Museum will roll out replica of Amelia Earhart's Lockheed Electra on July 2. The National Museum of Naval Aviation has a fun-packed schedule of events for the month of July.

'Finding Amelia - the True Story of the Earhart Disappearance'

The riddle of what really happened to Amelia Earhart has made her America's favorite missing person. Why did a massive U.S. Navy and Coast Guard search fail to find her? Did her Lockheed Electra go down at sea and vanish without a trace? Was she a spy, captured by the Japanese? Or did she and her navigator, Fred Noonan, die as castaways on a desert island? Now, hard evidence is starting to emerge that could soon lead to a conclusive solution to the mystery.

The National Naval Aviation Museum will unveil a restored Lockheed Electra, the type of aircraft flown by Amelia Earhart, at 3 p.m. on Thursday, July 2 in the Blue Angel Atrium as part of a special program on the 72nd anniversary of Amelia Earhart's disappearance. The aircraft restoration was sponsored by the Emil Buehler Trust and will be on permanent display at the Museum.

Following the aircraft rollout, Ric Gillespie, executive director of The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery (TIGHAR), will give an illustrated presentation on TIGHAR's findings and exhibit some of the recovered artifacts believed to have belonged to Earhart. At the conclusion of his lecture, Gillespie will hold a book signing for his publication, "Finding Amelia - the True Story of the Earhart Disappearance."

Gillespie has led a team of historians, archaeologists and forensic scientists on a 20-year investigation of the Earhart/Noonan disappearance. Nine expeditions to a remote uninhabited South Pacific atoll have uncovered compelling evidence of Earhart's presence.

Kids get in free at IMAX® Saturday Special!

Receive one free child's admission to "The Magic of Flight" IMAX® film with the purchase one adult ticket at regular price. Special is good only on Saturday, July 4 and not valid with any other offer.

Blast Off! Space Day lands at museum on July 18

The museum's Blast Off! Space day takes place on Saturday, July 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Activities will include paper rocket making and a launch contest, photo opportunities in a real spacesuit, astronaut ice cream sampling, hands-on exhibits from the Marshall and Johnson Space Centers, and a feature presentation by Russell Romanella, Director of the International Space Station and Spacecraft Processing Directorate at John F. Kennedy Space Center, Florida. It's free fun for the whole family!

National Flight Academy Camp Continues

Launch your own model rocket, build gliders, watch a Blue Angels practice and experience an IMAX® movie or exciting flight simulator - all in one week! Sign up for the National Flight Academy Camp at the Museum. Taught by certified teachers, students will learn the science and math of flight and expand their knowledge of Naval Aviation history with tours of Museum exhibits and aircraft.

The camp runs all day. Camp dates for July are as follows: July 13-17 and 20-24.

Blue Angels practice and sign autographs

The Blue Angels have two practice and autograph sessions open to the public in July, on the 15th and 22nd from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. The sessions will take place on the flight deck near the museum aboard NAS Pensacola.

The National Naval Aviation Museum features free admission and a full slate of events throughout the year. For a complete list of events, exhibits and attractions at the Museum, visit NavalAviation Museum.org or call the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation at (850) 453-2389.