8. Santa Maria Museum of Flight

SANTA MARIA.   Captain G. Allan Hancock founded the Santa Maria Airfield in 1927 in hopes that it would help the region develop into an aviation hub for the central California coast. Although the runway was too soft for B-52 bombers, and the military never used it as a base, Hancock Field did become an important pilot training facility. Today, G. Allan Hancock Community College occupies some 40 acres of the original site, including a few of the old buildings. The Santa Maria airport utilizes the remaining land and is home to the Museum of Flight. Here, guests can see a handful of vintage aircrafts, like the Stinson Reliant, Bowers Flybaby, and Jenson Hang Glider. The museum also puts on an annual air show.   (© 10Best)

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