Palm Springs Air Museum Explained

Palm Springs Air Museum
Map Type:USA California Southern
Coordinates:33.8325°N -116.5047°W
Established:1996
Location:Palm Springs, California
Type:Aviation museum
Collection:75 aircraft
Director:Fred Bell
Chairperson:Dan Gilbertson

Palm Springs Air Museum is an aviation museum in Palm Springs, California. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit leases from the city 17 acres abutting Palm Springs International Airport.

The museum encompasses five themed hangars, outdoor displays, and a visitor center that includes a resource center with flight simulators. It operates warbird rides, air demonstrations, and talks by experts on specific topics. Many of the museum’s planes have been used in movies and fly in air shows.

History

The museum was incorporated in 1994 by Harold Madison, Charles Mayer, and Bill Byrne. Madison contacted his friend Robert Pond, a World War II veteran who collected and rebuilt warbirds and classic cars. Pond's aircraft were displayed at the Planes of Fame East Museum in Eden Prairie, Minnesota and he agreed to loan some of them to the museum. The aircraft originally split their time between both museums, but when Planes of Fame East closed, the aircraft were permanently moved to Palm Springs. With planes and cars from Pond’s collection, Palm Springs Air Museum opened on 11 November 1996.[1] [2] [3]

The museum opened a new hangar, named for Major General Ken Miles, in May 2017.[4]

The museum broke ground on a new entrance and large classroom in 2024.[5]

Restorations

The museum hires certified mechanics to restore planes that will fly, while volunteers with restoration expertise work on exhibition-only planes. Among such projects was a Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless dive bomber recovered from the bottom of Lake Michigan 50 years after a Navy ensign, in carrier-landing training in 1944, had to ditch the plane when its engine failed.[6]

In November of 2021, the museum began restoring a Boeing B-17 to make it airworthy after it had been on display since 2016 at the National Warplane Museum in Geneseo, N.Y. The first engine-run test occurred in April of 2024.[7]

During an exhibit launch for Walt Disney’s Grumman Gulfstream I on December 5, 2022, The Walt Disney Company announced that Palm Springs Air Museum was embarking on a two-year project to restore the interior of the plane that Disney used when he surveyed Florida for a theme-park location.[8]

Collection

The following are among aircraft exhibited at the museum.

Events

The museum holds an annual flower drop from its B-25 on Memorial Day.[59]

Education

In addition to giving tours to local youth and creating curriculum guides for teachers anywhere on the topics of World War II and women in aviation, the museum runs the following programs:

First Flight Experience is geared toward aspiring pilots from 12 to 17 years of age. Each student receives an introduction to flight aboard a Cessna 182 Skylane. Because they participate in the pre-flight check and learn about take-off, landing, and in-air maneuvers, their time in the air counts toward the number of hours needed to qualify for a pilot’s license.[60]

The museum’s Young Science Professionals Scholarship Fund is for high school seniors and undergraduate students accepted to or enrolled in a four-year college.

See also

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Goolsby . Denise . Dining buddies dreamed up Palm Springs Air Museum . 2024-06-10 . The Desert Sun . en-US.
  2. News: Cohen . Ben . Robert Pond, avid aviator collected World War II planes . 25 January 2022 . StarTribune . 25 June 2008.
  3. Web site: Moore . S. Clayton . Bob Pond and the Palm Springs Air Museum . Airport Journals . 17 June 2024 . 1 May 2005.
  4. News: Descant . Skip . New hangar opens at Palm Springs Air Museum, ready for an educational mission . 25 March 2019 . Desert Sun . 26 May 2017.
  5. News: Van Dijk . Cara . Greer . Ann . PS Air Museum breaks ground for Ronald M. Auen Learning Center . 17 June 2024 . Desert Sun . 7 June 2024.
  6. Web site: Bruno . Tony . August 16, 2021 . Palm Springs Air Museum, Palm Springs, CA . Aviation History Museums.
  7. Web site: Estes . Adam . April 14, 2024 . The Movie Memphis Belle's Engines Run Again . Vintage Aviation News.
  8. Web site: December 5, 2022 . Disney Announces Restoration and Recreation of the Interior of Walt Disney’s Plane to Its 1960s Design . The Walt Disney Company.
  9. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Mikoyan Gurevich-Aero S-106 Fishbed-C (NATO), s/n 1112 CVL, c/n 161112 . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 26 March 2019.
  10. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Bell AH-1G-BF Cobra, s/n 67-15574 US, c/n 20238 . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 26 March 2019.
  11. Web site: Restorations . Palm Springs Air Museum . 25 March 2019.
  12. Web site: Aircraft . Palm Springs Air Museum . 25 March 2019.
  13. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Bell P-63A-1-BE Kingcobra, s/n 42-68864 USAAF, c/n 091263RP, c/r N163BP . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 26 March 2019.
  14. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Bell UH-1B-BF Iroquois, s/n 63-8610 US, c/n 832, c/r N5HF . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 26 March 2019.
  15. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Stearman-Boeing PT-17 Kaydet, s/n 38393 USN, c/n 75-8014, c/r N63555 . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 26 March 2019.
  16. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Boeing VB-17G Fortress, s/n 44-85778 USAF, c/n 8687, c/r N3509G . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 26 March 2019.
  17. Web site: Airframe Dossier - North American-Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Sabre 32, s/n F-8612 TNI-AU, c/n CA27-072 . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 26 March 2019.
  18. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Consolidated OA-10 Catalina, s/n 48426 USN, c/n 1788, c/r N31235 . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 26 March 2019.
  19. News: Goolsby . Denise . Palm Springs Air Museum lands an F-102 aircraft . 26 March 2019 . Desert Sun . 21 March 2015.
  20. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Convair F-102A-80-CO Delta Dagger, s/n 56-1432 USAF . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 26 March 2019.
  21. Web site: F-106B 57-2509 . F-106 Delta Dart Association . 26 March 2019.
  22. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Curtiss TP-40N Warhawk, s/n 44-7084 USAAF, c/n 32824, c/r N999CD . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 26 March 2019.
  23. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Douglas-Lynch Air Tankers STOL 26, s/n 44-35721 USAAF, c/n 29000, c/r N9425Z . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 26 March 2019.
  24. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Douglas RC-47, s/n 044 IDF, c/n 16007, c/r N60154 . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 25 March 2019.
  25. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Northrop-Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless, s/n 36176 USN, c/n 4815 . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 25 March 2019.
  26. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk, s/n 154649 USN . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 26 March 2019.
  27. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Engineering and Research Corporation 415C, c/n 4019, c/r N3394H . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 26 March 2019.
  28. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar, s/n 53-8154 USAF, c/n 257, c/r N90267 . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 26 March 2019.
  29. Web site: Airframe Dossier - General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon, s/n 163277 USN, c/n 3M-10 . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 26 March 2019.
  30. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Grumman A-6A Intruder, s/n 154162 USN, c/n I-297 . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 26 March 2019.
  31. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Grumman C-1A Trader, s/n 146048 USN, c/n G-96-78, c/r N7171M . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 26 March 2019.
  32. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Grumman F6F-5K Hellcat, s/n 94473 USN, c/n A-12225, c/r N4964W . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 26 March 2019.
  33. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Grumman F7F-3 Tigercat, s/n 80412 USN, c/n C.154, c/r N207F . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 26 March 2019.
  34. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Grumman F-14A-105-GR Tomcat, s/n 160898 USN, c/n 327 . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 26 March 2019.
  35. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Grumman-General Motors Eastern Aircraft Division FM-2 Wildcat, s/n 55627 USN, c/n 3268, c/r N47201 . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 26 March 2019.
  36. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Grumman G-58B, c/n D-1262, c/r N700A . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 25 March 2019.
  37. Web site: Walt Disney’s Airplane Returns to Palm Springs After D23 Expo . D23 . 15 September 2022 . 8 September 2022.
  38. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Grumman-General Motors TBM-3 Avenger, s/n 53785 USN, c/n 3847, c/r N7075C . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 26 March 2019.
  39. Web site: Palm Springs Air Museum’s F-104 Starfighter Unveiling . Warbird Digest . 26 March 2019 . 7 November 2014.
  40. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Lockheed-Fokker F-104G Starfighter, s/n D-8244 KLu, c/n 8244 . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 26 March 2019.
  41. News: Stealth fighter F-117 Nighthawk now on display at Palm Springs Air Museum . 15 September 2022 . Desert Sun . 3 April 2022.
  42. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon, s/n 37211 USN, c/n 15-1177, c/r N7273C . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 25 March 2019.
  43. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Lockheed TV-2 Shooting Star, s/n 126591 USN, c/n 580-5327, c/r N6633D . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 26 March 2019.
  44. Web site: Airframe Dossier - McDonnell F-4S Phantom II, s/n 153851 USN, c/n 2299 . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 26 March 2019.
  45. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Northrop-McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A-14-MC (Lot 7) Hornet, s/n 162403 USN, c/n 231/A183 . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 26 March 2019.
  46. Web site: Airframe Dossier - North American TB-25N Mitchell, s/n 44-86747 USAAF, c/n 108-47501, c/r N8163H . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 25 March 2019.
  47. Web site: Airframe Dossier - North American F-100D-50-NH Super Sabre, s/n 3-888 THK, c/n 224-155, c/r N2011U . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 25 March 2019.
  48. Web site: Airframe Dossier - North American P-51D-30-NA Mustang, s/n 9273 RCAF, c/n 122-41448, c/r N151BP . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 25 March 2019.
  49. Web site: Airframe Dossier - North American T-6G Texan, s/n 85 Racer, c/n 88-11594, c/r N85JR . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 25 March 2019.
  50. Web site: Airframe Dossier - North American T-28B Trojan, s/n 138203 USN, c/n 200-274, c/r N372C . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 26 March 2019.
  51. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Grumman EA-6B Prowler, s/n 163030 . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 26 March 2019.
  52. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Taylorcraft-Piper J-3L-65, c/n 04594, c/r N28118 . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 26 March 2019.
  53. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Republic-General Motors-Fisher Body F-84F-40-GK Thunderstreak, s/n 51-9531 USAF . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 26 March 2019.
  54. Web site: AIRCRAFT ON LOAN (by Location) . National Museum of the United States Air Force . 26 March 2019 . April 2016.
  55. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Republic TF-47D Thunderbolt, s/n 122 FAPe, c/n 399-55744, c/r N47RP . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 26 March 2019.
  56. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Sikorsky UH-34D Seahorse, s/n 154895 USMC, c/n 58-1805 . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 25 March 2019.
  57. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Supermarine Spitfire FR.XIVe, s/n SG108 FABe, c/n 6S-648206, c/r N114BP . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 26 March 2019.
  58. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Vought-Goodyear FG-1D Corsair, s/n 215 FAS, c/n 3890, c/r N62290 . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 25 March 2019.
  59. Web site: Reyes . Jesus . 27 May 2024 . Palm Springs Air Museum holds annual Memorial Day flower drop . 2024-06-10 . KESQ . en-US.
  60. Web site: Kleinschmidt . Janice . November 6, 2023 . Palm Springs Air Museum's Future Expansion . Palm Springs Life.

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