Pima Air & Space Museum
Time Needed: half-day
Experience Type: family fun, military history, museum
Spread across 80 acres, the Pima Air & Space Museum is one of the largest non-government aviation museums in the world. More than 250 aircraft—from WWII bombers to cutting-edge jets—tell the story of U.S. military, commercial, and spaceflight history.
MUST-DO CHECKLIST
- Take a narrated tram tour – Hear fascinating backstories you won’t find on placards as you roll past aviation icons.
- Walk the outdoor airfield – Get close to giants like the B-36 Peacemaker and SR-71 Blackbird under the Arizona sun.
- Explore indoor hangars – Discover historic aircraft, experimental planes, and exhibits covering decades of aviation milestones.
- Photograph presidential history – Check out the Douglas VC-118A Air Force One flown by Presidents Kennedy and Johnson.
- Marvel at NASA’s SOFIA – Arriving in 2026, see NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), a modified Boeing 747SP that carried a 100-inch telescope.
Fun Fact: In 2012, the museum flew the world’s largest paper airplane. Now there’s a whole exhibit dedicated to it. Brush up on your skills with this paper airplane kit. It’s not just for kids! Make UFOs and space shuttles, too.