Destinations

DESTINATIONS

U.S. Army Aviation Museum

Fort Rucker, Alabama

Got a favorite Destination? Write us a short article of about 250 words, typed, not handwritten, telling us about it, and include a photo or two and a self-addressed, stamped envelope. If we use your Destination, we'll send you $100 and a Cycle World T-shirt.

EXTENDING YOUR RIDING SEASON when the weather turns cool is simple enough to do. Just head for southern Alabama. A good stopping point there is the U.S. Army Aviation Museum at Fort Rucker, nestled between the cities of Dothan, Enterprise and Ozark.

The museum boasts one of the world's largest collections of helicopters—including the R-4. the Army’s first—as well as a selection of fixed-wing aircraft that have been important to Army aviation. Included in this latter group are the Piper .1-3 (Tib and the Cessna 19$.

Perhaps of greatest interest, though, especially if you're a lover of the exotic, is the museum's collection of one-of-a-kind experimental aircraft, of both rotary and fi x e d - w i n g c o n fi g u r a t i o n s.

The total collection is small. numbering about 40 aircraft, but what it lacks in quantity it more than makes up for in quality. And for true, hard-core aviation buffs, an extensive reference library is available. and the museum gift shop offers, among other things, a nice variety of flight-related videotapes.

About the riding: The area around the museum offers country roads, rolling hills and pastoral beauty, complete with comfortable accommodations and everything from hamburgers and fries to soul food. For a great ride when the weather turns cold, check this area out.

—Alex Roldog

Information:

U.S. Army Aviation Museum P.O. Box 610 Fort Rucker, AL 36362-5134 205/255-4443 Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. except holidays