This museum seems to cover mostly jets from WWII to about 1970.  There isn't anything that was designed after about 1970 on display.  We'll have to wait to see that level of technology get declassified.

The thing that really struck me was the fact that almost everyone there except me used to work on these planes.  Maybe it was the midweek crowd, or the terrorist attacks, or maybe it was normal for this crowd to go back and reminisce about the good old days when these planes were flying. 

For me, it was an absolutely incredible, very tangible view of political policy, implemented in steel that flies.  It was the proof that all those billions of dollars, and I mean many tens of billions of dollars, were poured into science, manufacturing, and logistics for a fleet of planes that were tens of thousands strong, and all over the world.  The number of people involved must have been staggering to comprehend over the period from 1945 to 1970, and to the present day.  And it continues to go on and on.. 

I'm not complaining so much as I'm starting realize how huge these programs are.  I can never quite envision what a billion dollars means when applied to actual hardware and systems.  It tough for me to comprehend.  But when I saw a field with hundreds of planes, each costing tens of millions of dollars, and then a whole lot more to train pilots, mechanics, logistics, and then pay to mothball or scrap out - it's mind boggling, until you see it.

Here are some pictures that you can't see on any web sites that I found from the Pima Air & Space Museum.

This a MIG or Soviet fighter that  was manufactured under license in Poland during the early 1950s.  There were several different models on display from that era.

This helicopter is right at the entrance to the museum.  You walk under it to enter.  It is the Sikorsky Skycrane, and could lift huge loads.

This is the SR-71 Blackbird.  It is the only plane that has been declassified that goes in excess of 2100 MPH.  The tent is because the NSA doesn't want Russian satellites looking at the plane.

This plane is called The Guppy.  It is used solely for carrying rocket engines, especially Titans, from their place of manufacture to the launch site.  Typically from California or Atlanta to Florida or California.

The B-52.  It's a monster, and it comes in all kinds of paint jobs.  The first picture is your basic run of mill B-52, Air Force style.  The second one was used to launch various experimental aircraft that were used to create the US space program.  Thus the offset hanger on the left side.

This is affectionately referred to as the Aardvark.  The long nose makes it seem that way.  It was/is a hugely successful plane in all sections of the DOD.  There are literally thousands of them in service, and hundreds in the bone yard at AMARC.

These are bombers that have been lovingly restored by their old crews and support staff.  They are housed in hangars at the museum, which is staffed mostly by old air force personnel.  These are a B-17 and a B-29 respectively.

The museum has a bunch of old helicopters on the site.  This one was fitted out with cannons.  The helicopters are not the primary specimens here, so they look a little more worn than the jets.  This is a Huey Cobra Attack Helicopter, with a few parts missing.

There is a "Space" part of this museum, but it's not the main focus.  There are some old rocket engines laying around.  This is a Titan I and an Atlas. 

There is also a hangar with some NASA hardware, specifically the Mars Rover on a remote control display.  It actually rolls around under your command.