2023-08-12 -- PIMA Air and Space Museum -- Part 1

You might think I've exhausted my interest in aviation and space exploration, but you'd be wrong. Food and technology, particularly aerospace engineering, will always be among my top priorities.

The Pima Air & Space Museum(1) is unique in that it's primarily an open-air museum. Visiting during the summer can be quite challenging due to the extreme heat and arid conditions. You might find yourself alone, battling dehydration as you explore the vast outdoor exhibits. It's almost comical how quickly your water supply dwindles, forcing you to prioritize hydration and seek refuge in air-conditioned areas.

In the coming decade, we may experience increasingly extreme weather conditions. Intense heatwaves could become more frequent and severe, followed by sudden downpours that may overwhelm drainage systems and lead to flooding. Such unpredictable weather patterns could result in significant damage to homes and infrastructure, leaving many without shelter, electricity, or air conditioning.

Returning to the topic, the museum offers valuable educational insights into different engine types, including radial engines and jet engines. It explores the reasons behind the development and use of these specific engine technologies.

It was interesting to see this aircraft without the late Roger Moore(2). You might remember it from the movie Octopussy(3). I'm still puzzled as to why the plane didn't collide with the hangar doors, or why the soldiers were closing the doors in the first place. Were they trying to commit suicide?

But the real reason for my visit was to see the beloved SR-71 Blackbird. While it's no longer in active service, it still holds a special place in aviation history.

The museum also displays a spare nose cone, which was used for rapid camera and film or radar exchanges.

Revisiting the SR-71 completely derailed my original plan. I had so much more to share, but I'll have to continue in my next blog post. For now, I'll share some photos and head back outside to "chill out" in the blistering heat!