Itinerary / Winging It

Though Air Force history in the United States dates back to 1907, when the Army developed a military aviation division, it was not until the National Security Act of 1947, signed by President Harry Truman 50 years ago today, that the U.S. Air Force became an independent entity. The Southland is full of places to commemorate this historic weekend with some high-flying fun.

Friday Night

Few people would think of the airport as a choice spot to dine. But Encounter, LAX’s Space Age lounge, is worth the trip. Perched inside the arc of departure terminals, this spider-like building looks as if it just touched down from another world. Sitting under ethereal lights at the moon-cratered bar, drinking a beer tapped by funky laser technology (thanks to the folks at Disney Imagineering), you could just as easily be aboard the Starship Enterprise. Stay for a couple of Cosmos (Absolut Vodka cosmopolitans, $7) or for dinner. Fridays at 10 p.m. DJ Senor Amor spins mellow sounds for “Ultra Lounge.” And if you tire of the jet set inside, you’ve got plenty of takeoffs and landings to watch outside the huge picture windows. Los Angeles International Airport, 209 World Way, (310) 215-5151.

Saturday

Be a Top Gun for the day at Fightertown Entertainment, a jet fighter simulation center in Orange County where you can fly anything from a basic mission in a single-seat A-10 Warthog to air-to-air combat in a full-motion, dual-seat F-14 Tomcat. Anyone 12 and up can have a virtual adventure--you’ll get full flight gear, cockpit orientation, a pre-flight briefing, in-flight instruction and debriefing. 20521 Teresita Way, Lake Forest. (714) 855-8802 for reservations. Flights are one hour and prices range from $23.99 to $59.99. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Like its LAX counterpart, Santa Monica Airport’s restaurant DC-3 also has a runway-side view. The food is tasty enough, although not particularly inspired. Try the shiitake mushroom and goat cheese appetizer ($7) and the grilled salmon with garlic mashed potatoes and whole grain mustard sauce ($17) entree. Tuesday-Friday evenings, parents can dine at the restaurant while their kids (ages 3-12) enjoy a free “Kids Night Out” program that includes dinner, a video and a tour of the Museum of Flying. Reservations should be made for 6 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. 2800 Donald Douglas Loop N., Santa Monica, (310) 399-2323.

Sunday

If you visit the Museum of Flying on Sunday instead, you won’t get to eat at DC3 (it’s closed on Sundays), but your kids will get to learn how to fly an airplane in “Ground School,” a workshop that will demonstrate what the buttons and dials in a cockpit are used for and allow participants to apply what they have learned in a K3 motion simulator. Also at the museum: military and commercial aviation displays, stunt planes, biplanes and World War I military aircraft.2772 Donald Douglas Loop N., Santa Monica, (310) 392-8822. Adults, $7; seniors, $5; children 3-17, $3. Workshop at noon, free with museum admission.

In the mood for a day trip? High-tail it out to Chino Airport’s Planes of Fame Air Museum. See more than 85 aircraft dating back from the World War II era, including a Messerscmitt Me-262, the first operational jet fighter ever produced; two Russian MiG fighters; and a Northrop N9MB Flying Wing--one of only two in existence--that was a design precursor to the B-2 Stealth Bomber. 7000 Merrill Ave., Chino, (909) 597-3514. Adults, $7.95; children under 12, $1.95. Open daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Don’t leave without a visit to the nearby Flo’s Airport Cafe. A colorful joint with diner-style food, it’s just the kind of place fighter pilots would love. Think Sam Shepard in the movie “The Right Stuff.”