Climb aboard the USS Midway for a fascinating historical view on naval life and changes in technology through the 20th century.
The Aircraft Carrier Museum is a decommissioned U.S. navy vessel, the Midway, which was in active use for 46 years from its first sailing in 1945. It was converted into a museum in 2004 to give the public an insight into how the armed forces operate on the high seas.The scale of the ship is staggering – it stretches just shy of 300 metres in length, with over 20 aircraft to be seen on its decks, and 800,000 enthusiasts visited last year alone. It’ll take you at least three – four hours to properly navigate the 60 different exhibits to be seen on board.As warfare has changed and technology evolved down the years, the importance of airplanes has become more pronounced, along with that of aircraft carriers. There is a range of immaculately refurbished aircraft from throughout the second half of the 20th century to be seen here – you can even get into the pilot’s seat on a number of them.To further appreciate the high-flying perspective, check out the flight simulators. Here you can take the controls and feel the adrenalin rush of the airplanes’ speed and power. The “flight sims” also include real-life recordings from combat and other missions – this makes for a very authentic experience. There are extra fees for this part of the attraction.Day-to-day life below decks is also given due attention. From the vessel’s jail to the sailors’ bunks to the ship’s post office, all the different elements of living at sea are explored.There is a self-guided audio tour of the ship available, and this is narrated by the voices of people who worked here, lending a real richness to the experience of being on board.Even if you don’t have the time to look around the museum properly, it’s well worth climbing on to the ship’s deck for the panorama over the city – there’s no charge for this. Open daily, except major public holidays.
