The Legendary SR-71 Blackbird Spy Plane That Could Outrun Missiles Now Rests in This Arizona Museum

Pima Air & Space Museum (Tucson, Arizona)

In the Arizona sun sits a field of giants. The Pima Air & Space Museum spreads across 80 acres of Tucson desert, with more than 400 planes ranging from tiny prop jobs to massive Cold War bombers. Plus, it’s home to the world’s fastest plane, the SR-71 Blackbird.

Here are some highlights of America’s largest private air museum.

The Airfield Where History Takes Flight

The museum began in 1966 during the Air Force’s 25th birthday celebrations.

Base leaders at the nearby Military Aircraft Storage Center noticed historic planes were being melted down for scrap.

Local aviation fans and county officials formed the Tucson Air Museum Foundation to create a real museum.

Pima County bought 320 acres of land for just $800 in 1968. Today it covers 80 acres with nearly 400 aircraft of all types.

It’s the largest aerospace museum in the world not funded by any government. The collection includes more than 125,000 artifacts alongside the aircraft.

Building The Home For Aviation Giants

The museum’s first actual hangar opened in 1982 and grew twice more in 2006 and 2010. More hangars followed: a second in 1987, third in 1992, and fourth in 1994.

Today’s main hangar showcases fan favorites like the SR-71A Blackbird spy plane, the A-10 Warthog, and the tiny Bumble Bee biplane.

Three hangars focus entirely on World War II planes and stories. The six indoor hangars provide over 300,000 square feet of air-conditioned display space.

The Blackbird Lands In Tucson

The museum’s SR-71A Blackbird (serial number 17951) is the oldest survivor of its kind. Lockheed’s secretive Skunk Works team built it in 1958 to replace the U-2 spy plane.

This incredible aircraft could fly at three times the speed of sound (over 2,200 mph) and soar above 85,000 feet.

Its twin engines handled extreme heat while outrunning missiles fired at it. The Blackbird lives in the Main Hangar, where visitors marvel at its sleek black shape.

From World War To Modern Combat

The museum holds planes from every major U.S. war since World War II.

You’ll see famous fighters like the P-51 Mustang that fought over Europe, the F-4 Phantom from Vietnam, and the modern A-10 Warthog.

The collection includes massive bombers such as the B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberator, and B-29 Superfortress.

Navy planes like the F/A-18 Hornet and A-4 Skyhawk sit alongside the iconic UH-1 Huey helicopter that defined the Vietnam War.

The Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame Arrives

The Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame found its home here in 1991.

This special gallery honors the pilots, engineers, and leaders who made Arizona important in flight history.

The display tells stories of local aviation pioneers through personal items, photos, and detailed information.

You’ll learn how Arizona became critical for training military pilots during World War II. Your museum ticket includes access to this inspiring exhibit.

Preserving The B-17 Flying Fortress Legacy

The 390th Memorial Museum sits on the same grounds, housing a beautifully restored B-17G Flying Fortress bomber.

This aircraft (serial number 44-85828) was lovingly rebuilt to “combat ready” condition by the veterans of the 390th Bomb Group.

They named it “I’ll Be Around” in honor of their WWII missions over Europe.

Unlike most exhibits, visitors can explore parts of this plane’s interior. Its four Wright Cyclone engines and 103-foot wingspan show the might of American bombing power.

Twenty-First Century Flight Comes To Pima

In 2015, Boeing gave the museum its second-ever 787 Dreamliner test plane. This cutting-edge jetliner wears the colors of Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA).

The 186-foot-long aircraft shows how far flight has come since the Wright brothers.

Its composite body, advanced electronics, and fuel-saving engines represent modern commercial aviation’s peak.

The Flying Eye Hospital Finds A Home

In November 2016, Orbis International donated their Donnell-Douglas DC-10 Flying EMcye Hospital.

This unique aircraft was the oldest flying DC-10 when donated. Inside, it held operating rooms where eye surgeons trained and worked while flying to remote countries.

The Boneyard Connection

The museum sits next to the world’s largest aircraft storage facility, nicknamed “The Boneyard.”

This 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group holds over 4,000 aircraft worth about $32 billion.

The outdoor display includes a Lockheed VC-140 Jetstar painted as “Spy Tiger” by street artist Andrew Schoultz.

Another Jetstar sports colorful spray paint by artist Kenny Scharf, titled “Back to Supersonica.”

Find these unique art pieces outside near Valencia Road.

While tours of the Boneyard stopped permanently in 2020 due to security concerns, you can learn about how aircraft are preserved there.

Expanding Beyond The Skies

The Tucson Military Vehicle Museum opened on March 21, 2025, on 77 acres next door.

This brand-new museum displays over 60 military vehicles from World War I through today. You’ll see tanks, armored personnel carriers, and artillery pieces up close.

A highlight is the collection of 21 restored WWII vehicles once owned by Count Ferdinand von Galen.

The Imperial War Museum donated 50 more vehicles to fill the grounds. Visitors can climb aboard select vehicles, with ride experiences planned for the future.

Visiting Pima Air & Space Museum

The museum welcomes visitors daily except Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Hours run 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. October through May (enter by 3 p.m.) and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June through September (enter by 1:30 p.m.).

Adult tickets cost $22.50-$29.50 with discounts for military, seniors, youth, and local residents. The Flight Grill restaurant serves meals from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Leashed pets can join you everywhere except on tram tours. Wear comfortable shoes for the hard-packed dirt paths around outdoor displays.

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