Museum of Aviation earns national accreditation

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WARNER ROBINS, Ga. (AFPN) --  The Museum of Aviation here has been awarded national accreditation by the American Association of Museums.

The recognition places the museum in a group of only nine aviation museums in the nation that have met the AAM standards of achievement. Accreditation signifies excellence within the museum community, according to museum officials here.

“To say that I’m excited about achieving accreditation would be a gross understatement,” said Paul Hibbitts, museum director. “This accreditation is the culmination of over two years of hard work by the museum staff. Accreditation is not just something that we set our sights on achieving, but it is a culmination of how our employees operate on a daily basis.”

Mr. Hibbitts said it was a goal of the museum staff to voluntarily seek accreditation.

“We wanted AAM accreditation because we knew it would expand the museum’s professional practices, and we believe that when Air Force field museum certification becomes a reality, we can pass the inspection by simply continuing to keep our present procedures current,” Mr. Hibbitts said.

Situated on a 51-acre site, the museum is the largest Air Force field museum, displaying more than 100 aircraft and missiles. The education-based museum has grown into a significant exhibit, education and cultural center drawing more than 500,000 visitors annually.

Exhibits are designed to take visitors back in time to places like a “Flying Tigers” airfield in China in 1942, to India where C-47 transports flew over “the Hump” in the 1940s and to Italy in a replica of a B-17 on a bombing mission during World War II.

Other exhibits salute the Tuskegee Airmen and World War II ace Brig. Gen. Robert L. Scott Jr., author of “God is My Co-Pilot.” The Museum of Aviation is located adjacent to Robins Air Force Base.