A visit to the largest private aviation museum

Last week we spent some time in Phoenix, AZ. The current recession has had quite an impact on the number of snowbirds wintering in the area, but my very un-scientific license plate survey would seem to indicate that we really were just in southern Alberta, the economy must be doing better with our cousins to the north.

While we were there Bill (my on-line building consultant from the 2006 house construction) and myself took a day swing down to Tucson to visit the Pima Air and Space Museum.

The Museum is located just outside of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base which is noted for its aircraft storage and mothballing activities.

Since Marlys was not with us (e.g. she reads every display description thoroughly), I figured we mite spend a couple of hours looking at airplanes.

That didn't happen and this is one of the reasons why.

There were in excess of 100 aircraft on display outside and inside. There were numerous special interest areas in the 5 hangers and a gift shop which had the best t-shirt I have never purchased. It had a picture of a mushroom cloud with the following phrase under it "It seemed like a good idea at the time". I should'a bought it.

I under estimated just a little, as it turned out to be just shy of 6 hours before we left.

I had to take a picture of this aircraft. I think it was a Convair, but I don't remember. Anyway, look at the top of the engine cowling. That is one of the cylinder jugs sticking out of it. I hope this happened on a ground engine run up.

Pima also offers guided bus tours of the aircraft boneyard at Davis-Monthan, so off we went. On entering the base one of the first things you see is a long open air shed with all manner of aircraft either coming apart or going together. This a storage facility after all, and some of the aircraft are put back into service, as needed.

What makes this area near ideal for long term storage are the climate, namely very dry and the ground, which will support the weight of even the largest aircraft (as a dozen C5s will atest to) without sinking.

The aircraft going into relatively short term storage have all openings covered and the windows covered in a black protectant, which is then covered in a white latex material to reflect the sun light and heat.

On our right was a large field with parked F16s in it, but the birds I was trying to get a snap of are in the background.

Because of the conditions here other countries also contract to store their surplus aircraft at D-M. The C130s in the back are from the Royal Norwegian Air Force. According to the tour guide their contingent of aircraft has been growing over the winter.

Even while walking through the static aircraft displays at Pima there was also either an Australian or New Zealand air crew touring. Maybe from dropping off an aircraft.

Although there were virtually every aircraft past and present in the US AF/Navy and even a few Army Mohawks. There were a couple that I took special interest in; the B1 Lancer and a C130 that had seen service flying to Antarctica.

The B1 was in especially short term storage and only had a canvas covering the cockpit area. This aircraft along with the B58 Hustler, and the XB70 Valkyrie are on my short list of the most beautiful aircraft ever built.

The C130 is probably one of the most successful aircraft ever built and has seen service in a number of different configurations. The addition of skis is but one of those, but one that is still used today in getting supplies and people on to and off of the Antarctic Continent.

As I understand it most of these flights are now operated by the New York Air National Guard, but don't put money on that, as it has been a few years since I read anything on it.

During the day we also saw a number of other aircraft doing touch and goes and test flights. Two noteable ones were a few F4 Phantoms which are now used for target drones and some F22 Raptors , which are amoung the newest US aircraft. I can't say that the Raptor will make my 'Beautiful Aircraft" short list, as stealtherizing tends to ugly up things.

On the way down I noticed an In & Out Burger along I-10, which if you haven't had one is comparable to White Castles on MY burger index.

Now we were scheduled for a seafood dinner in a couple of hours, but what the heck, it was now right on the way home and Bill had never experienced there menu (short and too the point).

Hey, don't get me wrong, I have nothing against seafood, it makes a fine holder for fried batter.