Open Cockpit

Get a look inside these historic aircraft!

A Great Kids' Activity

Open Cockpit weekends at the Pacific Coast Air Museum are a great activity for kids and family. We raise the canopies and open the doors to give you an unobstructed view so you can see what a genuine fighter plane, attack plane, transport, helicopter, or other type is like from the inside!

You can even sit inside some of our planes and see what it was like to be the pilot or crew! On some planes, the controls are still hooked up to the control surfaces. So if you move the stick or wheel, you can see the ailerons or elevator move! It's a great way to learn about how a plane is controlled. 

Some of the docents who guide you into the planes actually flew these very same aircraft. They'll be happy to tell you all about it.

We have Open Cockpit weekends once a month except January (because of the weather) and September when we have our Air Show. Ordinary Museum entry donations apply.

Click on the events below to get the details about our next event.

Next Open Cockpit Weekends

Open Cockpit: December 14 at Santa Fly-In

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Look inside these historic aircraft!

Open Cockpit: DC-6 Airliner Cockpit

Saturday, February 15, 2020 - Sunday, February 16, 2020

Look inside this classic airliner!

H-34 Choctaw helicopter sitting on an airport ramp in preparation for the Wings Over Wine Country Air Show.
Open Cockpit: Vertical Lift Weekend - H-34 Choctaw and UH-1H Huey Helicopters

Saturday, March 21, 2020 - Sunday, March 22, 2020

Look inside these classic helicopters!

F-14 Tomcat on the ramp at the Pacific Coast Air Museum, viewed from directly ahead and slightly to the right.
Open Cockpit: Top Gun Weekend

Saturday, April 18, 2020 - Sunday, April 19, 2020

Look inside the F-5E Tiger II, F-16N Viper, and the mighty Grumman F-14A Tomcat!

close-up view of the cockpit area of the F-106 Delta Dart, with canopy up and a visitor looking inside
Open Cockpit: Supersonic Weekend

Saturday, May 16, 2020 - Sunday, May 17, 2020

Look inside the Blue Angels F-4N Phantom II Cockpit Simulator, the F-106 Delta Dart, the F-4C Phantom II, and the T-38 Talon!

nose of the AV-8C Hawker Harrier parked on the ramp at an airport
Open Cockpit: Vertical Flight Weekend - AV-8C Harrier

Saturday, June 20, 2020 - Sunday, June 21, 2020

Get a close look inside this famous VSTOL jump jet!

  • Join the Flight Wing

    C-1A Trader of the Pacific Coast Air Museum Flight Wing flying over the Sonoma hills

    Be part of the group that is keeping classic aircraft in the air.

    Learn More!

A FAMILY-FRIENDLY PLACE WITH HISTORY YOU CAN TOUCH!

There’s always something great going on at the Pacific Coast Air Museum. We have Open Cockpit weekends once a month,  special events throughout the year, and regular hot dog lunches. We host school field trips, special group tours, birthday parties, and family get-togethers, all among our collection of historic aircraft and educational exhibits.

VISIT PCAM