First Flight Lunar Module in Warren, Ohio

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Many of us having been staying close to home lately and exploring sites that are familiar to us. For many years, I’ve passed by a small local monument and never taken the time to stop. This past weekend, Dennis and I had an excellent dinner at Sorrento’s Ristorante, located at 2488 Parkman Road in Warren. After dinner, we decided to check out the small fenced in park across the street. This small park , the First Flight Lunar Module, recognizes Warren native Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon.

Visiting the First Flight Lunar Module

Background

The First Flight Lunar Module is located on the site of the former Warren Airways where six-year-old Neil Armstrong took his first flight in 1936.  That first flight in a Ford Tri-Motor Airplane, affectionately known as a Tin Goose, sparking Armstrong’s  lifelong love of flying. Thirty-three years later, on July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong would become the first man to walk on the moon . People  will always remember his famous words from that day, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

What to See

At the First Flight Lunar Module Site, you’ll find several copies of a portrait by Woodi Ismael. The portrait depicts six-year-old Neil Armstrong and his father in front of the Tin Goose on the day of Neil’s first flight.

In the center of the brick walkway, you’ll see  half-scale Lunar Module sitting on the “surface” of the “moon,” complete with Armstrong’s footprints in the “moondust.” The replica of the Apollo 11 Lunar Landing Module is almost 13 feet tall and 12 feet wide. It does include all of the antennae, lights, and attachments that the original would have had. More than 3000 man hours went into the construction of the lunar landing module replica alone.

There are also replicas of two rockets that Neil Armstrong flew in space. The Apollo 11-Saturn V Rocket is 1/16 scale of its original 362 feet, and the Gemini 8–Titan II Rocket is 1/6 scale of its 109 feet. The Gemini 8–Titan II Rocket was used for Neil Armstrong’s docking practice in 1966. 

The idea for this site was based on encouraging people to follow their dreams. Neil Armstrong had a dream to fly, and followed his dream all the way to the moon. What are your dreams? Will you pursue them as far as possible, doing everything you can to make them come true?

Know Before You Go

Hours

Officially, the hours are from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. daily. However, we did visit later in the evening, and the gate was still open.

Directions

The First Flight Lunar Module has been located at 2553 Parkman Road NW in Warren, Ohio, since 2001. If you are traveling on the Ohio Turnpike, the closest exit is Exit 14 for Route 5. Travel east from the turnpike. From Ohio State Route 5 & 82, take the U.S. Route 422/Parkman Road exit. Drive southeast for approximately one mile. The spacecraft display will be on the right, just past the McDonald’s.  

More to come

Before you enter the gate, you’ll see an Ohio Historical Marker for Ronald A. Parise, an astronaut and scientist who flew on the Space Shuttle in the 1990s. An addition to the park recognizing Parise is planned when funding becomes available.

Learning More about First Flight Lunar Module

Here’s a hint :  There is a mailbox on the back of the white bench on the left side as you enter the park. Inside, you will find informational brochures. If I hadn’t walked outside the fence to take a picture, I would have missed this. If you are interested in learning more about the First Flight Lunar Module, check out their website or the Trumbull County Tourism Bureau.

Final Thoughts

While I probably wouldn’t go out of my way to visit the First Flight Lunar Module, if you are in the area, it is an interesting little stop. You won’t need more than ten minutes to walk around and read the plaques.

 

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