Life finds a way, or at least robotics do as Operation: Dinosaur gets ready to descend on Dayton's National Museum of the U.S. Air Force on Saturday, June 12.
From 4-7 p.m., dino fans and aspiring paleontologists can check out bones, fossils and life-sized animatronic replicas of a Carnotaurus, Velociraptor (an adult and baby), Stegosaurus, Triceratops and Tyrannosaurus rex.
"These realistic dinosaurs, presented by T.A.G. Art Company, can be as big as 9 feet tall; they can move, blink, open their mouths and roar," says the museum.
The art firm has also asked for the public's help to decide on what to name their Triceratops: Triple Nickel, Hercules, Commando, Tank or Hornsley. Visit the museum's Facebook page to cast your vote.
In addition to the giant, roaring reptiles, families can participate in a fossil dig, trivia game and listen to a paleontologist and geologist from the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery talk about dinosaurs. For more action, hop into one of the museum's simulators — gone prehistoric for the day — to experience a "Dino Safari" ride and "Dive in Prehistoric Seas VR." (The simulators cost an additional fee.)
And for less action, head to Building 2, which is "designated a 'roar-free' zone for visitors that may have sensory-sensitivity," says the museum.
The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force — the self-described "oldest and largest military aviation museum in the world" — is located at 1100 Spaatz St. on the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio. Admission is free and masks are still required for non-vaccinated visitors.
For more info, visit nationalmuseum.af.mil.
