A long way and a long time from my first sighting of United's first Caravelle. See photo #20949...

Delivered to the Air Force in 1963 as a regular Stratotanker, 63-7998, this aircraft served in the aerial refuelling role for thirty years before passing to NASA for use in its Reduced Gravity Research Program. After nearly 35,000 parabolas for 18,000 passengers had been flown from the Johnson Space Center, it made what was reckoned to be the last ever flight by a turbojet KC-135A in October 2004 when it was delivered to Davis Monthan for Pima.

NASA used several Gulfstreams for transport and experimental work, two of them being converted to incorporate a replica of the Space Shuttle's cockpit, the aircraft being flown in such a way that it mimicked the flight characteristics of the Shuttle. This one was based at the Johnson Space Center in Houston

Designed as a crop-duster in 1958 and leading on to a whole series of agricultural aircraft from the Rockwell, Ayres and Thrush family. The company's founder, Leland Snow, left Rockwell in 1972 to found Air Tractor, which is still producing similar agricultural aircraft, some of which have been adapted to be marketed in the close air support role.

Based on an earlier design by Burt Rutan, only seven A500s were built between 2005 and 2008 when Adam Aircraft Industries went out of business. Numerous problems held back the program, the worst being excessive weight. A jet derivative was proposed but did not get off the drawing board.

The RAAF was one of the largest users of the Vampire with nearly 200 aircraft being built in Australia by de Havilland Australia. The two seat T.35s were delivered between 1952 and 1954 serving until 1970. This one is displayed in the Central Flying School's Telstars aerobatic team marks in which it flew in 1969, based at East Sale in Victoria.

Built as a UC-12B in 1982 and later converted to trainer configuration and assigned to VT-35, NAS Corpus Christi, TX. To AMARC in 2006 and earmarked by the US Department of State but not taken up.

First served VA-81 and VA-83 before joining VA-46 in 1988. Displayed in their marks as onboard USS John F Kennedy in 1991. Markings below the cockpit indicate the number of bombs dropped by this aircraft in the Gulf War rather than missions flown. To AMARC 1991

First delivered to the USAAF as 44-44175 in September 1944, this B-24 was passed straight on to the RAF as Liberator GR.VI KH304 that November. The British abandoned many Liberators in India at the end of the war, India putting several back into service after independence and using them until the late 1960s. After storage at Chakeri this aircraft was assigned the serial HE877 by the Indian AF in 1948. In March 1969 it was ferried from Poona to Tucson via the UK. Now displayed with Indian markings on the right side, with the left in the 1944 colours of the 446th BG, Bungay, Suffolk, England.

An early example of the first Learjet variant, built in 1964

In the markings of the 319th BG, Okinawa, 1945

Colours as flown in 1938

The current gate guard at the Pima museum, parked near the entrance. Entered service with the USN in 1961 as A4D-2N 148571

Originally an American Airlines machine and later flown by ATA, Laker, and Cal Air/Novair, Project Orbis acquired this DC-10 (line number 2) in 1991 and equipped it as the flying eye hospital. After retirement, arrived at Pima in November 2016. MD-10 N330AU now fulfils the eye hospital role.

On display for many years in its final identity, N534J, in 2007 this Dragon was repainted in its smart 1950 colours as it flew for Great Lakes Carbon as N61Y. Originally delivered to the USAAC in 1950 as 39-051, the B-23 was based on the DC-3 and intended as a replacement for the B-18, which had in turn been based on the DC-2. Only 38 were built and the type never saw combat.

Still carrying the red cross as flown on relief between March 1969 and March 1970 by Balair for the International Committee of the Red Cross during the Biafran War. Originally tanker KC-97G 52-2626, later modified by the removal of refuelling gear to C-97G

In the colours of VFC-13, NAS Fallon, NV, ca. 1996. Originally delivered to the USAF as 74-1564, hence the out of sequence Bu Aer number adopted when the aircraft was transferred to the Navy around the early 1990s. Moved from the the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum, Miramar to Pima in 2021 and repainted from Marines markings.