WHERE: Pacific Aviation Museum, Ford Island at Pearl Harbor.

If you're looking for a family day out over the Christmas break, check out the Pacific Aviation Museum on Ford Island where five jets from the eras of the Korean and Vietnam wars joined the Pacific Aviation Museum's collection last month.

Contributing to the museum's third anniversary celebrations this month, two F-86 Sabres, a MiG-15, an F-4 Phantom and an F-102 Delta Dagger have taken up residence in the 85,000-square-foot Hangar 79, home of the Museum's Lt. Ted Shealy Restoration Shop.

The jets, donated by the Hawaii Air National Guard and U.S. Air Force Museum, join several other aircraft awaiting restoration.

"Depending on the aircraft, restoration can take anywhere between one and five years," said Scott Rasak, marketing coordinator for the museum. "However, the MiG-15 is already in very good condition, and the F-102 is in good condition. Right now the restoration shop is restoring a Stinson L-5 aircraft, so the shop will be busy for quite awhile."

For more than 60 years, the Hawaii Air National Guard has protected the skies above Hawaii and the Pacific with such aircraft. As each successive plane came along, the Air Guard kept one as a display model. Because funds were never budgeted, the planes had begun deteriorating.

Where better than the Pacific Aviation Museum at Pearl Harbor for them to land and be restored?

Eventually the aircraft will be displayed in the museum's planned expansion, Rasak said. Until then visitors can get a closer look at the Shealy Restoration Shop and its new occupants on the museum's Aviator Tour to Hangar 79, which has been used as an exhibition space since the museum's opening.

During World War II, Hangar 79 was a maintenance and engine repair facility, filled with fighters, bombers and patrol aircraft that were based in Pearl Harbor or transiting through to the front lines. Its blue glass windows are still riddled with bullet holes left by the Japanese attack.

Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard personnel moved the aircraft from Hickam Air Force Base to Pearl Harbor.

IF YOU GO: The Pacific Aviation Museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m daily and is reached via shuttle buses from the USS Arizona Memorial parking area at Pearl Harbor. The guided Aviator's Tour is at 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. daily; tickets at reservations@pacificaviationmuseum.org, www.pacificaviationmuseum.org. 441-1000.

— Chris Oliver