The Pima Air & Space Museum is one of the best museums for aviation enthusiast to visit, not only in the USA
but on planet Earth.
While this may sound a bit over‐stated, the reality is that this is a very correct description of the museum. It
is the largest privately funded aviation and aerospace museum in the world and the third largest aviation mu‐
seum in the U.S., spread out over 80 acres. Established on May 8, 1976, the museum displays more than 300
aircraft consisting in majority of American made ones, as one would expect, but there are a few surprises
such as; Avro AEW.2 Shackleton, English Electric Lightning F53, MiG‐29A, Panavia IDS Tornado and the Fairey
AEW MK. 3 Gannet. Surprisingly there are no F‐16 Fighting Falcons or a B‐1B on display, which is too bad and
unfortunate considering that there are dozens of them just next door at the Boneyard, in various stages.
There are four hangers housing many restored aircraft such as the SR‐71A Blackbird, the B‐24J Liberator (ex
Indian Air Force) and a Space Gallery. There is an additional Museum within the grounds the 390th Memorial
Museum, an independent military museum displaying a B‐17G Flying Fortress, and the Arizona Aviation Hall
of Fame. Many of the aircraft are displayed outside giving the visitors a rare opportunity to be up close and
personal and the ability to take photographs in the natural and very bright light under the Arizona skies.