The Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona, strives to provide the public with a greater knowledge of military and civilian aircraft, said John Bezosky, director of restoration and industrial programs at the museum.
"We're here to preserve and show the history of aviation, and we hope young people who visit have an interest sparked in military or civil aviation," he said, noting the museum hosts school group visits and has camps for children and young people throughout the year.
Some will likely pursue a career as pilots, mechanics or maintainers, Bezosky added.
Each year, approximately 180,000 people visit the museum, which has indoor and outdoor displays of 400 aircraft on about 115 acres, he said.
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Most aircraft are on loan from the National Naval Aviation Museum, the National Museum of the Marine Corps, the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force or the U.S. Army Aviation Museum. The terms of the loans require each aircraft to be properly displayed and in good condition.
For the outdoor displays, the dry climate is perfect for preservation. Also, the desert ground is hard enough to support aircraft weight, Bezosky said.
The vehicle museum hangar, containing dozens of historical military tanks and a wide range of vehicles, should open soon, he said.