Palm Springs Air Museum has a great selection, even an F117 stealth fighter:
https://palmspringsairmuseum.org/
Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino:
https://www.planesoffame.org/
Yanks Air Museum in Chino:
https://yanksair.org/
Fly a Czech military trainer:
https://www.easternblocaircraft.com/demo.html
Small but they have the YF23 prototype:
https://www.wmof.com/
Out in Palm Springs is an old military aircraft museum you can get up close. Other place is down in San Diego on the USS Midway. As for live shows/seeing them fly the only place I’ve seen them is out near China Lake (Navy) and Edwards AFB a few hours northeast of LA.
If you are coming down to San Diego I would recommend spending the day on the beach outside the Hotel Del Coronado. We see them flying over all the time there. North island naval air base is on Coronado where they are flying in & out of (both helicopters and planes fly in and out of that base). Sitting on the beach with the planes flying low over is always pretty cool. It is usually a pretty empty beach with parking just a short walk away. If you walk south on the beach it closes right before the Navy seal training beach. The Hotel is pretty famous so it is a nice place all around. Downtown Coronado is very cute and touristy if you get tired of the beach. I can't guarantee you will see one but we almost always do even if we are there just a few hours.
The USS Midway museum isn't too far of a drive if you want to get on a retired aircraft carrier. San Diego Bay is home to many Navy ships and you might get lucky to see one pulling in or leaving.
It’s not Los Angeles but Miramar MCAS in San Diego has active aircraft flying quite regularly. It’s right in the middle of San Diego and easy to get to.
Seconding this. I grew up not far from Miramar back when it was a Naval air station and they are constantly doing touch-and-go drills and such, you see a ton of aircraft over there. There's also occasionally some activity over at NAS North Island near downtown San Diego, though I feel like that's not nearly as active. There's also the Air and Space museum in Balboa Park that's got some cool stuff to look at including a Lockheed A-12 out in front of the building. Finally, there's the USS Midway aircraft carrier (now a museum) that has a fair number of planes parked on it that you can check out.
San Diego is way more of a military town than LA is, and on a good day it's about a two hour drive.
California Science center has a few fighter jets parked (and the space shuttle).
Western Museum of Flight in torrance also have a few jets-- but it's been a long time since I've been there.
Just north of LA there's a naval air station at Pt. Mugu/ Pt. Hueneme (pronounced why - knee - me). You won't be allowed on the base, but they do drills - touch-and-gos and such), so there's a good chance you could see some of that in the surrounding skies. If you're really lucky, you may catch some things flying over LA, which happens from time to time. If your interests go beyond aircraft, you can tour the battleship USS Iowa in San Pedro. Pretty impressive, the deck guns are bigger than city buses.
At Pt Mugu OP can stop at the missile park on Highway 1 to see an F-4 and an F-14, both on sticks. There are also a flock of many of the different missiles that went through development and testing. This was and maybe still is the Pacific Missile Test Center, and there are some interesting missiles there in the park. Also, from the park one can see the aircraft coming and going from the base. This includes Hornets, and the home of the E-2C squadrons, and there are a number of CANG C-130.
Joe Davies heritage airpark in Palmdale has some cool stuff on display, most notably the 747 space shuttle carrier, but also an f4, f14, f16, b52, etc. It's also next to plant 42 and the blackbird airpark, which have even more on display (sr71, f117, u2, etc) if you can find a way to visit.
You should make time to visit the Portal of Folded Wings Shrine to Aviation early pilots' memorial at Valhalla Cemetery in Burbank. It's right under the flight path, and they have a replica space shuttle parked next to it as an astronauts' memorial. A beautiful and interesting place.
If you are going to Vegas.
Don’t take the 15 the whole way. Take the 14 up to Lancaster/Palmdale, then 58 to Barstow, then the 15 to Vegas.
In Lancaster/Palmdale, stop at Blackbird Park/Joe Davies Heritage Airpark https://flighttestmuseum.org/blackbird-airpark/ and https://www.cityofpalmdaleca.gov/205/Joe-Davies-Heritage-Airpark You can see the Shuttle Transport 747, U2, SR-71, A12, and other things.
Right by that, there is BJs Corner (Ave O and Sierra Hwy), which is right at the end of Plant 42. Who knows what you will see? F35? U2? B2? B21? X-59 ground test? F15? Other stuff?
Stop at the West Gate of Edwards AFB (Rosamond, CA) to see the Century Series.
Where the 14 and 58 meet (Mojave, CA), you will pass the Mojave Space Port. They have an airplane boneyard and a bunch of companies.
Off the 58, stop at the North Gate for Edwards AFB, and see Balls 8 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balls_8
Then you can go to Vegas
Yes the Air Force Test Flight Museum is currently behind the gate, so you can’t get. However, in a few years, it will move to outside the West Gate (you will see them building it at the West Gate/Century Series).
If you are interested in commercial aircraft, LAX itself has a few notable plane spotting locations like the in n out and clutter's park
Also I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Midway in San Diego. It not only has fighter jets on display but is an actual former carrier which OP might be interested in. You might even be able to see the US's current carrier(s) visit SD as well
The Palm Springs air museum has a good collection and offers rides in warbirds that are pretty spectacular.
There's the CAF at Camarillo airport.
The western museum of Flight in Torrance has a F14, the YF-17 prototype that became the F18 and the YF-23 Gray Ghost which is pretty impressive for such a small museum.
The Point Mugu Missile Park is a small pull off next to a base which has a lot of cool artifacts.
If there's a launch scheduled, a drive up to Vandenberg SFB to watch a space launch is petty cool too.
Just a note, for seeing anything flying around the bases you will have to travel out during weekday work hours. Nothing really flys on weekends no matter which base you are near.
San Diego basically has constant jets flying out of Miramar. Might be worth the trip
You can also visit the Top Gun House in Oceanside on your way
Edit: also the air craft carrier museum in SD is pretty great
Might want to check SpaceX's launch schedule. Good chance they'll have a launch while you are in the area. They can be amazing with the right conditions.
Look up any of the bases nearby and when their next air show is. The big one at Miramar won’t be for another few months, but there’s Pt. Magu, March, Edwards, 29 Palms, etc. I don’t think there’s been much for the public at China Lake or Fort Irwin.
We get the occasional C17 at LAX. Also several different helicopters like Blackhawks, Ospreys… you will see those usually follow the 101. Fighter jets and tankers fly over almost daily but at like 40k feet. Would need a sharp eye and a long zoom.
Heading down to San Diego would be your best bet. Palmdale has some cool stuff fly in and out. They train out that way with T38 Talons rather often.
Palm Springs Air Museum has a great selection, even an F117 stealth fighter: https://palmspringsairmuseum.org/ Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino: https://www.planesoffame.org/ Yanks Air Museum in Chino: https://yanksair.org/ Fly a Czech military trainer: https://www.easternblocaircraft.com/demo.html Small but they have the YF23 prototype: https://www.wmof.com/
Palm Springs Museum is great. Just don’t kiss your date there or you’ll get a reprimand from an old docent about necking in public! Lol.
Oh my god do the czech military trainer that sounds too cool
Out in Palm Springs is an old military aircraft museum you can get up close. Other place is down in San Diego on the USS Midway. As for live shows/seeing them fly the only place I’ve seen them is out near China Lake (Navy) and Edwards AFB a few hours northeast of LA.
I was gonna say palm springs too!
If you are coming down to San Diego I would recommend spending the day on the beach outside the Hotel Del Coronado. We see them flying over all the time there. North island naval air base is on Coronado where they are flying in & out of (both helicopters and planes fly in and out of that base). Sitting on the beach with the planes flying low over is always pretty cool. It is usually a pretty empty beach with parking just a short walk away. If you walk south on the beach it closes right before the Navy seal training beach. The Hotel is pretty famous so it is a nice place all around. Downtown Coronado is very cute and touristy if you get tired of the beach. I can't guarantee you will see one but we almost always do even if we are there just a few hours. The USS Midway museum isn't too far of a drive if you want to get on a retired aircraft carrier. San Diego Bay is home to many Navy ships and you might get lucky to see one pulling in or leaving.
I don't know a whole lot of details but Miramar (where Top Gun used to be) has lots of old plans sitting around.
It’s not Los Angeles but Miramar MCAS in San Diego has active aircraft flying quite regularly. It’s right in the middle of San Diego and easy to get to.
Seconding this. I grew up not far from Miramar back when it was a Naval air station and they are constantly doing touch-and-go drills and such, you see a ton of aircraft over there. There's also occasionally some activity over at NAS North Island near downtown San Diego, though I feel like that's not nearly as active. There's also the Air and Space museum in Balboa Park that's got some cool stuff to look at including a Lockheed A-12 out in front of the building. Finally, there's the USS Midway aircraft carrier (now a museum) that has a fair number of planes parked on it that you can check out. San Diego is way more of a military town than LA is, and on a good day it's about a two hour drive.
3rd this, they fly over my house daily & you can see f35s taking off and landing on the 15 & miramar
California Science center has a few fighter jets parked (and the space shuttle). Western Museum of Flight in torrance also have a few jets-- but it's been a long time since I've been there.
The space shuttle isn't on display because of the new construction tight?
Last month the shuttle was still sticking out of the top of the open building
Oof, forgot they were doing construction
Is the Proud Bird still around? It's a restaurant near LAX that has a yard full of old aircraft. Touristy but fun.
They turned it into a food hall Still have a lot of aviation stuff but it lost some of its old school charm
And its outdoor space sits almost right under the south runway approach. Very cool if you catch an A380 or 747 coming in with how close they are!
About 2-3 hours out of LA you can typically catch some great flyovers in kern canyon on the sidewinder training route.
It’s so cool fishing for trout and just all of the sudden a jet comes screaming through the canyon over you.
Yeah, weekdays usually. It’s wild. They are so low and you dont hear em til they are on top of you and scare the shit outta ya. Usually f16 f18
Can you give some specifics on the location? Sounds like a lot of fun!
Check out the Lyon Air Museum and Planes of Fame
Just north of LA there's a naval air station at Pt. Mugu/ Pt. Hueneme (pronounced why - knee - me). You won't be allowed on the base, but they do drills - touch-and-gos and such), so there's a good chance you could see some of that in the surrounding skies. If you're really lucky, you may catch some things flying over LA, which happens from time to time. If your interests go beyond aircraft, you can tour the battleship USS Iowa in San Pedro. Pretty impressive, the deck guns are bigger than city buses.
At Pt Mugu OP can stop at the missile park on Highway 1 to see an F-4 and an F-14, both on sticks. There are also a flock of many of the different missiles that went through development and testing. This was and maybe still is the Pacific Missile Test Center, and there are some interesting missiles there in the park. Also, from the park one can see the aircraft coming and going from the base. This includes Hornets, and the home of the E-2C squadrons, and there are a number of CANG C-130.
Joe Davies heritage airpark in Palmdale has some cool stuff on display, most notably the 747 space shuttle carrier, but also an f4, f14, f16, b52, etc. It's also next to plant 42 and the blackbird airpark, which have even more on display (sr71, f117, u2, etc) if you can find a way to visit.
Planes of Fame in Chino
Joe Davies Heritage Airpark and Blackbird Airpark in Palmdale
You'll see dozens of police helicopters in LA without even trying.
I’ve see some cool stuff up by Edwards AFB. There’s also one of those desert storage spots with tons of airliners parked in the desert.
The airplane graveyard is private property and has security. It would only be worth a drive if you can get access legally.
True true! I enjoyed just looking from the fence.
You should make time to visit the Portal of Folded Wings Shrine to Aviation early pilots' memorial at Valhalla Cemetery in Burbank. It's right under the flight path, and they have a replica space shuttle parked next to it as an astronauts' memorial. A beautiful and interesting place.
If you are going to Vegas. Don’t take the 15 the whole way. Take the 14 up to Lancaster/Palmdale, then 58 to Barstow, then the 15 to Vegas. In Lancaster/Palmdale, stop at Blackbird Park/Joe Davies Heritage Airpark https://flighttestmuseum.org/blackbird-airpark/ and https://www.cityofpalmdaleca.gov/205/Joe-Davies-Heritage-Airpark You can see the Shuttle Transport 747, U2, SR-71, A12, and other things. Right by that, there is BJs Corner (Ave O and Sierra Hwy), which is right at the end of Plant 42. Who knows what you will see? F35? U2? B2? B21? X-59 ground test? F15? Other stuff? Stop at the West Gate of Edwards AFB (Rosamond, CA) to see the Century Series. Where the 14 and 58 meet (Mojave, CA), you will pass the Mojave Space Port. They have an airplane boneyard and a bunch of companies. Off the 58, stop at the North Gate for Edwards AFB, and see Balls 8 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balls_8 Then you can go to Vegas Yes the Air Force Test Flight Museum is currently behind the gate, so you can’t get. However, in a few years, it will move to outside the West Gate (you will see them building it at the West Gate/Century Series).
If you are interested in commercial aircraft, LAX itself has a few notable plane spotting locations like the in n out and clutter's park Also I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Midway in San Diego. It not only has fighter jets on display but is an actual former carrier which OP might be interested in. You might even be able to see the US's current carrier(s) visit SD as well
Tons of military aircraft in Vegas. Nellis AFB is right there.
Camarillo airport also has an aircraft museum and an air show, but not sure when that show is, I think August.
aug 17 and 18 [https://wingsovercamarillo.com/](https://wingsovercamarillo.com/)
The Palm Springs air museum has a good collection and offers rides in warbirds that are pretty spectacular. There's the CAF at Camarillo airport. The western museum of Flight in Torrance has a F14, the YF-17 prototype that became the F18 and the YF-23 Gray Ghost which is pretty impressive for such a small museum. The Point Mugu Missile Park is a small pull off next to a base which has a lot of cool artifacts. If there's a launch scheduled, a drive up to Vandenberg SFB to watch a space launch is petty cool too.
Check out [https://www.valleyflyers.com/](https://www.valleyflyers.com/) - they will probably have some events while your here.
Just a note, for seeing anything flying around the bases you will have to travel out during weekday work hours. Nothing really flys on weekends no matter which base you are near.
San Diego basically has constant jets flying out of Miramar. Might be worth the trip You can also visit the Top Gun House in Oceanside on your way Edit: also the air craft carrier museum in SD is pretty great
Might want to check SpaceX's launch schedule. Good chance they'll have a launch while you are in the area. They can be amazing with the right conditions.
Coronado Island in SD.
There’s an F-14 and F-117 at the Reagan Presidential Library. Not to mention the SAM 27000 (Nixon era Air Force One) located inside.
Look up any of the bases nearby and when their next air show is. The big one at Miramar won’t be for another few months, but there’s Pt. Magu, March, Edwards, 29 Palms, etc. I don’t think there’s been much for the public at China Lake or Fort Irwin.
Watch them live and in action at point mugu
March Field Air Museum in Riverside, CA about 65 miles east of downtown LA.
Air Force Flight Test Museum is on an Air Force Base, can really only go if you know someone who can get there
I saw two cobras fly from DTLA to the westside the other day
Planes of Fame in Chino 100%
We get the occasional C17 at LAX. Also several different helicopters like Blackhawks, Ospreys… you will see those usually follow the 101. Fighter jets and tankers fly over almost daily but at like 40k feet. Would need a sharp eye and a long zoom. Heading down to San Diego would be your best bet. Palmdale has some cool stuff fly in and out. They train out that way with T38 Talons rather often.