Naval Aviation Monument Park

The Naval Aviation Monument Park is a beautifully designed outdoor memorial on the Virginia Beach boardwalk at 25th Street, honoring the history and personnel of United States Naval Aviation. For families visiting Virginia Beach, it provides a brief but meaningful cultural experience that's free, accessible, and naturally integrated into a beach day.

The centerpiece is a dramatic full-size F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet sculpture, mounted at a steep angle as if launching from a flight deck. The aircraft is positioned against the sky and ocean backdrop, creating a striking visual that draws visitors from the boardwalk. For kids fascinated by jets, seeing a fighter aircraft at this scale — the same type that regularly flies over Virginia Beach from nearby NAS Oceana — is thrilling.

The park features a series of bronze statues depicting naval aviation personnel from different eras and roles — pilots, flight deck crews, maintenance technicians, and support staff. The sculptures are life-size and remarkably detailed, capturing the posture, equipment, and expressions of people who serve in naval aviation. Granite panels provide historical context, tracing the evolution of naval aviation from its earliest days to the present.

Virginia Beach's connection to naval aviation is deeply personal — NAS Oceana is the Navy's East Coast master jet base, and the sound of F/A-18 Super Hornets flying overhead is a daily occurrence. The monument bridges the historical and the present, and kids often experience the thrill of a real fighter jet passing overhead while standing next to the sculpture of one.

The park's boardwalk location makes it effortless to visit. There's no admission, no parking requirement (beyond general boardwalk parking), and no time commitment — most families spend 20-30 minutes. It's an ideal stop during a boardwalk bike ride or walk, adding a moment of reflection and education to a day otherwise focused on sun and surf.