Pima air & space museum, tucson az

[eric2011]

Have got a couple of hours to fill at Tucson AZ and am thinking of going to this museum. Has anyone been and got any thoughts on the facility.

 

[Jurahn]

We went to this museum a couple of years ago whilst staying in Tucson. It's extremely well done, with a huge number of exhibits, both indoors and outdoors and definitely a great way to spend a couple of hours. There are volunteers in each building to provide information and answer questions - most of them are retired airforce crew I think, and they're more than happy to have a chat with anyone who's interested! In fact, we almost had trouble getting away from a couple of them LOL as we went at 9am on a Sunday, and it was still pretty quiet. There's about 150 planes in a huge outdoor area as well, and it pays to wear sunscreen if you're going to be wandering about out there (sunscreen is provided free of charge in their immaculate public toilet facilities) - we were there in early December, and it was still quite warm and sunny on the day we visited. To be honest, I thought I'd probably be bored out of my mind as I'm not an aeronautical fan by any means, it was more because hubby wanted to go there, but I was surprised at how interesting and informative it was and I really enjoyed it. There's also the option to tour the "Boneyard" in the US Air Force Base across the road, but those tours only run Monday to Friday.

 

[UP4014]

Yes go, worth the effort.

Beware of the rattlers! (there is a sign at the entrance under the aircrane)


Matt

 

[Jurahn]

Yes, that's always a worthwhile warning when visiting Arizona! Mind you, we've been to Tucson twice now, including a total (over the two trips) of 7 weeks staying on a ranch and the only rattlers we saw were at the zoo and at the Desert Museum (which are both well worth a visit, as is the Titan Missile Museum about 25 miles outside Tucson). Both times we stayed in November/December, so the rattlers were probably all holed up somewhere waiting for the warmer weather LOL.

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

I can also Vouch for the Pima air & space Museum located in Tucson, Arizona.
I literally spent the entire day browsing the planes & venturing into the numerous indoor museums 5 or so years ago.

Plenty to see & lots of photo opportunities.

And as a number if other contributors have mentioned the volunteers are very friendly, one hint your from Australia & they might talk a whole lot more with you

If memory serves me correctly a retired Airforce One can be found amongst the hundreds of planes too, unfortunately at the time no admittance inside, just looking from the outside.

 

[UP4014]

If memory serves me correctly a retired Airforce One can be found amongst the hundreds of planes too, unfortunately at the time no admittance inside, just looking from the outside.

From memory a DC6, I did manage to get inside, if I can find the photos (slides, then scan them) will post them up but give me a few days.


Matt

 

[UP4014]

Found the slides, scanned them and here they are.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/15264656@N02/15338162157/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/15264656@N02/15338010840/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/15264656@N02/15337856389/

These were taken in late January 2001.

Matt

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I remember visiting here by default back in April 1994 after I'd gategrashed the launch of the B777 in SEA - well it was all legal as I'd asked Boeing for an invite.

I hadn't heard of the Pima Air Museum at the time as we were going to visit the Davis Monthan AFB however on the day it was closed due to mission requirements & it was only then we spotted Pima.

I second Cool Cal Phil in that it's well worth a visit as heaps of interesting planes & facts to learn.

ISTR that one of the volunteers there told us that the DC6 was where LBJ was sworn in as President mid-air after JFK was assassinated which would mean that the flight only became Air Force One half way through the flight. Hope I've got that bit right. :shock:

1994 was quite a year aviation things as I went to the Reno Air Races in September that year too.

 

[UP4014]

I remember visiting here by default back in April 1994 after I'd gategrashed the launch of the B777 in SEA - well it was all legal as I'd asked Boeing for an invite.

I hadn't heard of the Pima Air Museum at the time as we were going to visit the Davis Monthan AFB however on the day it was closed due to mission requirements & it was only then we spotted Pima.

I second Cool Cal Phil in that it's well worth a visit as heaps of interesting planes & facts to learn.

ISTR that one of the volunteers there told us that the DC6 was where LBJ was sworn in as President mid-air after JFK was assassinated which would mean that the flight only became Air Force One half way through the flight. Hope I've got that bit right. :shock:

1994 was quite a year aviation things as I went to the Reno Air Races in September that year too.

I think LBJ was sworn in before it left the ground.

 

[Hvr]

I think LBJ was sworn in before it left the ground.

You're right, it was on the plane before it departed from Dallas.

First inauguration of Lyndon B. Johnson - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia