- central coast - 

Planes of Fame Air Museum (POF), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is developing a new Museum Campus at the Santa Maria Airport (SMX Campus). Founded in 1957, the mission of Planes of Fame is to preserve aviation history, inspire interest in aviation, educate the public, and honor our veterans and pioneers of aviation.

“We are thrilled to have Planes of Fame expanding to the Santa Maria Airport.” said Kerry Fenton, Interim Airport Manager. “We partnered with Planes of Fame last year to bring back the Central Coast AirFest and look forward to continuing to work with them on future air shows and educational programs.”

The museum’s community outreach and public flight demonstrations touch the lives of millions of spectators every year. Annually, the museum’s 25 flight program aircraft perform in over a dozen air shows, provide memorial fly-overs, give rides, and are regularly used in photography and film work, such as the recently released films “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Devotion”.

“We believe flying our historic aircraft is a great way to honor our veterans and inspire young people’s interest in aerospace and the importance it has played in world history,” said Steve Hinton, Museum President.

The development of Planes of Fame Air Museum at SMX will offer STEM educational opportunities, tourist appeal, and revenue generation for the region. The museum’s year round educational programs will spark interest in aviation and encourage young people to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and history.

For more information about the project, sign up for updates, or to make a donation in support of the museum, visit: