| By :
Cary Ordway
The San Diego Zoo gets all the press but in the same general area - Balboa Park - the San Diego Air and Space Museum excels at displaying an excellent variety of flying machines that run the gamut from the earliest days of flight to the Space Shuttle. Throw in a 4-D theater, flight simulators and fascinating special exhibits and the San Diego Air and Space Museum is definitely worth a visit when you're in the area. Currently the museum's headline exhibit is one about Aliens, a special part of the museum that has temporary exhibits set up to take you through a complete examination of why there are likely to be alien life forms existing on other planets and how and why that might be possible based on our own scientific knowledge. The exhibit takes you through the usual stories about unidentified flying objects and how the media has helped create certain images that we have in our minds about what aliens might look like. Then the exhibit explains the reality of life here on earth and how there are many unique creatures that have gradually adapted to harsh environments - miles below the ocean surface, for example. The conclusion: It seems quite likely that there may be other living creatures, maybe as small as bacteria, that have adapted to the harsh environments that we know exist on many planets in our own universe. Another part of the exhibit helps put in perspective just how big our own galaxy is and visitors will be amazed at a mural-sized drawing depicting how the Milky Way galaxy would look from a distance. There are literally billions of stars and planets out there and, again, the conclusion is that it's highly likely there is life out there someplace. But the Aliens exhibit is just a small part of a museum that has an impressive collection of vintage aircraft on display, all well organized in chronological order taking you through the early days of flight, then through the world wars and post-war period right up to the space program. From bi-planes to jet aircraft, the airplanes are all in mint condition - a few are reproductions - and visitors can imagine just what it must have been like to fly in these old machines. There are many types of aircraft - so many it does appear they're running out of space in the museum. You'll find World War I and II fighters, a plane like the Lindbergh Spirit of St. Louis, a whole slew of bi-planes and even some old World War 1 flying craft such as the famous Red Baron. The museum has spacecraft on display as well, including the Apollo 9 space module and several items that were brought back from the moon. The airlines are also highlighted including an elaborate display featuring memorabilia from the PSA, an airline that serviced the west coast several decades ago. If you want to know what it's like to fly in a jet fighter, try out the motion simulator that, for $8 a passenger, allows you to take the controls of your own jet fighter and fly it around San Diego. The elaborate simulator will turn you and tilt you and re-create the sensations of flying much better than sitting in front of your computer at home. We found the gravitational forces you experience to be amazing. Another fun part of the museum is the 4-D Zable Theater that features various movies that put you right into the action through 3-D glasses and seats that rumble and tilt and spray you with air and water. It's not exactly on a par with amusement rides at Universal Studios or Disneyland, but it's pretty close - and an unexpected treat. For more information on the San Diego Air and Space Museum, phone 619-234-8291
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