Warbird Information Exchange

An upcoming business trip is going to give me half a day free in Phoenix. Any museums, planes on a popsicle stick, etc. worth visiting near the Skyharbor airport?

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Bill Walker
Canadian Military Aircraft Serials
www.ody.ca/~bwalker/

The only air museum in the area is the CAF at Falcon Field. There are a couple of planes on poles at the ANG base on the south side of Sky Harbor, but they are not accessiable to the public. There is a F-86D on a pole in downtown Chandler, and F-100 on a pole in Glendale.

The state National Guard headquarters is a few miles to the east of Sky Harbor on McDowell near 52nd street. There is a military museum there as well as outdoor displays, both aircraft and Desert Storm vehicles and guns. You might find it worth the trip. Call them to get hours of operation.

Falcon Field is worth the trip and will certainly absorb half a day.

Chad Veich

If time is tight and a drive across the Valley isn't gonna cut it, try the Arizona Historical Society Museum located on College, north of Curry Road, in Tempe. Phone is (480) 929-0292.

There's a decent display of WWII "Home Front" memorabilia, and the curator and staff have put some time and effort into displaying some neat stuff from the area's many training airfields during the war years. Only one airplane on display if I recall (T-6) but it's close, and in air conditioning - two important factors for a visitor this time of year.

If you can get down to Tuscon, one of the greatest museums in the world is there. The Pima Air and Space Museum. Their website is,,http://www.pimaair.org/ you could spend 3 days there, if you wanted to.

Thanks everybody. Looks like I'll try to make Falcon Field. Pima is on my list of "things to do before I die", but not this trip I guess.

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Bill Walker
Canadian Military Aircraft Serials
www.ody.ca/~bwalker/

Bill.... tell me you checked the Locator first...

http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/Locator.php ... TheResults



If anyone knows of anything which should be added to the list please let me know!

Mike

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Mike R. Henniger
Aviation Enthusiast & Photographer
http://www.AerialVisuals.ca
http://www.facebook.com/AerialVisuals

Do you want to find locations of displayed, stored or active aircraft? Then start with the The Locator.
Do you want to find or contribute to the documented history of an aircraft? If so then start with the Airframes Database.

Nice site Mike. I"ll be using it a lot on upcoming trips.

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Bill Walker
Canadian Military Aircraft Serials
www.ody.ca/~bwalker/

Tks for refreshing my memory Mike !

I could have used your excellent site last week in Denver but completely forgot about it... stupid me !

Next trip, I won't !!!

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Michel C
Thousands of a/c pics at Passion-Aviation

If you go to Mesa to Falcon Field , there are two things to notice near the CAF base. Just a bit to the east of CAF,on the same road and taxiway there is a great wooden military hangar built back in the 30"s ? . It was the home a Champlin Fighter Museum until the collection was sold off a few years back.

Also, a little farther to the east where the road turns the corner is or was a small restaurant, Mexican food, burgers etc. After driving in that heat you'll need a cool glass of water at least. GO THROUGH THE RESTAURANT WALK OUT ON THE BACK PATIO, AND TELL ME WHAT YOU SEE. I have not been there in years, it may have changed, but it is WORTH the stop. Please come back on WIX and let us know if you see anything(besides cactus).

There are two places to go soaring, Turf up north and the best one, Estrella about 10 miles south, but you can't do it in half a day, and it may be too hot in July.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

Be sure to have dinner at Anzio Landing. It's located on Falcon Field. The owner's dad was an AVG member. It's an Italian restaurant with aviation memorabilia scattered around. The used to be half of a Cessna 401 (?) over the bar.

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"You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass..."
Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto

Thanks Gents and you are welcome. I am glad you find it useful. Please remember if you find anything in your travels which needs to be updated, add and/or corrected in the Locator please let me know.

Mike

_________________
Mike R. Henniger
Aviation Enthusiast & Photographer
http://www.AerialVisuals.ca
http://www.facebook.com/AerialVisuals

Do you want to find locations of displayed, stored or active aircraft? Then start with the The Locator.
Do you want to find or contribute to the documented history of an aircraft? If so then start with the Airframes Database.