New Jersey History and Sites

The Air Victory Museum is located within the South Jersey Regional Airport. The Museum is located in a 24,000-square-foot hanger style building. The museum is primarily dedicated to military aircraft, but contains some civilian aircraft artifacts as well. There is a clear circular path around the museum for visitors to see the artifacts up close.

The museum houses numerous aircraft, engines, uniforms, and other memorabilia to trace the advances in aviation. Throughout the museum, display cases full of model aircraft provide a unique touch too. For aviation lovers, the displays include an F-14A Tomcat, F-4A Phantom II, F-104G Starfighter, F-86 Sabrejet, A-4 Skyhawk, and A-7B Corsair II. There is also a small Bell helicopter in the hanger.  The museum also houses replicas of the Wright Brothers and Spirit of St. Louis aircrafts. If there is room for the plane, the aviation museum works to have it displayed. Outside, the museum proudly displays an E-2B, a site no visitor to the airport can miss.

Beyond the aircraft, the museum has numerous small dedications, including one to the Blue Angels flight demonstration team. The Blue Angels, the display team of the United States Navy, was founded in 1946. The team was created to raise public interest in aviation and increase Navy morale. The Blue Angels electrified spectators with incredible precision during combat maneuvers. The Blue Angels are still around today, and can be seen in various aviation shows. If they are ever performing in your area, it’s a highly recommended show to see.

The museum allows visitors to get up close and personal to historically remarkable planes. The F-14 and A-7A aircraft have stairs that allow visitors a unique view of the cockpit. The museum also allows visitors a chance to sit in the cockpit of a P-80A Shooting Star. Parents can easily take a picture of their children pretending to fly a plane. For aviation lovers, the opportunity allows them to see what the flight controls looked like in the plane. The ability to sit in the planes makes the museum experience more interactive and personal.

The museum is constantly evolving, has recently made improvements to artifacts and displays. The museum has more educational signs than previous years. Furthermore, the museum has removed and redone exhibit areas that felt a little cluttered in the past. Today, many of the planes and engines are clearly labeled, so self-touring visitors know what they are looking at. Although, for those that want more information, the museum has a couple of knowledgeable tour guides, who lead you around the area. It’s clear aviation and sharing history is their passion.

While the museum hours can vary, it’s worth calling ahead of time to see if they are open. While at the museum, you can venture across the parking lot to the Runway café, which is a delicious and quaint restaurant. While eating there, customers can see airplanes taking off at the airport.

Ultimately, the museum is worth going to see with young children and aviation lovers alike. Located in Lumberton, the museum is an amazing find in an unexpected location. If you ever visit, dress appropriately for the weather. Though partially climate controlled, the museum can reflect outdoor temperatures, especially in winter.

“Beechcraft T-34 Mentor” by T.H. on December 30, 2023

Resources

“Air Victory Museum.” Visit NJ. New Jersey: Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism. Accessed December 23, 2023. https://visitnj.org/air-victory-museum

“History of the Blue Angels.” United States Navy Blue Angels. Accessed December 30, 2023. https://www.blueangels.navy.mil/history/

Sarver, Patrick. New Jersey Day Trips: A Guide to Outings in New Jersey and Nearby Areas of New York, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. New Brunswick, NJ: Rivergate Books an Imprint of Rutgers University Press, 2007. https://www.google.com/books/edition/New_Jersey_Day_Trips/1iBJDRUxi_UC?hl=en&gbpv=0