Pima Air and Space Museum, Tucson, AZ. Located about 5 miles from main gate to Davis Monthan AFB. It has over 120 aircraft from different eras. WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm and Iraq war of today. Walking and tram tours are available. Once inside you see a replica of the Wright Brothers airplane. You get to tour 4 large hangers containing many planes, gliders, experimental and some were built to get into the record books. This museum is supported by donations only no government money provided to support. The only part the government has is that the different branches of the military have planes on loan to the museum. This museum is the 3rd largest of the aircraft museums, 1st being the Smithsonian then Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio.
A couple of experimental aircraft the smallest one man jet (the one on display has never flown, but a similar one did once) The other aircraft known as the bumble bee, this plane flew twice once for a check flight then the other was to get it into the records book.
President Eisenhower and Kennedy used this aircraft as their "AIR FORCE ONE". During President Kennedy's term they did upgrade to a jet and was used during the Johnson adminsitration.
This is probably one of the most impressive pieces of history on display. It is the SR-71 Blackbird known mostly for its use as a spy plane high speed and high altitude it could go from LA to NY in less than an hour and taking pictures all the way. It was retired in the 90's and about 2 dozen remain and are in museums around the country. The plane was made of titanium and the wings were the fuel tanks.
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