The Florida Air Museum is designated as Florida’s “Official Aviation Museum and Education Center.” It features a display of aircraft including one-of-a-kind designs, classics, ultra-lights, antiques and warbirds.
The museum is housed in a main building and a hangar annex. Both are located on the campus of the Sun 'n Fun fly-in and expo, which supplies much of the funding for the museum's collections and programs. The entire campus is located at the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport, just south of the runways.
The main building holds much of the collection, especially smaller aircraft like a Boeing-Stearman Model 75 from the classic Red Baron Pizza aerobatic team. A wide variety of unique designs, homebuilts, and even a Mercury rocket motor share the display floor. The aircraft are supplemented by a collection of engines from World War I to the present day. It also houses a library, offices, a conference room and the museum's small gift shop. The hangar annex houses larger aircraft and engines.
Also on Campus is the Buehler Restoration Center. This 8,000 square–foot facility, located adjacent to the Florida Air Museum at SUN ‘n FUN, houses SUN 'n FUN’s year–round aircraft restoration activities. The facility, which opened in April 2006, was made possible by a $300,000 grant from The Emil Buehler Perpetual Trust, with additional support from a State of Florida Cultural Facilities and Historical Grant.
The museum's collection includes some unique and notable aircraft, including many homebuilt aircraft:
Acro Sport I - currently under restorationAeronca C-3 Collegiate NC13557 - built in 1934Aeronca LB N15292 - built in 1934 and restored on siteAerosport Scamp N25130 - built in 1982Aerosport Woody Pusher N100FQ - built in 1930Anglin Space Walker II N168CM - built in 1994Bede BD-5 Micro N5168 - original pusher propeller designBoeing 727-233 N265FE - a 1979 cargo model donated by FedEx and being converted to a classroom/meeting spaceBoeing-Stearman Model 75 - from the now-retired Red Baron Squadron aerobatic teamBrokaw Bullet N520BJ - built in 1972Bowers Fly Baby - built in 1994Cirrus VK-30 N94CM - built in 1993, this was the first Cirrus Aircraft design and was sold as a kit for homebuildersColomban Cri-cri MC-12 "Cricket" N98DJ - built in 1983, this aircraft is the world's smallest twin-engined manned aircraftCommand-Aire MR-1 "Little Rocket racer" N345JAConvair F2Y Sea Dart - pylon-mounted at the entrance to the main building, the Sea Dart was the only seaplane to ever exceed the speed of soundDenney Kitfox N3LB - built in 1989Douglas DC-3 N839M - originally built in 1943 as a C-47 Skytrain and later converted to a DC-3 for passenger serviceEvans VP-1 Volksplane N24PB - built in 1975Ford Flivver N3218 - reproduction built in 1994Franklin PS-2 Glider N69279 - built in 1965Heath Super Parasol N88EG - built in 1934Greene Lovings Love N100PH - built in 1976Grumman F-14 Tomcat - on long-term loan from the National Naval Aviation MuseumLaird Baby Biplane - reproductionLockheed T-33 Shooting Star - in Thunderbirds colors; pylon-mounted at the front gateLockheed XFV Vertical Riser - restored onsiteMignet Pou-du-Ciel "Flying Flea" - built in 1979Mitchell Wing B-10 ultralightNorthrop Radioplane DronePiel CP-30 Emeraude N31EB - built in 1975Pietenpol Air Camper N3513 - reproduction on 1929 model built in 1967Pitts Special S-1 N58P - built in 1972 by Paul PobereznyPitts Special S-1C N5LU - built in 1983Porterfield Collegiate - currently undergoing restorationQuickie N303Q - built in 1989Rand KR-2 N28RMRans S-19 VenterraRotorWay Exec N824DLRoyal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 - a 7/8 replica currently on display in the terminal of the Lakeland Linder AirportSorrell Hiperbipe N135HB - built in 1995Spirit of Peace Rozière Balloon Capsule - on long-term loan by Kermit Weeks from Fantasy of FlightStits SA-11-A Playmate N77JASunshine Clipper N62SC - built and donated by Henry PalmerWittman Chief Oshkosh N14855 - built 1931Wittman Tailwind N314T - built 1962
