Get Spooky at the Pima Air and Space Museum in Arizona

Are you ready for some spooky fun at an aviation museum? Halloween is all about creepy graveyards, ghouls, goblins, witches and things hiding in the shadows, so what better way to spend a spooky day than at a place that houses the ghosts of aviation adventures past? Let’s take an in-depth look at the Pima Air and Space Museum, the tram tours and their Halloween festivities.

The Exciting History of the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, AZ

Did you know that old military aircraft were once considered cannon fodder and scrap metal, and the Pima Air and Space Museum was conceived as a way to save the old WWII aircraft? The idea for the Pima Air and Space Museum hadn’t even been thought of until the 25th anniversary of the beginning of the US Air Force.

It is said that the commanders of the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and the Military Aircraft Storage and Disposition Center (MASDC) got together to discuss the status of the 1950s WWII aircraft that they were storing at their facilities. Many of them were being sent to smelters, where their history was being melted right along with the metal. These commanders came up with an amazing idea. They wanted to share the history of the aircraft with the civilians, so they decided to put an example of each type of aircraft along the fences of their properties.

The makeshift aircraft display was a huge success. However, the patrons couldn’t get close to the aircraft. In order to solve that problem, Colonel I. R. Perkin, the new MASDC Commander at the time, enlisted the help of the Tucson chapter of the Air Force Association. Together, they founded the Tucson Air Museum Foundation of Pima County, and the goal of the air museum foundation was to create a museum of historic aircraft that the public could visit.

The endeavor was a success. The ground selected for the museum was prepared, and all of the aircraft that had been collected were moved to the museum. After that, the museum began collecting other pieces, and the result of their efforts is the Pima Air and Space Museum of Tucson, AZ, that anyone can visit.

Exciting Aviation Exhibits at the Pima Air and Space Museum

The Pima Air and Space Museum has more than 250,000 square feet of exhibit space inside their hangars and about 80 acres of outdoor space that visitors can traverse either on foot or by tram. The museum’s exhibits are divided into Outdoor Exhibits, Main Hangar Exhibits, and Hangar 3, 4, and 5 Exhibits. Visitors can also visit the Aerospace Gallery and the 390th Memorial Museum.

Outdoor Exhibits

The Pima Air and Space Museum’s outdoor area includes numerous aircraft and featured exhibits. The first featured exhibit is the Beauty of Flight. It is a fiberglass sculpture that can be viewed as you drive onto the grounds. The fiberglass, rock and metal sculpture features three models of a Northrop-McDonnell Douglas YF-23, which was a prototype aircraft that was canceled in favor of the YF-22, also known as the F-22 Raptor, which was a supersonic stealth fighter aircraft that the Air Force used from 1996 to 2011.

The second featured exhibit is entitled “The Beacon.” This amazing tower is 53 feet tall, and at one time, it was part of a lighted airway system that linked major cities. The beacons were positioned about 10 miles apart and had 5-million candlewatt lights in them. The goal of these beacons was to help guide pilots to the cities. The beacons were primarily used from the 1920s to the 1930s. In 1929, radio navigation began to replace the lighted beacons. However, the last remaining Airway Beacon wasn’t turned off until sometime in the 1970s.

Main Hangar Exhibits

The Main Hangar is the largest hangar on the grounds. It was originally built in 1982 and has since undergone two expansions so that more aircraft and exhibits can be housed in the building. Visitors to the massive Main Hangar can view all types of airplanes, including seaplanes and amphibians. In fact, you might be interested to know that a lot of the early aircraft were designed to operate on water. This allowed coastal, lake and river towns to enjoy the benefits of aircraft without having to build expensive airports and runways. The Main Hangar also has an amazing selection of reconnaissance aircraft and aircraft carriers.

Another popular exhibit is the Women in Flight display, which highlights women’s contributions to the industry. The exhibit features a Beech Bonanza and a Lear 23 that were owned and flown by female aviators.

Of course, we can’t forget about the Great Paper Airplane Project, which occurred in 2012. At that time, the Pima Air and Space Museum flew the world’s largest paper airplane. It weighed 800 pounds and was 45 feet long.

390th Memorial Museum

The 390th Memorial Museum isn’t part of the Pima Air and Space Museum. It’s a separate museum. However, it is included with the Pima Air and Space Museum admission, and inside the building you’ll find the last flown B-17 Flying Fortress. It was named “I’ll Be Around,” and it was flown for quite a long time, even though it didn’t see combat. I’ll Be Around flew missions with the Coast Guard and was used to fight forest fires by the U.S. Forest Service before being restored in 1980.

Enjoy a Guided Tour at the Pima Air and Space Museum

The Pima Air and Space Museum offers public and private tram tours. They are 45 minutes long and non-stop. The tram tours are narrated and take guests through the outdoor section of the museum. The Pima Air and Space Museum offers two types of tram tours, public and private. Public tours don’t need any advance notice. Though, the times are subject to change, and it’s advised to check with Admissions for the day’s tram times. Private tram tours must be booked at least two weeks in advance. In addition to the tram tours, the museum also offers audio tours, private walking tours, private custom tours and simulator sessions. It’s important to note that the airplane graveyard tour at the AMARG facility is no longer available due to Air Force security policy changes.

Grab Some Food at the Flight Grill

The Flight Grill is open daily from 9:30 AM until 3:30 PM. It’s located behind Hangar 1. They offer breakfast bites, lunch, snacks and cold drinks. The venue includes a patio where patrons can enjoy watching the military aircraft arrive and depart from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.

Night of Fright at the Pima Air and Space Museum

If you’re looking for spooky Halloween fun, consider RSVPing at the Pima Air and Space Museum’s Night of Fright. The event takes place on October 25 from 5 PM until 8 PM. Admission to the event is included with paid parking. Guests can dress up as their favorite witch, ghoul, ghost, goblin or aviator and explore the museum while stopping by the Trick or Treat Stations and event displays. It’s important to note that preregistration to the event is required in order to park.

Put the Pima Air and Space Museum on your to-experience list this October. If you arrive in the area around October 25th, you could even make a multi-day stay of it. Visit the museum and Flight Grill before or after the 25th, and enjoy the Night of Fright on the 25th. Tucson has plenty of bed and breakfasts and hotels, including the Adobe Rose Inn, the Armory Park Inn, the Russ House, and the Blenman Inn, that are sure to make your experience memorable.