Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson Az

[Thorlifter]

I took a trip to the Pima air and space museum today Home : Pima Air Space Museum : Tucson, Arizona . I was very impressed with the entire museum, even though 70% of it are those jet thingys! However, they have over 150 planes on display and their displays for WWII are pretty good. There is a building for the 390th bomb group that is exceptional. You can see their website here. 390th Memorial Museum

Their planes range from a Wright brothers flyer replica to huge aircraft like the Super Guppy, 3 B-52's, B-47, and the last B-36 made.

Funny side note: There was a man and women there and the guy was apparently trying to impress the woman, but he kept saying wrong things. He called the V1 a V2 and he said the little spinner on the nose is what told the V1 when to drop on London. He also told her the A-26 was called a widow maker because it was so unreliable and said the Corsair had a flaw where it couldn't turn very sharp, even though there was a sign that said the Corsair could turn inside of a P-51.

Anyway, here are a few pics I hope you enjoy.

 

[davparlr]

Hey, I saw a C-141 in the background. Made my heart flutter! Looks like a great museum.

 

[Thorlifter]

It looked to me that they had any US plane made after 1960. They also had several vehicles (no tanks) and maybe 15-20 helicopters.

BTW, the 5th pic down is the cockpit of a Waco glider. Here are a few more pics.

 

[nuuumannn]

Holy crap! There's a lot of planes there! Like the Tomcat!

 

[Airframes]

Beaut pics T. Don't you just love it when you get a (normally loud) 'know it all', trying to impress, when they no f*** all !!

 

[Thorlifter]

I was going to correct him Terry, but decided I'd keep it to myself and just laugh on the inside. Ended up following them just to listen to more and more crappola. Dude was so full of crap.

Nuuumann, this is only a small part of what they had. I could have taken a lot more pics, but I'm just not that interested in jets, with only a few exceptions. They did have a good looking Tornado and Harrier.

 

[evangilder]

It's been on my bucket list and I will hopefully be visiting there in a few weeks. Great stuff, TL!

 

[nuuumannn]

Sounds like a terrific place. Is this the one next to the Boneyard, or AMARC or what ever it is now?

Harrier; mmmmmm the best imitation of a flying hoover/hair dryer if there ever was one! Impressive aircraft.

The thing about these guys is that they talk really loudly in a deliberate attempt to impress others. The worst ones can be found at airshows talking over engine noises and commentators, You just wanna shout "Shut the F*** up!"

 

[Thorlifter]

I did get to talk with a 41 year USAF mechanic for about 25 minutes. Had a very nice conversation with him.

Yes Nuuuman, it's next to the boneyard. In fact, they offer tours to that and the a Titan missile museum as well. Home

Eric, If you make it soon, let me know and I'll meet you there. I would enjoy getting your perspective on many of these aircraft.

 

[Wayne Little]

Great pics Roland!

 

[T Bolt]

Great pictures! I hadn't realized there was a B-18 out there other than the one at the Air Force Museum. It looks like a wonderful place, I'll have to stop there next time I get out west.

 

[muscogeemike]

I was going to correct him Terry, but decided I'd keep it to myself and just laugh on the inside. Ended up following them just to listen to more and more crappola. Dude was so full of crap.

I had the same experience at the March AFB Museum (California) during a visit in the '80's, only the volunteer "guide" was a WWII vet and he was giving all kinds of miss-information to school kids. Among other false statements he told them that the Bell P-59 was based on captured German tech. and that the B-17 had so many protective guns it didn't need escort!

I was there with my youngest old son and even he was aghast at how uninformed the guy was.

I did try to correct the guide and was told by him that since I wasn't there and he was (he was not even ground crew - he was a clerk at 8th AF HQ!) I couldn't know.
The museum as me to leave.

I mean no dis-respect to any WWII Vet but things like this are how the "myths" of the war are perpetuated and if we know the truth we should speak out - but I will admit I maybe shouldn't have done it in public.

 

[Capt. Vick]

Funny side note: There was a man and women there and the guy was apparently trying to impress the woman, but he kept saying wrong things. He called the V1 a V2 and he said the little spinner on the nose is what told the V1 when to drop on London.

Well he was at least partially right. The propeller in the nose was a primitive form of air computer that did try to gauge the distance flown by the number of rotations and when it reached that preset value it cut the fuel to the pulse jet and down she went…eventually!

 

[Crimea_River]

Great selection of exhibits.

 

[Gnomey]

Good shots!

 

[wheelsup_cavu]

Excellent pictures.


Wheels

 

[evangilder]

I did get to talk with a 41 year USAF mechanic for about 25 minutes. Had a very nice conversation with him.

Yes Nuuuman, it's next to the boneyard. In fact, they offer tours to that and the a Titan missile museum as well. Home

Eric, If you make it soon, let me know and I'll meet you there. I would enjoy getting your perspective on many of these aircraft.

How long do you think I need to be able to see as much as I can. I'm going to be getting into Tucson on April 15. I think my plane lands about 12:30 at TCS. I figure once I get my bags and the rental, it'll be about 1:30. I may be able to go on the Wednesday after that as well, but it is up in the air. So I was thinking if I had the time on Sunday, that might be the time to do it.

 

[Matt308]

You will need as much time as you can spare. Looks like they have picked up numerous new aircraft since I was there almost 20 years ago. And even then the museum (if you wanna even call it that... it is really a park) was massive. I literally spent about 12 hours there between two separate trips. And I didn't go to the boneyard nor the missle silo tour (news to me!). Bring water.

 

[Thorlifter]

Yeah, I could have easily made a day of it, just at the museum, but my back started to hurt and I called it quits. I asked about the bone yard and was told all the WWII era planes are gone so my interest in going there into the toilet. I bet the Titan Missile silo would be very interesting.

Matt, it has really grown since you have been there. There are now 5 buildings, a cafeteria, and a gift shop, plus all the planes outside.

Eric, Not sure if I'll still be in town on the 15th. I'm scheduled to be onsite at the copper mine in a couple weeks and that is 3 hours away from Tucson. If I don't get to meet you then, we can try again at Chino.

 

[Shinpachi]

Nice pics, Thor!