The Aviation Unmanned Vehicle Museum (AUVM) is a collection of incredible, rare, drones and artifacts. AUVM was founded by retired Lt. Col. Harold (Red) Smith.
Our mission is to honor the men and women in our military and the private sector that paved the way for remotely piloted vehicles, more commonly known today as DRONES. AUVM strives to educate the public about the beginning history and uses of unmanned aircraft vehicles (UAV’s).
Lt Col Harold “Red” Smiths’ Background: Red is one of the original founders of the National Association for Remotely Piloted Vehicles (NARPV) which became the Association for Unmanned Vehicles International (AUVSI), and he was the second National President of NARPV. He was a program management principal in the Vietnam era for remotely piloted vehicle programs, including LONG ARM DECOY, Lightning Bug photo reconnaissance in Vietnam, Electronic Warfare in COMBAT ANGEL, Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) in COMBAT DAWN, and proof of strike drone concept in 1971 in HAVE LEMON TASK 05. He served in RPV Systems at SAC Headquarters, the Big Safari Office, and the Drone/RPV System Project Office (SPO) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio, and in Vietnam and Thailand. Red was the first drone SPO in the United States Airforce.
Over the course of 40 years he collected over 40 unmanned aircraft, as well as military vehicles, and other military items associated with the Vietnam War and Unmanned aviation. We have an incredible lineage of drone history from the very beginning with the Radioplane OQ-2A, continuing on down the line to the the ONLY strike drone proof of concept that is left of the EIGHT BGM-34 drones made, the BGM-34B RPV-007.
AUVM is always looking to expand our museum to accomodate more modern drones to continue to be able to provide the best drone museum experience an aviation enthusiast expects. As there is not another drone museum in the United States of America, possibly not anywhere else in the world, help us by donating aircraft to help contribute to the mission, educate the public about the beginning history and to where we are now with unmanned technology.
We are a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit organization and rely on the support of donations and volunteers. Please see our donation and volunteer page if you are interested in contributing.
