VASC (Virginia Air and Space Center)

The VASC (Virginia Air and Space Center) is located in the downtown district of Hampton, VA. Their regular hours are 10AM-5PM Tuesday to Saturday, and Sunday noon to 5PM. They are closed on most Mondays.

During the summer, they have extended hours.

Admission prices vary from $9.50 for exhibits only to $19.00 for exhibits and two IMAX features. See their website at www.vasc.org for more information on admission prices. Various discounts are available for senior citizens, children, etc.

Speaking of children, check out the photo of the kids play room below.

I thoroughly enjoyed this museum. It’s not only a beautiful place in a beautiful setting, the exhibits are well presented and spread out over three floors. Don’t worry about climbing the steps. There is an elevator for those less inclined to having a workout.

Nearly all aircraft are suspended from the ceiling so don’t look to be climbing into the cockpit of an F-104 Starfighter. You can however “sit in the cockpit of an F/A-22, climb into a real DC-9, and test your flying skills in various flight simulators.”

Those interested in space travel will appreciate the Apollo 12 command module, the Gemini 10 hatch, the Apollo LEMS (Lunar Excursion Module Simulator), the Mercury 14 spacecraft, and the Lunar Orbiter.

Parents and teachers alike will appreciate the educational opportunities at the museum with many interactive exhibits for all ages from pre-K to 12.

There are 30-minute programs demonstrating the basic principles of science, aviation, and space, while one-hour programs expand on these themes with more interactive and problem solving for students.

One of the most recognized aircraft that still flies today is the Stearman. The Navy designation was NS and N2S.

On display at VASC is the N2S-3 (07481). It is one of 1,875 delivered to the US Navy.

Another unmistakable aircraft is the J-3 Piper Cub. This one is a J3C-65 (19138, N6003H). Over 19,000 were built from 1938-1947.

With its swept wing you know this is an F-84F Thunderstreak (51-1786) as opposed to the straight wing version known as the Thunderjet.

The F-104C Starfighter (57-916) is way up in the rafters of the VASC museum.

What's a museum without an F-4 Phantom II. Well, it isn't as interesting when the museum doesn't have one.

The one at VASC is an F-4E (67-0392) and is adorned with the markings of two Mig kills.

This is the second of two XV-6A Kestrels (64-18263) to grace our website. The other Kestrel is located on our

Hampton Air Power Park page.

It is one of six such aircraft built by Hawker-Sidley in Great Britain for evaluation by the US Army, Air Force, and Navy. Four of these aircraft were tested by the Air Force at Edwards AFB while two were transferred to NASA. This is one of those two.

Neither the Army or the Navy tested the aircraft.

A very special aircraft indeed. It's the first of two prototypes of the F-16 Fighting Falcon. The designation is YF-16 (72-1567).

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