Palm Springs Air Museum

A fantastic air museum with a fitting tribute to the Tuskegee pilots.

One of the great highlights of this fantastic museum is the display dedicated to the Tuskegee airmen including a P-51 Mustang in their squadron markings which has the famous red panel on the tail signed by many of the surviving pilots. There is also the famous and fantastic mural by Stan Stokes.

Although the P-51, as they used in the 332nd fighter group, is the aircraft mainly associated with the Tuskegee pilots the first group to deploy was the 99th Pursuit Squadron which was originally equipped with Curtis P-40 Warhawk fighter-bombers. Stokes' mural features the Warhawk prominently. The museum has one of these too. The Tuskegee airman were not all fighter pilots. They also served in the 477th bomb group but, having been trained in B-25 Mitchell bombers, they did not see action. Again Stokes commemorates their aircraft in his mural and the museum has a B-25 on display. The only downside, no razorback P-47 which the 332nd fighter group first flew in Europe, their P-47 is a later model with the teardrop canopy.

This is often listed as one of the top air museums in the world and rightly so. It is situated next to Palm Springs airport and has both interior and exterior display areas. It has an amazing collection of aircraft and other exhibits from WW2 and later conflicts including Korea and Vietnam. A good mix of both land based and naval aircraft are in the collection and include many in flying condition (but those actually licensed at any time is limited due to the cost). If you are a fan of Stephen Coonts' Jake Grafton novels there is even an Intruder in the outdoor area.

For visitors from Europe it will probably be rare to see so many American aircraft together in one collection, particularly the later models, but you will also see the familiar shape of a Spitfire, albeit a very late Mk14 with a Rolls Royce Griffon engine and teardrop canopy. There is also a Grumman Avenger in Royal Navy markings. If you are from north America the aircraft may be very familiar but they are presented in a way that is second to none with lots of supporting information and art work and some very unique features.

There is also a very good selection of scale models and if you are a fan of aircraft nose art this really must be the place to visit.