The National Museum of Transportation Expands Aviation Footprint

ST. LOUIS - EntSun -- The National Museum of Transportation (TNMOT) is expanding its aviation footprint in a remarkable way. TNMOT's growing fleet already includes a storied C-47 transport plane that carried troops and supplies during WWII, the F/A-18 E1—the very first Super Hornet ever built and the powerhouse of the U.S. Navy—and a classic T-33 trainer. In 2026, the Museum will proudly welcome a Harrier jump jet, an engineering marvel known for its revolutionary vertical/short takeoff and landing capability. The Harrier changed modern military aviation by allowing pilots to operate where traditional runways were impossible, making it one of the most versatile aircraft ever built.

While these aircraft represent aviation excellence recognized around the world, the presence of the Super Hornet E1 and a Harrier on the Museum's campus honors a deeply local story—the extraordinary legacy of McDonnell Douglas and later Boeing, and the thousands of St. Louis-area men and women whose skill, innovation, and dedication shaped American aerospace history. We invite you to help us create a beautiful display pad and surrounding park-like setting worthy of this fleet. Your gift of $100 or more will reserve your place at our ribbon-cutting celebration when the Harrier arrives in early summer 2026. Much must be done before then to prepare the site—please donate today at https://tnmot.org/product/aviation/ to help us bring this vision to life. (Naming rights for this aviation plaza expansion are also available. Please contact the Museum at museum@tnmot.org for additional information. Levels of Giving noted below.)

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The National Museum of Transportation is located at 2933 Barrett Station Road, Kirkwood, MO, and is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.  The Museum receives no government funding and relies on the generosity of the community for continued support.  The Museum is recognized by the Smithsonian Institution for having 'one of the largest and best collections of transportation vehicles in the country,' and voted one of the top five best open-air museums in the country by the USA Today Readers' Choice Poll for the past two years.

Aviation Plaza – Naming & Giving Levels

1. Aviation Plaza Naming Rights — $275,000

2. Flight Deck Circle — $100,000

3. Pilot's Honor Tier — $50,000

4. Wings & Wheels Society — $10,000

5. Runway Supporter — $2,500

6. Aviation Plaza Brick — $300

7. Aviation Friend — $100