In an impressive line of six Harrier variants. Operating with 233 OCU, ZD353 was badly damaged in an inflight fire that resulted in an emergency landing at RAF Wittering in July 1991. The aircraft was considered too badly damaged to be fully repaired, so the airframe was used for ground instructional purposes at BAe Brough.

Intended as a tactical transport for rough, short fields when introduced in 1948, the USAF soon found that it needs were well enough met by the C-123 and helicopters so only 23 C-125s were built. Most, this one included, went directly from the factory to technical schools for use as non-flying ground trainers and were sold to a Florida trader in the mid-1950s, several finding their way on to Latin America. Pima's example was originally 48-636 becoming N2753B and then XB-GEY when sold to Triplay y Maderas de Durango SA of Mexico in 1956. It was grounded in 1960 for lack of spares.

Just three prototype Columbia XJL-1 amphibians were manufactured in 1946 as proposed Grumman Duck replacements for the US Navy, Grumman contracting the work out as it was too busy with fighters for the USN to build the design. This one was allocated Bu Aer 31400. However it did not live up to expectations with several structural failures occurring, and testing at Patuxent River was abandoned. Sold in 1959 as N54205, it was flown from Philadelphia Navy Yard to Tucson in 1961. Although re-engined with a Wright R-2600, it was abandoned at Tucson Airport for decades till rescued by Pima.

In 1990 a total of 10 Spartans were purchased as short-range cargo aircraft to support the US Army's Special Forces and were based at Howard AFB in Panama. Changes in priorities resulted in them being retired the aircraft in 1999. Several of them were taken over by the US Department of State and used to support foreign nations in their anti-drug operations, this one being latterly based at Patrick AFB, FL. The aircraft were retired again in 2013 and placed in storage at Davis Monthan.

Great to see three aerobatic team aircraft together that are in genuine colours. Positioned with a Blue Angels F-11 Tiger and a Thunderbirds F-4, this Hawk joined the collection in 2020 and had flown with the Red Arrows from around 1999 until placed into storage at RAF Shawbury in 2009. In 2017 it was moved to Bentwaters.

This P-51 has been constructed from a combination of original parts of various Mustangs and newly manufactured parts. Approximately 60% of the aircraft comprises original North American Aviation built parts, most apparently from 44-63272. The paint scheme is that of an aircraft with the 3rd Air Commando Group in the Philippines in 1945

The Bristol Blenheim Mk. IV built in Canada by Fairchild was called the Bolingbroke, used for coastal patrol and training. This aircraft is actually 10076, delivered to the R Canadian AF in January 1943 and declared surplus in 1946. It was acquired from storage on a farm in Canada by the Military Aircraft Restoration Corp in 1972 and moved to Chino, CA. In 2004 it was moved to Pima for restoration and display as a Bolingbroke of RCAF 115 Sqdn, Annette Island, Alaska in 1942

Effectively a French-built Fieseler Storch, this MS-500 is thought to have been built in 1947, first serving the French AF in Vietnam and later being registered as F-BJQH. It became N42FS on import to the US by the Military Aircraft Restoration Corp in 1975 and is now on show to represent a Storch flown by the Italian Regia Aeronautica in North Africa in 1940

This was a composite restoration with apparently 5662 providing the basis of the restoration with components contributed from five other airframe hulks also obtained from Canada. In 2006 it was loaned to the Pima museum and exhibited as 257 Sqdn Hurricane Mk.I V6864 'DT-A', flown by Battle of Britain ace Robert Stanford Tuck. Then it was repainted again to represent a 33 Sqdn Mk.II with the addition of a tropical chin radiator as operated in North Africa in 1942, being placed back on display in 2020

Displayed in the Desert Storm colours as operated by 6 Sqdn from Bahrain in 1990

Constructed as a Kestrel FGA.1 by Hawker Siddeley at Dunsfold, this aircraft was one of a handful assigned to the Tripartite Evaluation Squadron at West Raynham in 1964. After testing was concluded in England at the end of 1965, six of the aircraft were sold to the US for further testing. They were re-designated as the XV-6A and given USAF serials, this one being 64-18264. The initial conclusion was that there was not a need for such an aircraft in the US forces, but of course history proved otherwise, the AV-8 becoming a great success in the USMC

Despite expensive enquiries I have not been able to determine the authenticity of this unusual paint job. Pima's site states that these are RAF test colours from 1961 at Dunsfold but I think it more likely that the colours were simply inherited from the previous private owner who had the aircraft painted like this, perhaps to look like an Indian Gnat/Ajeet. Pima's Head of Collections was very helpful in correspondence, but we were not able to resolve this question. What we do know is that the aircraft was used by the A&AEE, Bristol Siddeley Engines and the RAE before becoming a ground trainer.

Recently restored as flown by the Flying Doctor Service, Broken Hill, NSW, Australia, 1952, when Drovers were first introduced. Ex VQ-FAP and VH-EBT. Obtained by Pima from Australia in 2020

On display in its original TWA livery since 1980, this early Constellation was built in 1946 as C-69 42-94549 and began its civilian career in 1948

In 1968 the Cavalier Aircraft Corporation modified two P-51 Mustangs with Dart engines in an attempt to interest the USAF in a lightweight counter-insurgency aircraft but having failed to do so, sold the design to Piper in 1979 who instead used the YT-55 turboprop in the two Enforcers they built. Despite looking like the Mustang, there was less than 10% commonality. First flown in 1983, the concept was successfully demonstrated but again no orders were forthcoming.

Marian Rice Hart purchased this aircraft in July 1961 having learnt to fly in 1946, made the first of her seven solo trans-Atlantic flights in 1966 at the age of 74. Mostly flying alone till the age of 87, she took it to every continent except Antarctica.

One of two Flying Boxcars in the collection, this C-119C is currently displayed as flown by Hemet Valley Flying Service, Hemet, California as "Tanker 81" till the mid-1980s, although it may be restored to USAF colours in due course. It is ex 49-132 which was wfu and stored at MASDC in 1967 and sold to Aero Union Corp of Chico, CA in 1969. After fire retardant systems were installed it operated as tanker 'E12' and had the jet engine mounted on top in 1974 to improve performance over forest fires. Sold on to Hemet in 1975, becoming tanker '81' as seen here.