighter planes soar overhead. Information: (206) 764-5700, www.museumofflight.org [3].

Photography courtesy of Museum of Flight

This article was first published in July 2004. Some facts may have aged gracelessly. Please call ahead to verify information.