Pima Air and Space Museum
The Pima Air and Space Museum in South Tucson is one of Tucson’s leading museums with almost 400 aircraft on display spread over 127 acres.
The Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona, is one of the largest aviation museums in the world, with a collection of over 350 aircraft and spacecraft. The museum is located on 80 acres of land on the southeastern edge of Tucson and is home to a wide variety of aircraft, from World War II-era fighters and bombers to modern commercial airliners and spacecraft.
History of the Pima Air and Space Museum
The museum was founded in 1976 by a group of local aviation enthusiasts and has since grown to become one of the premier aviation museums in the country. The museum’s collection includes aircraft from all branches of the military, as well as civilian and experimental aircraft.
Highlights of the Pima Air and Space Museum
One of the highlights of the museum is the “B-17 Sentimental Journey,” a fully restored B-17 Flying Fortress bomber that was used during World War II. Visitors can take a tour of the aircraft and even take a flight on the B-17, which is operated by the museum’s flight team.
Another popular exhibit at the museum is the “Space Gallery,” which features a range of spacecraft and artifacts from the United States space program. The gallery includes a full-scale replica of the Hubble Space Telescope, as well as a moon rock that visitors can touch.
Other Exhibits
The museum also features a number of other exhibits, including the “390th Memorial Museum,” which tells the story of the 390th Bombardment Group, a B-17 unit that served in Europe during World War II. The museum also has a “Presidential Gallery,” which features aircraft used by U.S. presidents, including a Boeing 707 used by President John F. Kennedy.
The museum also offers a range of educational programs and workshops for students of all ages, including summer camps, homeschool programs, and scout programs.
The museum offers guided tours of the nearby Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, which is home to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG), the largest aircraft boneyard in the world. The tour includes a visit to the boneyard, where thousands of military aircraft are stored and maintained.
Restoration and Preservation
In addition to its educational programs and tours, the Pima Air and Space Museum is also an important center for aircraft restoration and preservation. The museum’s restoration team is dedicated to preserving and restoring the aircraft in the museum’s collection, and they have won numerous awards for their work.
Pima Air and Space Museum
For more information, prices and opening hours, visit the official Pima Air and Space Museum website.
Pima Air and Space Museum
For more information, prices and opening hours, visit the official Pima Air and Space Museum website.
OUR PICK OF THE GUIDES
From that blues bar you haven’t visited yet to the desert hike you keep meaning to plan, experience something new right here at home with Moon 52 Things to Do in Phoenix & Tucson.
- Cool things to do in and around the cities: Kick back at a Spring Training game or squeeze into the grandstands of El Gran Mercado for some lucha libre. Bike the famed Loop in Tucson, kayak Tempe Town Lake, and lace up your boots for an urban hike in the Phoenix Mountains. Support local BIPOC writers at Palabras Bilingual Bookstore and taste what’s on tap at a women-owned brewery. Savor Sonoran-style food like tamales and carne asada or try authentic Tohono O’odham fry bread.
