Selfridge Military Air Museum

05/29/2026

05/29/2026

Education is the primary focus of the Selfridge Military Air Museum and it was our pleasure to host the second grade classes from Cheyenne Elementary School today for a private tour of the Museum.

The students were guided by our trained Docents as they explored the history and technology of the different aircraft and educational displays. By the many smiles, and the high level of intellectual curiosity that were present, we are pretty sure that they had a fun and interesting experience today.

We hope that families, groups, and others will plan on visiting us soon. The Selfridge Military Air Museum is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 5pm. Private showings of the Museum are available by reservations on Tuesdays and Fridays. Museum Admission and Base Security Clearance are required. Please visit our website for information and our help in gaining a Security Clearance for Base Access: www.selfridgeairmuseum.org

There are some new security requirements at the Selfridge ANG Base that must be followed. If you do not have a government ID that you use to access military bases or other secure areas you must get Pre-Approved Access by going to our website: www.selfridgeairmuseum.org then click on the yellow box that says 'Pre-approved access'. Fill out the form and hit the 'send' button. THIS MUST BE DONE AT LEAST 10 DAYS IN ADVANCE of your visit, so please do this ASAP! You will be notified when your Security Clearance has been approved.

All guests entering the Selfridge ANG Base must have a valid ID, like an enhanced driver's license, passport or birth certificate, plus a current registration and proof of insurance for your vehicle ready to be presented at the Base main gate

05/21/2026

Plane Facts
By Glen Broman

Plane Facts

How many foreign designed aircraft do we have at the museum?

We have two aircraft designed in foreign countries that were used by the United States. The first one is our Spad XIII. The second is our RB-57A Canberra. Both have ties to Michigan. The Spad was flown at Selfridge Field after World War I and the RB-57A was used by the Michigan Air National Guard.

Why would we use foreign designs?

Before World War I the US military and the domestic aircraft industry was woefully unprepared for aerial conflict. Due to intellectual property issues and patent problems, a lack of manufacturing and design capability, experience in the realities of combat over the Western Front, and the need to rapidly equip our forces, the US bought aircraft from our European Allies, primarily Great Britain and France. The Spad was a very successful French fighter design and was flown by our top scoring ace of World War I, Captain Eddie Rickenbacker.

After World War II the United States Air Force was looking for a replacement for the A-26 Medium bomber. At the time, the British designed Canberra bomber was the best of its type in the world and was faster than many fighters in service at the time. After evaluating other types, the USAF elected to produce the Canberra in the United States under license from English Electric by the Glenn Martin Company as the B-57. The RB-57A, the first reconnaissance version of the aircraft, was flown by the 172nd Tactical Recon Squadron at Battle Creek.

05/19/2026

We are always keeping busy at the Selfridge Military Air Museum. Today a crew of our Volunteers wheeled our WWI era Spad XIII fighter out of it's hanger so that repairs could be made to the building's overhead door. This effort required teamwork and great care taken to be sure that this beautiful and historic bi-plane was not damaged during it's short journey.

Later in the day that same crew began the removal of the rudder on our WWII era North American AT6 training aircraft so that it can be repaired and put back into place.

All of our visitors will be able to view both of these beautiful aircraft this spring-summer. In addition, visitors will be able to enjoy viewing our WWI era Curtis JN-4 'Jenny" bi-plane. As, after two and a half years and thousands of man-hours of labor by our Restoration Crew, the restoration of our "Jenny" is complete! The Formal Dedication of this historic aircraft will be in September but visitors can now get a 'sneak peek' of this marvelous machine when they visit the Selfridge Military Air Museum this spring-summer.

Museum admission and Base Security Access Clearance are required. Please go to our website: www.selfridgeairmuseum.org for our help in gaining Base Security Access and additional information.

There are some new security requirements at the Selfridge ANG Base that must be followed. If you do not have a government ID that you use to access military bases or other secure areas you must get Pre-Approved Access by going to our website: www.selfridgeairmuseum.org then click on the yellow box that says 'Pre-approved access'. Fill out the form and hit the 'send' button. THIS MUST BE DONE AT LEAST 10 DAYS IN ADVANCE of your visit, so please do this ASAP! You will be notified when your Security Clearance has been approved.

All guests entering the Selfridge ANG Base must have a valid ID, like an enhanced driver's license, passport or birth certificate, plus a current registration and proof of insurance for your vehicle ready to be presented at the Base main gate See less

05/18/2026

The second day of our 'Salute to Veterans' Weekend and the celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the founding of our Country was a wonderful day with perfect weather. A good turn out of Veterans and their families, plus many other visitors to the Selfridge Military Air Museum enjoyed some special displays and activities. Those activities included a presentation of music by the 1st. of Michigan Colonial Fife and Drum Corps. from the age of our Founders. A free luncheon was provided by Mission BBQ and Faygo Beverages.

All of our visitors this weekend were able to enjoy viewing our WWI era Curtis JN-4 'Jenny" bi-plane. As after two and a half years and thousands of man-hours of labor by our Restoration Crew, the restoration of our "Jenny" is complete! The Formal Dedication of this historic aircraft will be in September but visitors can now get a 'sneak peek' of this marvelous machine when they visit the Selfridge Military Air Museum this spring-summer. Museum admission and Base Security Access Clearance are required. Please go to our website: www.selfridgeairmuseum.org for our help in gaining Base Security Access and additional information.

There are some new security requirements at the Selfridge ANG Base that must be followed. If you do not have a government ID that you use to access military bases or other secure areas you must get Pre-Approved Access by going to our website: www.selfridgeairmuseum.org then click on the yellow box that says 'Pre-approved access'. Fill out the form and hit the 'send' button. THIS MUST BE DONE AT LEAST 10 DAYS IN ADVANCE of your visit, so please do this ASAP! You will be notified when your Security Clearance has been approved.

All guests entering the Selfridge ANG Base must have a valid ID, like an enhanced driver's license, passport or birth certificate, plus a current registration and proof of insurance for your vehicle ready to be presented at the Base main gate See less

05/16/2026

The first day of our 'Salute to Veterans' and to the 250th Anniversary of the founding of our country was a success in spite of some less than perfect weather.

Veterans and their families, plus many additional visitors to the Museum, enjoyed free food and beverages, plus some special displays and activities. One of the highlights today was two performances by the Plymouth Fife and Drum Corps. This group of young people (ages 12 to 18yrs) thrilled the crowd with music from the age of the Continental Army.

For those of you who have already made plans to attend the second day of our 'Salute to Veterans' weekend we look forward to seeing you tomorrow (we are open from 11am-5pm) and we make a hopeful promise for better weather.

There are some new security requirements at the Selfridge ANG Base that must be followed. If you do not have a government ID that you use to access military bases or other secure areas you must have arranged Pre-Approved Access by going to our website: www.selfridgeairmuseum.org then click on the yellow box that says 'Pre-approved access'. Fill out the form and hit the 'send' button. THIS MUST HAVE BEEN DONE AT LEAST 10 DAYS IN ADVANCE of your visit tomorrow.

All guests entering the Selfridge ANG Base must have a valid ID, like an enhanced driver's license, passport or birth certificate, plus a current registration and proof of insurance for your vehicle ready to be presented at the Base main gate. See less

05/15/2026

Just one of the many historical displays that are at the Salute to Veterans Weekend at the Selfridge Military Ait Museum. This exhibit shows the various ways service men and women interact with their religious traditions. This exhibit chronicles how the military service was conducted from Vietnam through the Global War on Terror. On Sunday, there will be a non-denominational worship service conducted at 11:30. Hope you registered in advance to attend.

05/15/2026

Now in the final phase of restoration, our WWI era Curtis JN-4 "Jenny" has kept our Restoration Crew very busy.

The elevator has been joined to the horizontal stabilizer and the rudder has been joined to the vertical stabilizer and the control cables from both cockpits to those control surfaces have been routed and attached. The last of the bracing wires that give strength and support to the entire aircraft have been manufactured when necessary and attached where needed. The final details of joining the rear cockpit cowling to the fuselage, joining the turtleback gap shields to the fuselage, and finishing the rigging of all of the bracing wires have been completed over the last 10 days.

Our "Jenny" has been moved to the spot in our newest hanger that will be her forever home. This took some patience and many strong and talented hands.

So, after two and a half years and thousands of man-hours of labor by our Restoration Crew, the restoration of our "Jenny" is complete! The Formal Dedication of this historic aircraft will be in September but you can get a 'sneak peek' of this marvelous machine when you visit the Selfridge Military Air Museum this spring-summer. Museum admission and Base Security access clearance are required. Please go to our website: www.selfridgeairmuseum.org for our help in gaining Base Security access and additional information.

There are some new security requirements at the Selfridge ANG Base that must be followed. If you do not have a government ID that you use to access military bases or other secure areas you must get Pre-Approved Access by going to our website: www.selfridgeairmuseum.org then click on the yellow box that says 'Pre-approved access'. Fill out the form and hit the 'send' button. THIS MUST BE DONE AT LEAST 10 DAYS IN ADVANCE of your visit, so please do this ASAP!

All guests entering the Selfridge ANG Base must have a valid ID, like an enhanced driver's license, passport or birth certificate, plus a current registration and proof of insurance for your vehicle ready to be presented at the Base main gate

05/12/2026

Our dedicated volunteers are awesome. Today, they installed the new 10' X 10' Semiquincentennial banner welcoming visitors to this year's veterans weekend event.

05/10/2026

As we near the completion of our Curtis JN-4 'Jenny', our volunteers, who retired from the Detroit Auto Advertising world, put together this video of this historically significant aircraft. Narrated by Detroit broadcasting legend, Mort Crim, this video is a testament to the history of Selfridge as well as a fitting tribute to the many volunteers who worked so hard to reassemble this aircraft into a showpiece of aviation history. The formal dedication of this aircraft will be in September, but you can get a 'sneak peek' of this marvelous machine when you visit the Selfridge Military Air Museum.

05/09/2026

The clock is ticking down. If you're contemplating attending the Museum's 'Salute to Veterans Weekend" celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the founding of this great nation, you still have a limited amount of time to submit your base access request. This coming Monday, May 11th is the absolute last day to submit your application. Don't miss out on this outstanding celebration of America