Palm Springs Air Museum Report
Tue Feb 01, 2005 1:06 pm
Monday was a good day! My Dad went golfing. I dropped my Mother and Catherine off in down town Palm Springs to enjoy the shopping. I had nothing to do! What should I do? 
Of course any self-respecting aviation nut would quickly go to the Palm Springs Air Museum, and so I did. The PSAM has an impressive looking glass front to their building. Visitors are greeted by an A-6E, F-16N, F-14 and A-4 outside. I paid for my admission just outside the gift store which was rather large for most museums. Here is the interesting part… when they saw my camera bag and tripod I was encouraged to take pictures! This was a refreshing change from other museum I had visited recently.
I made my way outside to the rear of the museum where the aircraft are displayed. The hanger to the right was open and there was the Griffon powered Spit, NH904, basking in the sun. Before I could even set up my tripod I was descended upon by docents! I must say the volunteers are the greatest asset of this museum. All were friendly and wanted to tell you about the planes in the museum. I had a great time chatting with them all, and there had to be ten of them on duty! I was even given a walk around tour of the P-47 who flew them during WWII, and I must say it is experiences like that which make visits to museums quite special and memorable.
A few planes were on display outside including their C-1 Trader. There was also a T-34 Mentor in a blue and white navy paint scheme. I don’t know much about that one, so I will post an ID when I post the pictures. Also outside was the museum’s T-28 and DC-3. Even though it was the end of January the sun was quite strong, quite unnatural for a Canuck in the winter! I could understand why not many more planes were on display outside, since continue exposure to the sun could damage the paint.
As I mentioned the first hanger I visited had a Spit on display. Also on display was a P-40, P-47, P-51, PT-19, B-25 (“Mitchell the Witch” with new nose art), Stearman and a Texan. In the other half of that hanger their B-17 was displayed along with the P-51 “Dakota Kid II”. In the other hanger the naval aircraft were displayed including the F7F, Dauntless, A-26, F6F, F4F and Goose (I may be forgetting a few).
The PSAM is not a restoration museum, so there isn’t much news to report. Pictures will follow in about a week or so, so look forward to a post with Webshots links. If you are going to be in the area I strongly recommend a visit. Even if you have seen all their airframes before, it is worth the visit just to chat with the volunteers. It was a fantastic experience.
Regards,
Mike
P.S. I am not on the internet much this week, so if you post any questions in reply to this post I may not reply until next week. I also plan to visit the March Field Museum and Yanks museum yet, so hopefully there will be more reports to follow.
Of course any self-respecting aviation nut would quickly go to the Palm Springs Air Museum, and so I did. The PSAM has an impressive looking glass front to their building. Visitors are greeted by an A-6E, F-16N, F-14 and A-4 outside. I paid for my admission just outside the gift store which was rather large for most museums. Here is the interesting part… when they saw my camera bag and tripod I was encouraged to take pictures! This was a refreshing change from other museum I had visited recently.
I made my way outside to the rear of the museum where the aircraft are displayed. The hanger to the right was open and there was the Griffon powered Spit, NH904, basking in the sun. Before I could even set up my tripod I was descended upon by docents! I must say the volunteers are the greatest asset of this museum. All were friendly and wanted to tell you about the planes in the museum. I had a great time chatting with them all, and there had to be ten of them on duty! I was even given a walk around tour of the P-47 who flew them during WWII, and I must say it is experiences like that which make visits to museums quite special and memorable.
A few planes were on display outside including their C-1 Trader. There was also a T-34 Mentor in a blue and white navy paint scheme. I don’t know much about that one, so I will post an ID when I post the pictures. Also outside was the museum’s T-28 and DC-3. Even though it was the end of January the sun was quite strong, quite unnatural for a Canuck in the winter! I could understand why not many more planes were on display outside, since continue exposure to the sun could damage the paint.
As I mentioned the first hanger I visited had a Spit on display. Also on display was a P-40, P-47, P-51, PT-19, B-25 (“Mitchell the Witch” with new nose art), Stearman and a Texan. In the other half of that hanger their B-17 was displayed along with the P-51 “Dakota Kid II”. In the other hanger the naval aircraft were displayed including the F7F, Dauntless, A-26, F6F, F4F and Goose (I may be forgetting a few).
The PSAM is not a restoration museum, so there isn’t much news to report. Pictures will follow in about a week or so, so look forward to a post with Webshots links. If you are going to be in the area I strongly recommend a visit. Even if you have seen all their airframes before, it is worth the visit just to chat with the volunteers. It was a fantastic experience.
Regards,
Mike
P.S. I am not on the internet much this week, so if you post any questions in reply to this post I may not reply until next week. I also plan to visit the March Field Museum and Yanks museum yet, so hopefully there will be more reports to follow.
Tue Feb 01, 2005 1:47 pm
Any idea if "Dakota Kid II" is 44-74524/N151HR? As a follow-up, if yes does anybody have an idea when and why the nose art was redone?
I've also just noticed that the FAA is listing N151HR as "Sale Reported"....
I've also just noticed that the FAA is listing N151HR as "Sale Reported"....
Tue Feb 01, 2005 1:54 pm
Mike,
Thanks for the reviews and I look forward to your reports from the other museums you are planning to visit. Since I don't get out to the other coast that often these reports are the next best thing. And if I do go I know where the must visits are.
If you do make it to Yanks please see what they say about the new museum they are starting to build. Looks like it has awesome potential.
Thanks again.
Dave C
Thanks for the reviews and I look forward to your reports from the other museums you are planning to visit. Since I don't get out to the other coast that often these reports are the next best thing. And if I do go I know where the must visits are.
If you do make it to Yanks please see what they say about the new museum they are starting to build. Looks like it has awesome potential.
Thanks again.
Dave C
Pima Curtiss
Tue Feb 01, 2005 5:21 pm
Thanks Mike..looking forward to pics. Did you notice..have they done
anything with the wrecked Curtiss AT-9 yet? A few years ago it was
outside near the Budd Conestoga.
anything with the wrecked Curtiss AT-9 yet? A few years ago it was
outside near the Budd Conestoga.
Tue Feb 01, 2005 6:41 pm
airnutz-he's at the PSAM, not Pima.
Mind Warp
Tue Feb 01, 2005 6:49 pm
DOHHH!!! 
My mind is in the Gulf of Finland right now...thanx
wolverine!!
My mind is in the Gulf of Finland right now...thanx
wolverine!!
Tue Feb 01, 2005 11:24 pm
What questions do you have?Dave C wrote:If you do make it to Yanks please see what they say about the new museum they are starting to build. Looks like it has awesome potential.
Sat Feb 05, 2005 8:27 pm
dj51d wrote:Any idea if "Dakota Kid II" is 44-74524/N151HR?
My notes are at home. I place the info in the comments section when I post the pictures.
Mike
Sat Feb 05, 2005 8:28 pm
Dave C wrote:If you do make it to Yanks please see what they say about the new museum they are starting to build. Looks like it has awesome potential.
I just read this, and I didn't think to ask when I was there. Since BDK is often in the area he may be able to fill us in.
Mike
Re: Pima Curtiss
Sat Feb 05, 2005 8:29 pm
airnutz wrote:Did you notice..have they done
anything with the wrecked Curtiss AT-9 yet?
I didn't see anything like that. I got the impression (but didn't ask to confirm) that they don't do any restoration on site.
Mike