Pima Air and Space Museum, Tucson, AZ

[Joe Copalman]

[John B.]

Hopefully this doesn't seem like an advertisement.  I snapped this today:

DSC_0176 by Fenderwreck, on Flickr

[jslugman]

Excellent image John.

[jslugman]

Was there on my day off searching for new views of sights I see quite frequently:

Searchmaster view by James O'Rear acc0852 by James "JSlugman" O'Rear, on Flickr

Aircraft seen in this image include: Gov't. Aircraft Factory Searchmaster, Boeing EC-135J Stratotanker, Convair B-36J Peacemaker, Fairey Gannet AEW3, Douglas EA-1F Skyraider, Boeing YC-14, Douglas VC-118A Liftmaster, Lockheed VC-121A Constellation, Douglas C-9B Skytrain II, Grumman E-1B Tracer, Aero Spacelines 377-SG Super Guppy; Boeing KC-135A Stratotanker Weightless Wonder V, Gulfstream G-1169 G-II, Fairchild C-123 Provider, Lockheed AP-2H Neptune and Lockheed EC-121 Warning Star.

[John B.]

Excellent image John.

Many thanks, James!  In all honesty, it takes some work to take a crappy photo of that airplane.  Now, I am not saying it can't be done, but it takes some effort to totally screw it up!

[Aceebee]

Stoof with a roof (or sun shade). Taken at Pima 12th November 2010 under a beautiful clear blue Arizona sky. I love these Grumman's. I want to take one home.

[Dave S.]

Had a nice little visit to the museum this last weekend, my wife's company had their holiday party at the museum.  Didn't actually have much of an opportunity to venture outside.  I did manage to sneak away from the party for a few, but the overcast didn't help much.  Here's about the best I could manage.

[Joe Copalman]

We really need to resurrect a plan to try and set up a night shoot with them.  Much easier to coordinate now that the sun sets earlier. 

Excellent work, Dave.

[wingsnstuff]

It's a very nice photo Dave, but it is rather sad to see her paint so faded.  She was such a beautiful aircraft when she was part the the Presidential Fleet at Andrews.

[Dave S.]

Thanks guys.

Here's another one that I've played with and think is worthy of posting.  Sorry, resized to something better suited to this aspect ratio.

[wingsnstuff]

Wow!  This cat looks brand new.  Nice shot

[Matt Ottosen]

Very nice shot(s), Dave.  The one thing I have always hated disliked about PASM is that most of the aircraft are left outside in the elements, but I know it would be too hard to put them all inside to protect them.  This has bothered me since my first visit there when I was a little kid.

[Joe Copalman]

True, some aircraft do look rather sad, but you have to measure that against the sheer volume of aircraft they have on display and the relatively benign weather.  Sun-bleaching and pigeon crap are much better than salt air, hurricanes, tornadoes, and all that other stuff.  And hangar museums aren't all they're cracked up to be.  Look at the fire at the Yankee Air Museum a few years back - they lost A LOT of rare aircraft when the hangar burned down.  And the PASM restoration team does an outstanding job of refurbishing the aircraft they have on display, even if there's no way for them to ever get caught up to what the elements do to the rest of the collection.

[Matt Ottosen]

True, some aircraft do look rather sad, but you have to measure that against the sheer volume of aircraft they have on display and the relatively benign weather.  Sun-bleaching and pigeon crap are much better than salt air, hurricanes, tornadoes, and all that other stuff.  And hangar museums aren't all they're cracked up to be.  Look at the fire at the Yankee Air Museum a few years back - they lost A LOT of rare aircraft when the hangar burned down.  And the PASM restoration team does an outstanding job of refurbishing the aircraft they have on display, even if there's no way for them to ever get caught up to what the elements do to the rest of the collection.

That is all very true, and it does seem like they are doing a better job of restoration/maintaining the last 10-15 years.

[wingsnstuff]

Matt/Joe

I agree with you both.  I just look at the beautiful job that they did on the B-36J.  That restoration is beautiful and the aircraft they have indoors are very nicely done.  I was not trying to disparage the museum or their efforts in maintaining this enormous collection of aircraft.  I was just lamenting the fact that weather and time does take a toll on these beautiful and historic airplanes.  The March AFB museum is another outdoor venue, but I think their birds are in much worse shape.  That being said, I do think  it's definitely an aviation museum worth visiting if you're in the Temecula area.