Torrance has a museum where visitors can stand beside real aircraft, see prototype designs and examine pieces of Southern California aerospace history.

And plenty of residents have probably never been inside.

Western Museum of Flight sits directly on

Torrance Airport–Zamperini Field at 3315 Airport Drive.

The nonprofit museum preserves aircraft and artifacts connected to Southern California’s enormous role in aviation and aerospace development.

Its collection includes unique and prototype aircraft, target drones, piston and jet engines, aircraft components, ejection seats, World War II instruments, aircrew equipment and model aircraft.

Unlike museums where everything stays behind glass, part of the appeal here is proximity.

The museum’s educational mission emphasizes giving children opportunities to see and interact with aircraft while learning about engineering, science and aviation history.

Current operating hours are Friday through Monday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. General admission is listed at $10, while children under 12 are free. Parking is also free.

It is not a giant museum that requires an entire day.

That may actually be part of its appeal.

You can spend a couple of hours exploring aviation history and then step outside onto an active airport that is itself part of Torrance history.

External Link: Visit the Western Museum of Flight