Pacific Northwest Naval Air Museum

Visit the museum and step back in history to see how a small island town was caught up in the turmoil of WWII and the building of a Naval Air Station that brought the beloved PBY Catalina amphibious aircraft to its shores.  

NEW EXHIBIT OPENS OCTOBER 11, 2026: 

On Sunday, October 11, the Pacific Northwest Naval Air Museum in Oak Harbor, WA will open TOPGUN, Beyond The Movie: The Real Navy Fighter Weapons School, a new exhibit exploring the history of the U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School and the real-world training and people behind the famous name.

For visitors on Whidbey Island, the story has a particularly local connection. Captain Frank W. Ault, for whom Whidbey Island’s Ault Field was named, recommended that the Navy establish an Advanced Fighter Weapons School for the F-8 and F-4, as soon as possible. That program would become known as TOPGUN.

The exhibit takes a closer look at the people behind the TOPGUN legacy, including David “Bio” Baranek, a former TOPGUN instructor who went on to become a technical advisor and participant in the making of the film Top Gun. Baranek served as an aerial combat instructor at the Navy Fighter Weapons School in 1985 and flew aerial sequences used in the movie. He also traveled to Paramount Studios as a dialogue advisor.

His experience offers a unique perspective on the difference between the Hollywood version of TOPGUN and the real Navy Fighter Weapons School—and provides a firsthand connection to an important chapter in naval aviation history.

David “Bio” Baranek will be at the museum on the new exhibit’s opening day from noon until 2pm, answering questions and autographing his books.

TOPGUN, Beyond The Movie: The Real Navy Fighter Weapons School opens to the public Sunday, October 11, at the Pacific Northwest Naval Air Museum in Oak Harbor, WA.

PBY-5A Catalina

See one of the first aircraft to fly from NAS Whidbey Island, a PBY-5A Catalina seaplane that flew from the Seaplane Base during WWII. Climb into and operate a PBY nose gun turret. Lift a tailhook from one of the modern carrier aircraft based at NAS Whidbey. Or kids, both little and big, can fly a PBY, an A-6 Intruder, an EA-18 Growler or one of many other aircraft on our two flight simulators.  These and other interactive exhibits promise to educate and entertain.

HOURS: Wednesday thru Saturday: 11 am to 5 pm. Sunday 1 pm to 5 pm.