The Patuxent River Naval Air Museum officially re-opened on May 25, 2001at its New Temporary Location. A formal Ribbon Cutting ceremony was held just prior to the Patuxent River Air Expo 2001.

Today,  we are one of only 11 Navy museums in the country that is chartered by the Secretary of the Navy. As a Naval Educational Facility, we are charged with preserving the heritage and interpreting the history of RDT&E of Naval Aviation by collecting, preserving, and communicating that history to Navy personnel and the public. Our Patuxent River Naval Air Museum Association continues to pursue the vision of our founding leaders by working very closely with Navy officials, county commissioners, community organizations (both military and civilian), and other museums (Navy and private) to make our museum one of the finest in the Navy.

Our "Research Development Test and Evaluation Team" theme at the newly renamed Patuxent River Naval Air Museum tells the RDT&E story with an inside/outside extravaganza of life-size actual test aircraft, test models, and artifacts of all kinds related to the development of Naval Aircraft. Often, these exhibits include items that failed to perform their planned function. Such items are not to be found elsewhere.

Inside exhibits, audiovisual and "hands on" displays, provides a visitor with a better understanding of the technical processes involved in how Naval Aircraft, their systems, and components are actually tested. Among the displays are: actual wind tunnel models of the XF2Y "Sea Dart" and the F9F "Panther". A model of the X-47A experimental flying body is depicted above. Several aircraft engines are on display. These engines include the Wright R-3350 radial air cooled reciprocating, the Allison T56 turboprop, and the Wright J-65 turbojet. The R-3350 and the J-65 are cut-aways and open for internal inspection. Visitors can sit in aircraft procedures trainers for the F-4 "Phantom", the A-& "Corsair II" and the F-14 "Tomcat", view the instruments and operate the controls.

Outside are 17 display aircraft that can be viewed up close. These are either aircraft that have tested here at Patuxent River or represent those that have. They are maintained for the museum by sponsoring activities onboard Patuxent River. Aircraft include; A-4 Skyhawk, RA-SC Vigilante, A-7 Corsair II, AV-8B Harrier II, E-2B Hawkeye, F-6 Skyray, F-4 Phantom II, TH-IL lroquois, H-53 Sea Stallion, S-2D Tracker, T-39D Sabreliner, A-6E Intruder, F/A- 18A Hornet, AH- 1J Seacobra, and the F-14A Tomcat. (The S-2 Tracker is shown to the left)

For a St. Mary's County tie-in, we have the Cupola from the Cedar Point Lighthouse. It will be on exhibit outside and an area in the museum that has been set aside to represent growth in the county as it parallels the progress in aircraft testing and growth on the Naval Air Station, Patxent River, Maryland. Formal education conducted at PRNAM includes an introduction to aeronautics course for selected county high school students as conducted by the instructors from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School.

Visit our Navy museum! Admission and parking are free. Donations are encouraged. The Museum enjoys unrestricted public access directly off of Route 235 at Pegg Road in Lexington Park, Maryland.  (See directions). Hours of operation - After a brief closure for relocation through March 2001, the Museum will be Open 5 days a week Tuesday through Sunday from 10 AM until 5 PM. This schedule is year round, except for Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Years Day. Our gift shop is open during the same hours. Tours, reenlistments, meetings, and retirements can be scheduled by appointment. For information on joining our association, volunteering your time, or scheduling events, please call us at (301) 863-7418, fax us at 301-342-7947, or email us at: director@paxmuseum.com

In March 2001, the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum will open in its new location.  For details on how to reach the new museum location, please see our directions.

If you are interested in making a significant contribution to our capital campaign, please do not hesitate to contact us at:

Capital Campaign
P.O. Box 323
Patuxent River MD 20670

Telephone: 301-863-1900
Facsimile: 301-863-5048
Email: association@paxmuseum.com