Entry No. 41 — the Phoenix file — filed under: warbirds
CAF Airbase Arizona (Commemorative Air Force Museum)
Volunteer-restored WWII-to-Vietnam warbirds — including the flyable B-17 'Sentimental Journey' — kept airworthy by an all-volunteer crew obsessed with keeping combat aircraft flying rather than just parked behind glass.
The story
Most aviation museums are climate-controlled mausoleums where ancient aircraft sit behind velvet ropes, slowly weeping hydraulic fluid into drip pans while their engines dry rot. Airbase Arizona—established in 1978 as the 10th unit of the Commemorative Air Force at Mesa's Falcon Field—takes a radically different approach: keep the warbirds flying.
Here, an all-volunteer crew works elbow-deep in radial engines and rivet guns to maintain a fleet of WWII-to-Vietnam combat aircraft. Among the six World War II planes they have painstakingly restored to actual flying status is *Sentimental Journey*, a B-17 Flying Fortress that still shakes the tarmac when its four engines kick over. These aren't polished static mockups; they are living pieces of heavy machinery kept airworthy by mechanical obsession and relentless upkeep.
What it's like
Step through the doors onto the active hangar floor at Falcon Field and you'll smell aviation fuel, vintage metal, and gear grease before you see the planes. Because this is a working restoration facility rather than a sterile exhibit hall, you can walk right up to vintage bombers while volunteers turn wrenches on exposed airframes a few feet away. The vibe is zero-pretense and heavily practical—you're rubbing shoulders with aviation junkies and veteran mechanics. If you time it right on a flight day, you can watch these historic planes taxi and lift off, or even pay to sit in the gunner's bay of a flying bomber. Plan around their operating schedule of Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The move: Walk the hangar floor together, then check if a flight-day is scheduled — you can watch (or book a ride in) an actual flying WWII bomber, not just look at one.
- 📍 Mesa (Falcon Field)
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 2017 N Greenfield Rd, Mesa, AZ 85215
Hours: Added 2026-07-19 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Panhalla Metaphysical and Psychic Center — Balance mid-century military engineering with Mesa's combined psychic shop and Esoteric Catholic church just three miles down Greenfield Road.
- Gilbert Rotary Centennial Observatory (Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch) — Follow up a day among WWII flight lines by peering through volunteer telescopes at the nearby Gilbert Riparian Preserve.
- Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting — Make it a full industrial-heritage day by pairing restored aircraft at Falcon Field with 130 vintage fire engines down near Papago Park.
Good to know
Do the planes in the museum actually fly?
Yes. Unlike standard static museums, Airbase Arizona keeps six WWII aircraft in active, FAA-approved flying condition, including their B-17 bomber.
Where is the museum located?
It operates out of Falcon Field Airport at 2017 N Greenfield Rd in Mesa, Arizona.
What are the standard visiting hours?
The museum is generally open Wednesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., though checking flight schedules ahead of time is recommended.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: azcaf.org · azcentral.com · Wikipedia
last checked: 2026-07-19