FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Air Force Museum Foundation bringing Iconic Starfighters: Rival Spacecraft of the Silver Screen to a Museum near, near to you!
Dayton, OH – May 8, 2026 – The Air Force Museum Foundation is excited to announce it is bringing two life-size models of iconic movie spacecraft to the National Museum of the U.S. Air ForceTM in time for the May 22nd release of the latest installment in the famed sci-fi film franchise.
The exhibit, entitled Iconic Starfighters: Rival Spacecraft of the Silver Screen, features two realistic, full-scale models created by Firewatch Design Studios that will evoke memories of the first time visitors saw them engage in combat on the big screen. The size of these fictional craft will awe visitors as they take in the 360-degree view offered in the Museum’s 4th building special exhibit space. And the Museum’s World War II Gallery is the perfect place to explore the inspiration of that conflict’s aircraft and combat footage on the designers of the original movie versions of these opposing starfighters.
The Foundation has contracted to bring these models to the Museum for the remainder of 2026.
The spacecraft in Iconic Starfighters: Rival Spacecraft of the Silver Screen are fan-created, and are on loan from COSI. While inspired by Star Wars, this exhibit is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Disney Enterprises Inc., Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC, Lucas Licensing Ltd., Lucas Entertainment Company Ltd. LLC, or any of their affiliates. All trademarks, copyrights, and other intellectual property rights associated with the Star Wars franchise are the property of their respective owners. This exhibition is presented for educational and informational purposes only and makes no claim to official status or endorsement.
About the Air Force Museum Foundation
The Air Force Museum Foundation, Inc., was founded in 1960 as a Section 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Since it was chartered, it has gifted nearly $100 million in support of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, including 94% of the cost of constructing the one-million-square-foot Museum campus. The Air Force Museum Foundation, Inc., is not part of the Department of Defense or any of its components and has no government status. The use of the Roundel image in the Foundation’s logo is with the permission of the United States Air Force; endorsement by the Department of Defense or the United States Air Force in fundraising activities of the Foundation is not intended nor implied pursuant to DoDI 5535.12. For more information on the Air Force Museum Foundation, visit www.AirForceMuseumFoundation.org.
About the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, is the world’s largest military aviation museum. With free admission and parking, the museum features more than 350 aerospace vehicles and missiles and thousands of artifacts amid more than 19 acres of indoor exhibit space. Each year visitors from around the world come to the museum. For more information, visit www.nationalmuseum.af.mil.
