Our Restoration Projects

The Palm Springs Air Museum is dedicated to preserving aviation history by meticulously restoring iconic aircraft for public display and education. Our skilled restoration crew has breathed new life into numerous remarkable planes, including the F-117A Nighthawk “Black Devil,” “The Movie” Memphis Belle B-17, the Boeing Skyfox, and more.

Your generous donations have been instrumental in these restoration efforts, allowing us to preserve our aviation heritage for future generations. With your continued support, we can embark on new projects, ensuring that these glorious machines remain airworthy and accessible to the public.

Over 30 aircraft, including the F-86, F-102, F-4, F-105, and MiG II, have been meticulously restored at our museum. Your donations directly contribute to keeping these engineering marvels in pristine condition, enabling us to share their stories and inspire awe in all who witness them.

HELP KEEP HISTORY ALIVE

F-117A NIGHTHAWK “BLACK DEVIL” #833

Our latest and biggest restoration project to date is the F-117A Nighthawk “Black Devil.” One of only 59 built, this stealth fighter logged a total of 5,140 hours of flight (75 of which were in combat, making it the second highest combat time F-117) and was the 49th Wing Commander’s aircraft during Operation Allied Force, a bombing campaign against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during the Kosovo War in 1999. The aircraft was also used in Operation Desert Storm, the 1991 military operation to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait. It is one of four being given to museums around the country for display.

After being delivered to the museum on the back of a truck and in pieces, our amazing restoration crew has spent hundreds of hours working to restore this stealth fighter to what it once was, down the finest detail. If you’d like to help supply the numerous materials to help with this restoration, click on the button below! Every donation gets us one step closer to finishing the Nighthawk restoration.

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MOVIE MEMPHIS BELLE

Recently flown in from New York, “The Movie” Memphis Belle has joined the PSAM’s ever growing fleet of aircraft. Since receiving the aircraft, the museum’s team of mechanics have been meticulously inspecting the aircraft from nose to tail. “The Belle” has also undergone a deep cleaning, including the paint on the aircraft, restoring it to as it would’ve been when it rolled off the Boeing line. The restoration of this magnificent airplane will continue to ensure it remains in flying condition, and you can help! Each donation goes directly towards maintaining “The Movie” Memphis Belle, so click below to donate!

HELP US KEEP MOVIE MEMPHIS BELLE FLYING!

SKYFOX

The Skyfox was an American twin-engine jet trainer aircraft, a highly upgraded development of the Lockheed T-33. It was designed as a primary trainer to compete with and replace the Cessna T-37 Tweet. Besides its primary role as a trainer, the aircraft was envisioned to have other roles as well, including ground attack. The program was started by the Skyfox Corporation in 1983 and was acquired by Boeing in 1986. The rework included the replacement of the Allison J33-A-35 turbojet by two Garrett TFE731-3A turbofans. It also included an extensive redesign of the airframe.

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WALT DISNEY’S MOUSE ONE

This Grumman Gulfstream I has a nickname “Micky Mouse One” Yep! This was owned by Walt Disney himself! Disney bought the aircraft in 1964 and used it for personal and business until he passed away in 1966. It continued to serve the company as an executive and guest transport until it was retired in 1991. The plane was on display at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando until 2022 when it was moved to the Palm Springs Air Museum. Decades of humidity in Florida damaged the interior. The Palm Springs Air Museum is in the process of restoring the entire interior to its original vintage condition.

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CONVAIR F-102 DELTA DAGGER

The restoration of the Convair F-102 “Delta Dagger” at the Palm Springs Air Museum has been a remarkable journey. In July 2016, the aircraft was nearing completion after extensive efforts by the restoration team. The F-102, which had been left to deteriorate in a forest in Arkansas for over 40 years, was practically rebuilt from the ground up. The restoration crew demonstrated exceptional skill and dedication, even handcrafting the tail cone and fabricating a missile from scratch.As of today, the F-102 restoration project has been completed, showcasing the museum’s commitment to preserving aviation history. This aircraft, once almost lost to nature, now stands as a testament to the hard work and expertise of the museum’s restoration team. Visitors can now appreciate the fully restored F-102, which played a critical role as the world’s first supersonic all-weather jet interceptor and the USAF’s first operational delta-wing aircraft.

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F-100 Super Sabre

The F-100 Super Sabre, was a significant aircraft from the early 1950s and 1970s. We have an episode of Warbird Wednesday that highlights the aircraft’s innovations, including its capability to break the sound barrier in level flight. The F-100 Super Sabre was a key fighter in the “Century Series” of aircraft, known for its advanced technology and design. It was the first U.S. fighter to achieve supersonic speed in level flight, a major milestone in aviation history. The fighter can be compared with its predecessor, the F-86 Sabre, which was designed to compete with the MiG-15 during the Korean War. The F-86’s radar-guided gun sight and experienced American pilots provided incredible advantages in combat. This would be amplified in the F-100. It faced several design issues, including unreliable engines prone to compressor stalls, and problems with its swept-wing design leading to dangerous “Sabre dance” maneuvers. These issues led to numerous accidents and modifications over its service life.

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F-104 Starfighter

Photos from our F-104 Restoration ten years ago on August 27th, 2014. Designed by Kelly Johnson and developed by Lockheed’s Skunk Works, the F-104 was a groundbreaking aircraft that became the first production fighter jet to achieve Mach 2. Known for its distinctive trapezoidal wings and sleek aerodynamic profile, the F-104 was one of the fastest aircraft of its time and continues to be one of the fastest planes on display at the museum. Operational from the late 1950s, the F-104 set impressive world records early in its career, including speed, rate of climb, and altitude. Its high-speed capabilities earned it the nickname “the man in the missile,” though it also gained a more ominous moniker, “the widow maker,” due to its challenging handling characteristics and high landing speeds. The Starfighter’s service history is extensive. While it was retired from U.S. Air Force service in the early 1970s, it continued to serve in other air forces, including the Italian Air Force until 2004, where it was known as “Spillione.” Its presence at the museum is not only a tribute to its technical achievements but also honors individuals like Colonel Norm Schmidt and Vietnam War veterans. The F-104 also made its mark in popular culture, appearing in the film “The Right Stuff.” The F-104’s design included a unique ejection seat mechanism, initially ejecting pilots from the bottom but later updated for improved safety. With its limited onboard fuel and high-speed focus, the F-104 was optimized for speed rather than versatility. At the Palm Springs Air Museum, the F-104 Starfighter stands as a testament to the cutting-edge design and historical significance of this remarkable aircraft, reflecting both its pioneering achievements and its complex legacy in aviation history.