Restoration Hangar & Project Status
Restoration Hangar
Contrast of Aircraft Size and Type we work on
Tucked away from most visitors in the back of the museum is a hangar surrounded by what appears to be aircraft in disrepair and discarded aircraft support equipment. Upon closer examination the area is teaming with activity, the hangar is filled with aircraft, museum staff and restoration volunteers. At any point in time there will be up to 12 aircraft or pieces of equipment undergoing repair and/or restoration.
Countless hours of hard work by dedicated staff and volunteers goes into each aircraft you see when it is rolled out for display.
The Restoration Department of the Pima Air and Space Museum has a large backlog of aircraft to be restored for the first time at the museum, aircraft being refurbished after several years on display and various pieces of equipment used in support of aircraft to be prepared for exhibit. The local facility has also recently restored aircraft, equipment and vehicles for the Titan Missile Museum in Green Valley south of Tucson.
Project Updates
Listed below are some of the museum's current restoration projects. Click the "read more" links for photos and update information.
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Convair B-36J PeacemakerWe have the last B-36 ever built. As of 10/20/07, the aircraft is now resting on its own landing gear. Last updated 8/14/08. |
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Douglas A-20G HavocInitial design work for the A-20 began in 1936 as a private venture of the Douglas Company to design a light attack and reconnaissance aircraft. Last updated 2/01/08. |
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Douglas SBD-5 DauntlessThe Dauntless was slow, underpowered and had insufficient defensive armament, by late 1941, the U.S. Navy considered it obsolete, even though it had been in service for only a year. Last updated 8/14/08. |
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Fleet Model 2The Fleet Model 2 is coming into restoration to have fabric replaced. This aircraft was used by Gilpen & Greenway Air Lines, Tucson, Arizona 1934. Last updated 4/23/08. |
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Grumman F7F-3 TigercatThe Grumman Tigercat was the first twin-engine fighter to go into production for the U.S. Navy. Although it was intended for use from carriers it rarely did so as the aircraft’s weight and speed made it overly dangerous. Completed 8/06/08. |
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Grumman J4F-2 WidgeonThe Widgeon was designed as a smaller, less expensive counterpart to Grumman's G-21 Goose amphibious airliner. First flown in June 1940 the Widgeon entered production in 1941 with over 50 aircraft delivered to civil customers. Last updated 08/26/08. |
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Grumman TF-9J CougarEven before the Panther entered service the Navy and Grumman were examining the possibility of creating a swept-wing version of the aircraft. The Cougar will be the next project for the paint department. Completed 06/20/08 |
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Martin B-26 MarauderFew aircraft in the history of the U.S. Army Air Force were as controversial as the Martin B-26 Marauder. Last updated 08/14/08. |
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Nakajima Ki-43-IIb HAYABUSA (OSCAR)Development of the aircraft began in 1937 and it entered service in late 1941. During the war the Allies used a code name reporting system for identifying Japanese aircraft. Under this system the Ki-43 was named “Oscar.” Completed 06/24/08. |
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North American P-51D MustangThe Pima Air and Space Museum is building a static display P-51D. Last updated 05/21/08. |
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North American T-2C BuckeyeThe Buckeye was designed in 1956 in response to a Navy requirement for a multi-purpose jet trainer. The first version of the aircraft used a single J34 jet engine and in this configuration the first flight was made in January 1958. Last updated 08/19/08 |
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Ruhrstahl SD 1400 Fritz-XThe Fritz-X is a German guided anti-shipping bomb from WW-II in service 1943 – 1945. Last updated 07/15/08. |
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Sikorsky CH-54A TarheDesignated the S-64 by Sikorsky and the H-54A by the U.S. Army it made its first flight in May 1962. The U.S. Army named the helicopter Tarhe, but most people call them Skycranes. Completed 8/14/08. |
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Sikorsky HH-52A SeaguardIn 1962, the U.S. Coast Guard selected a version of the civil Sikorsky S-62 amphibian helicopter to serve as its medium-range search and rescue helicopter. Last updated 08/27/08. |
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Snow S-2AThe Snow S-2 was one of the leading agricultural “crop duster” aircraft of the late 1950s and 1960s. The S-2 was designed in 1958 and was built in three different models. Last updated 08/21/08 |