The Castle Air Museum in Atwater, four miles north of Merced, displays 44 vintage military aircraft on outdoor concrete pads and in a hangar, spanning from World War II propeller aircraft through Cold War jets to a Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird and a B-52 Stratofortress. It is one of the larger outdoor aviation museums in the western United States and admission is inexpensive.
The aircraft sit close enough to touch — you can walk up to a B-52's landing gear and stand under its wings, which is a different experience from the glass-enclosed display typical of major aviation museums. Docents who are often veterans can explain the aircraft in detail. The SR-71, which flew reconnaissance missions at Mach 3+ during the Cold War, is the showpiece. Allow two to three hours. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday; closed Mondays and Tuesdays.