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Wednesday, November 11, 2009

More from "It's a Mod, Mod, Mod, Mod City": The Flight Path Learning Center and Museum



Talk about a well-kept secret, a nice little gem of an aviation museum. The Flight Path Learning Center and Museum, actually located on the LAX flight path (hence the name), boasts quite a nice collection of memorabilia from the golden age of flying. 

Everything from 1960s-era flight attendant outfits, to old airline seats, to an actual old DC-3 plane are a part of the museum. I was especially intrigued by all of the items saved from long-lost airlines like Pan Am, Western, Air California and many more. 

The museum also includes a research library and a flight simulation center.


(The view from the flight path.)

The Flight Path Learning Center and Museum was a part of the Los Angeles Conservancy's It's a Mod, Mod, Mod, Mod City tour on Sunday, in which participants got a close-up view of several 1960s-era modern buildings.



The museum building originally served as an operation facility for Northrop Aircraft Corporation from 1951 to 1965; it then became a terminal for charter flights and foreign carriers that didn't have regularly scheduled service. MGM Grand Air took the building over in 1987, until it went out of business. The building was empty until the museum -- a joint venture between the Los Angeles World Airports and the Flight Path Learning Center of Southern California -- was founded.



The DC-3 on display began in the 1930s as part of TWA's fleet. Later, it became a private plane for the executives of the Union Oil company. The plane ended its run in the early 1980s.

Groovy interiors!

The Flight Path Learning Center is located in the LAX Imperial Terminal, located at 6661 W. Imperial Highway, Los Angeles on the south side of the airport.

It's a great deal: admission and parking are free. The aviation museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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