The Spirit of Flight Center (SOF), is operated by the non-profit Spirit of Flight Foundation, a 501(C)(3) organization based in Nampa, ID. The Spirit of Flight collection, founded by Gordon R. Page, displays limited exhibits on modern and historic aviation, and features aviation history from 1935 to 1975, both military and general aviation. Featured is a Messerschmitt Bf 109 F fighter from Russia. Also on display at SOF is a full-size bronze statue of

Amelia Earhart Amelia Mary Earhart ( , born July 24, 1897; disappeared July 2, 1937; declared dead January 5, 1939) was an American aviation pioneer and writer. Earhart was the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She set many oth ...

. SOF is located in Nampa, ID at the

Nampa Municipal Airport Nampa Municipal Airport is a city-owned public airport in Nampa, Idaho, Nampa, in Canyon County, Idaho, Canyon County, Idaho. The FAA's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2009–2013 called it a ''general aviation'' airport. It is u ...

which allows for pilots to fly in to the facility. The Spirit of Flight Center is associated with Air Assets International and exhibits aircraft and artifacts which have been recovered by Warbird Recovery. The TV series CHASING PLANES was filmed at Spirit of Flight Center and features the museum collection.

Mission

SOF was established to acquire, restore, preserve and display aviation history to honor all American veterans and aviators, to educate the general public of the significance of aviation, and to inspire future generations to participate and learn about modern and historic aviation. In 2009, SOF placed a record-setting Learjet 24D on long term loan to Redstone College of Denver to help students advance their aviation careers. In 2019, SOF announced that it would focus on its mobile air museum program called HISTORY ON THE ROAD to bring the world-class collection to larger events. As part of the focus, Living History Flight Experiences are being added by the Spirit of Flight.

Warbird Recovery

The Spirit of Flight Center has an aircraft recovery program for international recovery and

restoration Restoration is the act of restoring something to its original state and may refer to: * Conservation and restoration of cultural heritage ** Audio restoration ** Film restoration ** Image restoration ** Textile restoration * Restoration ecology ...

of rare and historic

military aircraft A military aircraft is any fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft that is operated by a legal or insurrectionary armed service of any type. Military aircraft can be either combat or non-combat: * Combat aircraft are designed to destroy enemy equipm ...

. In 1993, the program started by finding parts of U.S. and Japanese military aircraft in Russia which were recovered and brought to the U.S.. A book called ''Warbird Recovery'' is available that tells the story.

Other Colorado and Idaho museums

Warhawk Air Museum The Warhawk Air Museum is an aviation museum located in Nampa, Idaho. History The museum was founded on 6 March 1989 by John and Sue Paul. In 2021, it announced plans for an expansion. Collection * Aero S-106 * Bell UH-1C Iroquois * Cessn ...

, Nampa, ID *

CAF Rocky Mountain Wing Museum CAF Rocky Mountain Wing (RMW) Museum is one of 75 local detachments of the national Commemorative Air Force (CAF) non-profit aviation association dedicated to ''Honoring American Military Aviation through Flight, Exhibit and Remembrance.'' The Mus ...

, Grand Junction, CO *

Colorado Aviation Historical Society The Colorado Aviation Historical Society (CAHS) is located in Denver, Colorado and was founded in 1966. CAHS home is at Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum. The Society acquires, restores, preserves and provides for public display, aircr ...

Old Lowry AFB Campus, Denver, CO *

Peterson Air and Space Museum Peterson Air and Space Museum is an aviation museum located at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado focused on the history the of Air Defense Command, Aerospace Defense Command and Air Force Space Command. History The museum ...

Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, CO *

Pueblo Historical Aircraft Society The Pueblo Historical Aircraft Society (PHAS), Pueblo, Colorado hosts a large collection of military aircraft in Colorado, United States through the operation of the Weisbrod Museum and the International B-24 Memorial Museum, together as the Pueblo ...

Pueblo Airport, Pueblo, CO * Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum Pueblo Airport, Pueblo, CO * Vintage Aero Flying Museum Platte Valley Airpark, Hudson, CO *

Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum The Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum (WOTR) is located on the former Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, Colorado, United States. The museum preserves the history of Lowry AFB's operations from 1938 to 1994 in its collections, archives, and ...

Old Lowry AFB Campus, Denver, CO *

The National Museum of World War II Aviation ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

Colorado Springs, CO

External links

Spirit of Flight Center
Official Site
Warbird Recovery
Official Site
Air Assets International
Official Site {{authority control Aerospace museums in Idaho Museums in Canyon County, Idaho