[stalag8611]

I'm headed for Palm Springs in a few days and I've been checking the Air Museum Internet site. Anyone on this forum ever been there and, if so, what's your take on the museum? It looks interesting, but pictures can lie.

[mustangdriver]

I have heard that it is an awsome place. Take a bunch of pics.

[trex0770]

Originally Posted by stalag8611

I'm headed for Palm Springs in a few days and I've been checking the Air Museum Internet site. Anyone on this forum ever been there and, if so, what's your take on the museum? It looks interesting, but pictures can lie.

Stalag,
I went during the rose drop a couple of years back. The museum is fairly straight forward, being comprised of a couple of hangars with some good displays, i.e. ground vehicles and WWII airfield displays but the aircraft collection is the highlight of the place. Their main collection is WWII warbirds (USAAF & USN). I think most of these planes are flyable and fly during the Chino Airshow in May (IIRC they regularly go back and forth between Palm Springs Air Museum and Chino Airport - another nice place to visit to see some nice warplanes).

One thing I remembered clearly was the B-17 that you paid a couple of bucks to crawl around. Beautiful plane, surprising to actually touch the plane and realize how thin the skin of the Flying Fortress really is! The library was being worked on when I visited so I imagine that it's now finished. They had some George H. Bush stuff including a replica of his Avenger and interactive things for kids. Also, look for the Roadrunner that lives on the runway, it likes to check out visitors through the glass.

Anyway, nice place. I only live 2 hours away and hope to visit again soon. Have a great time there and don't forget to take the gondola to Idyllwild for an awesome view (there's also a restaurant on top).