The first thing that I will search when visiting a new place or State, is the location of the air and space museum. I have been into a number of space museums, big and small, around the U.S. One of the them that really impressed me was the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in D.C., which holds the largest collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft in the world.
Read: No Better Collection Of Aviation History Than In The Smithsonian National Air And Space Museum
Also: See my other travel adventures here.
Aside from the one in D.C., the next one that made my jaw drop was the PIMA Air and Space Museum in Tucson Arizona. It prides itself as one of the largest space museums in the world. Indeed, it is! The museum is spread over 80 acres and contains more than 350 aircraft and spacecraft. The museum has 5 hangars, equivalent to over 4 ‘football fields’ of indoor exhibit space, displaying 150 plus planes. And there are hundreds more displayed outside in the Arizona sunshine.
The museum has a wide range of exhibits that cover the entire history of aviation, from the Wright brothers’ first flight to the modern-day space shuttle. Visitors can see a wide range of aircraft, from military planes like the B-52 Stratofortress to commercial airliners like the Boeing 747. The museum also has an impressive collection of helicopters, including some of the first helicopters ever built.
One of the most impressive exhibits at the PIMA Air and Space Museum is the “Boneyard,” which is a collection of retired military aircraft that are stored in the desert. Visitors can take a guided tour of the Boneyard and see hundreds of aircraft that have been mothballed by the US military.
The PIMA Air and Space Museum is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in aviation or space exploration. Its vast collection of aircraft and exhibits provides a unique glimpse into the history of flight and the technological advances that have shaped the modern world.
Here are few photos I took.
The Mariner. Last flight 1971.
The Cobra
Sikorsky Heavy Lift Transport
The Spy Tiger
A vast collection of Dragonfly aircraft.
Piasecki. A retriever.
The hunter fighter
Super Guppy
Transport Amphibian
Tigercat fighter
The Avenger. The Navy Torpedo.
The Liberator. Used during the Normandy invasion.
The Hawker Hurricane. Used during the Battle of Britain in 1940.
Boeing Superfortress
Flying Fortress. The deadly Queen of the Skies. Pride of the Army Air Forces.
And you need hours to see all these!
If you intend to visit, DO NOT take the bus tour, unless you have only 30 minutes to spend inside. I have noticed that those who took the tour, they were not able to go out of the bus and see up close the displays on the field. Walk. Explore the hundreds of displays by foot. You will not regret doing it.
Admission and Hours
The museum is open 7 days a week, from 9:00am to 5:00pm, last admission at 4:00pm. The museum is open every day of the year except Thanksgiving day and Christmas day. Parking is free. The museum is a pet-friendly facility (leashes required).
Admission fee.
Adult (ages 13 & up): $15.50
Pima County Resident: $12.25
Senior (65+)/Military: $12.75
Junior (ages 5-12): $9.00
Child (4 & Under): FREE
Group of 20+: $12.50
Contact.
Address: 6000 East Valencia Road, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson, AZ 85756
Phone Number: 520-574-0462
Find your way.
Also: See my other travel adventures here.
