Wings & Wheels
Central Florida's newest attraction is Wings & Wheels, a unique exhibition focusing on the history of transportation. The wings are aircraft from almost every era of aviation; the wheels are classic automobiles. Located at Orlando International Airport, the attraction is a not-for-profit institution whose purpose is to combine the finest elements of a contemporary museum with the excitement of a flight-oriented attraction.
Facilities and scope
Wings & Wheels is housed in a mammoth Strategic Air Command hangar — a seven-story-high building with more than 100,000 sq. ft. of floor space and over 6,000,000 cubic feet of interior space. The facility is home to more than 60 vintage aircraft and about 20 classic automobiles and trucks. Wings & Wheels will continue to grow as new exhibits are regularly added.
The museum's new and larger home will be the existing terminal of Orlando International Airport. The move from current facilities will take place after the new terminal is completed and in service.
Guided tours
Guided tours are offered on a regular schedule. Tours are conducted on an electric people-mover that takes visitors through various milestones in transportation technology. Guests are also invited to tour on their own to take pictures. Wings & Wheels suggests allowing at least two hours for a full visit.
Notable aircraft on display
Among the aircraft featured on the tour and in the collection are:
- A reproduction of the 1903 Wright Flyer, complete with an electronic recreation of the historic flight.
- A 1909 Curtiss Pusher.
- A Fokker Triplane made famous by Manfred von Richthofen, the "Red Baron," from World War I.
- A rare 1917 Sopwith Camel.
- The sister ship to Amelia Earhart's Lockheed Electra.
- A German Heinkel 111 bomber from the Battle of Britain.
- The last flying Boeing 247‑D, regarded as the world's first modern airliner.
- Many of the first transports used by major airlines.
One notable trainer in the collection is the Command-Aire 3C3A, which incorporated features such as wheel brakes, control tubes (instead of cables) for better handling, and a frame of welded chrome-moly steel tubing — a construction practice that became industry-wide. In the background of some displays is a DC-2.
Automobile displays
The automobile exhibits parallel aircraft developments and include classic pieces such as:
- A World War I ambulance.
- A 1930 Duesenberg.
- A 1934 Packard.
Many of these automobiles are valued at more than $250,000.
Theatres, restoration and programs
Guests can experience sensations of flight in the "To Fly" Theatre — a special-effects motion picture shown on a giant screen with surrounding stereophonic sound that visually transports the audience into the pilot's seat of balloons, biplanes, jets and spacecraft. The film was produced by Conoco, Inc. for Wings & Wheels.
The Sentry Post Theatre shows a variety of historic films on aircraft and automobile development. The museum also houses a large restoration complex, research facilities, and offices for the Civil Air Patrol and the Experimental Aircraft Association.
Partnerships and the AMA exhibit
Last January, the AMA Executive Council met in Orlando and visited Wings & Wheels. During that visit, AMA was offered exhibit and storage space in the museum for a model aviation display. The Council budgeted funds for the display, and AMA Technical Director Frank Ehling supervised construction of the exhibit, which was planned to be ready for public viewing by January 1981.
Visitor information
Wings & Wheels is located on Florida Road South on the west runway of Orlando International Airport. Admission:
- Adults: $5.50
- Children (ages 6–12): $2.75
- Children under 6: free
Admission is a tax-deductible contribution used to expand exhibits. Wings & Wheels welcomes all visitors and recommends allowing at least two hours for a full visit.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
