Patuxent River Naval Air Museum

10/14/2026

✨✨Exhibit Highlights✨✨

The Unmanned Aviation Gallery gives us a keen insight into a new generation of aviation. Spanning a range of sizes, missions, and success rates, each of these UAVs shapes the future of naval aviation.

🔴Sierra Nevada Corporation developed the AN/UPN-51 UAV Common Automatic Recovery System (UCARS) to support land and shipboard recovery of UAVs. UCARS is a two-part system: the airborne subsystem installed in the UAV and the track subsystem. UCARS development tests began in 1996 at Webster Field using the RQ-2 Pioneer UAVs (highlighted in blue).

🟠 The Honeywell RQ-16 Tarantula Hawk (also T-Hawk) proves that small UAVs are still mighty. The T-Hawk is a hovering vertical takeoff and landing Micro Air Vehicle (MAV) equipped with daylight and infrared cameras. Its portability and ease of use made it successful for explosive ordnance disposal teams.

🟢 The Northrop Grumman Fire Scout UAS is a multi-mission UAV, designed for reconnaissance and aerial fire support. The Fire Scout is capable of vertical takeoff and landing (VTUAVs) and is equipped with an electro-optical/infrared sensor and laser to designate targets for strike platforms.

🔵The AAI RQ-2 Pioneer filled the need for low-cost, unmanned observation capabilities. Based on the Israeli Mastiff UAV, the Navy acquired 175 RQ-2s in 1986. These UAVs came in handy during conflicts in Kuwait, Iraq, and the Persian Gulf before their naval retirement in 2002.

🟣The Bell Eagle Eye Tilt Rotor UAV System (TRUS) served as demonstrators for what could be. While the TRUS never made it beyond the demonstration phase, it continues to teach us more about how an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) should function.

Next time you visit the museum, check out our Unmanned Aviation Gallery to learn about the other UAVs on display!

10/13/2026

Today marks 251 Years of the United States Navy. From sailing the seas to the stars, the Navy has faithfully protected and served its country. We honor the dedication and sacrifice of the sailors of the past, present, and future.

May your futures be full of fair winds and following seas. Happy Birthday, US Navy!

(Audio: Aug. 1, 1963 JFK Remarks at the U.S. Naval Academy)

10/12/2026

✈️Happy Monday, Aviators!✈️

While the museum is closed on Mondays, we are excited for the week ahead!

🎃Interested in hosting a trunk at Trunk-or-Treat? Learn more and sign up here: https://forms.gle/Sp3rxhzw8wVMFNCX7

✈️Please note the flight simulators will be available for takeoff on Saturday and Sunday from museum open to close, with the final flights taking off at 4PM!

We look forward to another amazing week of sharing the stories of naval aviation!

10/10/2026

🪏🥾Scout Service Day returns!🥾🪏

A huge thank you to Scouting Units 420, 347, 793, and 2819 for helping PAX Museum revitalize its gardens!

After learning about invasive plant species from our Master Gardener, Darcy White, the scouts trimmed back the bushes to make way for new, native plants! When they grow big enough, the old, invasive shrubs will be removed.

Next time you visit the museum, be sure to check out the gardens that have been maintained by our scouts for nearly five years now!

10/10/2026

🎃We want you to sign up for Trunk-or-Treat!🎃

We're looking for more cars to join us for this frightfully fun event! Gates will open at 11:30AM and close at 12:15PM in preparation for the event!

All cars MUST stay until 3PM. Use the sign-up form to register your car and theme!

Sign up here: https://forms.gle/Sp3rxhzw8wVMFNCX7

Questions about our events? Email us: [email protected]

10/07/2026

✈️✈️Flight Line Feature✈️✈️

After winning the U.S. Army's 1952 competition for a light utility helicopter, the H-1 "Huey" became the West's most popular, most versatile, and longest-lived military helicopter until its retirement. In 1962, the Marine Corps selected the turbine-powered H-1 to replace their piston-engine H-34s. Shortly thereafter, the Navy began acquiring H-1s, including the TH-1L version for intermediate helicopter training. The Navy and Marine Corps continued to develop modified versions of the H-1 to serve both utility and attack missions.

On the flight line, Buno. 157842 served the Navy from 1970 to 1983 as a part of the Navy's Air Training Command. Following its retirement, the TH-1L was sent to the Naval Air Test Center's Rotary Wing Aircraft Test Directorate. They fitted the TH-1L with instrumentation to measure the vibration patterns associated with gearbox failures, helping aviators to identify problems before failure.

10/03/2026

What a great turnout for our Film on the Flight Line! While the weather wasn't favorable, we're grateful to have pivoted inside!

A huge thank you to Captain Pierre Thuot, USN, Ret. for introducing the movie and speaking to our audience!

10/03/2026

That's right, aviators!

Film on the Flight Line is still on! While we won't be outdoors, our Test and Evaluation Hall is the perfect rain location! We'll be located right next to the space exhibit, so it's a perfect opportunity to learn about naval aviation in space!

Doors open at 6:30, and our guest speaker, Captain Pierre "Pepe" Thuot, USN, Ret.,will begin his talk at 7:00.

Haven't got your tickets yet? Don't worry! They'll be available at the door.

Remember to bring comfy seats! Snacks will be available for purchase too. We'll see you tonight!

10/03/2026