↑ parent activity group ·
research dossier →

ARIZONA AEROSPACE FOUNDATION

TUCSON, AZ · EIN 866031135 · Form 990 · FY2021 · NTEE A570 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Medium ($1M-$10M) · www.pimaair.org
revenue
$9.7M
expenses
$6.8M
net assets
$18.4M
employees
93
volunteers
34
program ratio
86%
mission · from form 990

THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO CREATE UNLIMITED HORIZONS IN AEROSPACE EDUCATION THROUGH THE PRESERVATION AND PRESENTATION OF THE HISTORY OF FLIGHT. BOTH THE PIMA AIR & SPACE MUSEUM AND THE TITAN MISSILE MUSEUM HAVE STRONG COMMITMENTS TO EDUCATING AND INSPIRING TOMORROW'S ENGINEERS, SCIENTISTS, PILOTS, AND ASTRONAUTS. EVERY YEAR, THOUSANDS OF SCHOOL CHILDREN ARE ADMITTED TO BOTH MUSEUMS FREE OF CHARGE. THE FOUNDATION PLANS TO CONTINUE EXPANDING ITS COLLECTION OF AIRCRAFT AND IMPROVING ITS VISITOR AMENITIES, WHILE EXPLORING NEW WAYS TO FOSTER AN INTEREST IN THE FUTURE OF AVIATION TECHNOLOGY AND AEROSPACE EXPLORATION IN THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Arizona Aerospace Foundation operates three museums in Arizona: the Pima Air & Space Museum, the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame, and the Titan Missile Museum. The organization focuses on preserving and presenting the history of flight and aerospace education through its exhibits and collections. It is funded by admissions, concessions, and donations.

named programs · 9 · from sources

what they call their work

390th Memorial Museum
Separate museum on site housing the last B-17 Flying Fortress flown by any U.S. military branch, with exhibits on WWII and the 390th Bomb Group
Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame
Permanent exhibit honoring Arizonans who made significant contributions to aviation and aerospace history, located in the Dorothy Finley Space Gallery
Education Program
Provides free admission annually to over 28,000 K-12 school children and community service organizations serving youth and special needs groups
Pima Air & Space Museum
80-acre museum with over 425 aircraft on display across outdoor grounds and six indoor hangars, featuring educational exhibits from 1903 to present day aerospace history
Private and Custom Tours
Guided walking and tram tours with themes including Aviation Highlights, WWII, Cold War, and Walk of Fame, available for groups with reservations
Public Tram Tours
45-minute narrated tram tour covering 1.5 miles of the museum grounds and highlighting over 150 aircraft in the collection
The Aviation Show
A YouTube series produced in collaboration with the museum, featuring videos about the history of civil and military flying.
Titan Missile Museum
National Historic Landmark and only publicly accessible Titan II missile complex, offering immersive Cold War education and underground facility tours
Tucson Military Vehicle Museum
Indoor and outdoor museum featuring over 65 military vehicles including tanks and armored carriers, with a 2-mile track for guest rides and historical exhibits from WWI to modern day
activities · 7 groups

what they do

  • Aviation Awards and Hall of Fame Programs 7 activities
    • Administers the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame
      Runs the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame, established in 1985, which honors Arizonans who have made significant contributions to aviation and aerospace history through an annual induction ceremony and awards dinner.
    • Hosts Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame
      Administers the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame, established in 1985, which honors Arizonans who have made significant contributions to aviation and aerospace history through an annual induction ceremony and awards dinner.
    • Hosts Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame
      Operates the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame, established in 1985 as a permanent recognition program for Arizonans with significant contributions to aviation and aerospace, including an annual awards dinner and induction ceremony.
    • Recognizing Contributions to Aviation and Aerospace
      Established in 1985, this program provides permanent recognition for Arizonans who have made significant contributions to aviation and aerospace history, hosting an annual awards dinner and induction ceremony for honored individuals.
    • Recognizing Contributions to Aviation and Aerospace
      Established in 1985, this program provides permanent recognition for Arizonans who have significantly contributed to aviation and aerospace history, including an annual awards dinner and induction ceremony.
    • Recognizing Contributions to Aviation and Aerospace
      Established in 1985, this program provides permanent recognition for Arizonans who have made significant contributions to aviation and aerospace history, including an annual awards dinner and induction ceremony for honored individuals.
    • Recognizing Contributions to Aviation and Aerospace
      Established the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame in 1985 as a permanent recognition program for Arizonans who have made significant contributions to aviation and aerospace history, and hosts an annual awards dinner and induction ceremony.
  • Historic Aircraft Acquisition and Display 7 activities
    • Collecting and Displaying Aircraft and Artifacts
      Acquires, transports, and assembles a collection of aircraft, helicopters, and missiles for public display, including notable exhibits like the Philippine Mars aircraft and a Consolidated B-24 Liberator.
    • Collecting and Displaying Aircraft and Artifacts
      Acquires, transports, and assembles a diverse collection of aircraft, helicopters, and missiles for public display, including notable exhibits like the Philippine Mars aircraft and a Consolidated B-24 Liberator.
    • Collecting and Preserving Aviation Artifacts
      Acquires, transports, and assembles significant aircraft and artifacts for public display, including the Martin Mars flying boat and a Consolidated B-24 Liberator, contributing to a collection of over 425 aircraft and 125,000 artifacts.
    • Collecting and Preserving Historic Aircraft and Artifacts
      Acquires, transports, and assembles historic aircraft for public display, such as the Martin Mars flying boat and a Consolidated B-24 Liberator. The organization has assembled a collection of approximately 50 aircraft, helicopters, and missiles by 1975, and currently maintains over 425 aircraft and 125,000 artifacts.
    • Manages aircraft acquisition and display
      Acquires, transports, reassembles, and places historic aircraft on permanent public display, including the Philippine Mars flying boat and the B-24 Liberator, with operations spanning international transport and multi-day logistics.
    • Manages aircraft acquisition and restoration
      Acquires, transports, and reassembles historic aircraft for public display, including the B-24 Liberator moved from India and the Philippine Mars flying boat transported from Canada and reassembled at Lake Pleasant.
    • Manages aircraft acquisition, transport, and display
      Acquires, transports, reassembles, and places historic aircraft on permanent public display, including the Philippine Mars flying boat and the B-24 Liberator, with operations spanning international logistics and multi-day transport efforts.
  • Military Aviation & Missile Museum Operations 5 activities
    • Attracts and hosts museum visitors
      Welcomes over 190,000 annual visitors to the Pima Air & Space Museum and has hosted more than one million visitors at the Titan Missile Museum since opening.
    • Operates aviation and aerospace museums
      Operates the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, the Titan Missile Museum in Sahuarita, and the Tucson Military Vehicle Museum, collectively featuring over 425 aircraft, 65 military vehicles, and 125,000 artifacts across multiple sites in Arizona.
    • Operating Aviation and Space Museums
      Operates the Pima Air & Space Museum, the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame, and the Titan Missile Museum in Arizona, attracting over 190,000 visitors annually to the Pima Air and Space Museum and over one million visitors to the Titan Missile Museum. These museums feature extensive collections of aircraft, artifacts, and military vehicles, including the only publicly accessible Titan II Missile Complex.
    • Operating Aviation and Space Museums
      Operates the Pima Air & Space Museum, the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame, and the Titan Missile Museum in Arizona, attracting over 190,000 visitors annually to the Pima Air and Space Museum alone. These museums feature extensive collections of aircraft, artifacts, and military vehicles, including the only publicly accessible Titan II Missile Complex.
    • Operating Aviation and Space Museums
      Operates the Pima Air & Space Museum, the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame, the Titan Missile Museum, and the Tucson Military Vehicle Museum, collectively attracting over 190,000 visitors annually and housing over 425 aircraft and 125,000 artifacts.
  • Aviation Safety and History Video Production 5 activities
    • Produces educational video content on aviation history
      Produces and publishes video series and special content on topics including the history of civil and military aviation, aerial firefighting, V-J Day commemorations, and aerial demonstration teams, with recent initiatives supporting frontline pandemic workers.
    • Produces educational video content on aviation history
      Produces and publishes video series on civil and military aviation history, including content on aerial firefighting, V-J Day commemorations, and aerial demonstration teams, used for public education and pandemic-era outreach.
    • Producing Educational Video Content
      Produces a weekly video series on the history of civil and military aviation, and creates educational videos commemorating historical events, highlighting historic aircraft, and covering topics like aerial firefighting.
    • Producing Educational Video Content
      Produces a weekly video series on the history of civil and military aviation, and creates educational videos commemorating historical events and highlighting historic aircraft.
    • Producing Educational Video Content
      Produces a weekly video series on the history of civil and military aviation, and creates educational videos highlighting historic aircraft, commemorating historical events, and showcasing topics like aerial firefighting.
  • Guided and Self-Guided Museum Tours 5 activities
    • Provides public access and educational programming
      Offers free admission annually to over 28,000 K-12 students and youth-serving groups, operates a 45-minute tram tour across 80 acres, and provides private walking tours with thematic focuses including WWII, Cold War, and aviation history.
    • Providing Educational Programs and Exhibits
      Offers free admission annually to over 28,000 K-12 school children, youth organizations, and special needs groups through its Education Program. The organization also operates exhibits like the Dorothy Finley Space Gallery, provides interactive educational activities for children, and offers guided tours with thematic focuses.
    • Providing Educational Programs and Tours
      Offers free admission to over 28,000 K-12 school children and youth groups annually, provides tram tours covering 150 aircraft, and conducts private walking tours with thematic focuses on aviation history.
    • Providing Educational Programs and Tours
      Offers free admission to over 28,000 K-12 school children and youth groups annually, provides tram tours and private walking tours with thematic focuses, and hosts interactive educational activities for children.
    • Providing Educational Programs and Tours
      Offers free admission annually to over 28,000 K-12 school children and youth organizations through its Education Program. The organization also provides tram tours and private walking tours with thematic focuses, and interactive educational activities for children, including simulators and exhibits.
  • Interactive Children's Museum Exhibits 3 activities
    • Offers interactive children's exhibits
      Provides hands-on educational activities for children, including an airline cockpit simulator and a firefighting truck exhibit, to engage young visitors in aviation and emergency response themes.
    • Offers interactive exhibits for children
      Provides hands-on educational exhibits for children, including an airline cockpit simulator and a firefighting truck exhibit, to engage youth in aviation and emergency response themes.
    • Provides public access and visitor experiences
      Offers tram tours covering 1.5 miles across 80 acres at the Pima Air & Space Museum, private walking tours with thematic focuses, and interactive exhibits including a cockpit simulator and firefighting truck exhibit for children.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Delivers educational programs and content
      Provides free admission annually to over 28,000 K-12 students and youth-serving groups, produces educational video series on aviation history, aerial firefighting, and military aviation, and creates commemorative content such as the 2020 V-J Day anniversary video.
financials · form 990 · fy2021
revenue
Total revenue$9.73M
Contributions & grants$4.94M51%
Program service revenue$3.79M39%
Investment income$5K0%
Other revenue$997K
expenses
Total expenses$6.83M
Program expenses86%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$2.47M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$18.68M
Cash$4.85M
Investments$20K
Liabilities$316K
Net assets$18.36M
Liquid reserves8.6 mo
3 years on record · 2019–2021 · YoY revenue +107.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021

who runs it

paid leadership · 2
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
KENNETH SCOTT MARCHAND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $134K
WILBERT HARRI DIR OF FINANCE & OPERATIONS 40 $85K
board members · 17
  • BERT ZACCARIA — TRUSTEE
  • BOYD DRACHMAN — CHAIRMAN
  • COL NEIL AURELIO — TRUSTEE
  • GARY ABRAMS — TRUSTEE
  • GEORGE HENDERSON — TREASURER
  • JENNIFER WALKER — TRUSTEE
  • JOHN MARS — TRUSTEE
  • JOHN TALLICHET — TRUSTEE
  • JOHN WISNER — SECRETARY
  • LT GEN ROBERT B JOHNSTON — TRUSTEE
  • MAJ GEN RUSSELL VIOLETT — TRUSTEE
  • MARK GASPARS — TRUSTEE
  • MICHAEL RUSING — TRUSTEE
  • MICHAEL STILB — TRUSTEE
  • PATRICK PEPPER — TRUSTEE
  • TOM MURPHY — VICE CHAIRMAN
  • WILLIAM FISHKIND — TRUSTEE
relationships · 20

who they work with

  • Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame Partner — Housed within the Pima Air and Space Museum as a permanent exhibit honoring notable Arizona aviators.
  • Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame Partner — Operated by the Arizona Aerospace Foundation
  • City of Tucson Government — Co-established the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame through a joint proclamation with the City of Tucson.
  • Coulson Aviation Partner — Transferred ownership of the Martin Mars aircraft to the museum for preservation.
  • County Department of Parks and Recreation Partner — Supported the establishment of the museum through collaboration on site development.
  • Davis-Monthan AFB Partner — Previously collaborated on bus tours to the 309th AMARG "Boneyard" until discontinued due to U.S. Air Force security changes.
  • Military Aircraft Storage and Disposition Center (MASDC) Partner — Provided aircraft from storage for inclusion in the museum collection.
  • Pima Air & Space Partner — Hosts the 390th Memorial Museum on its grounds, included with admission.
  • Pima Air & Space Museum Government — ARIZONA AEROSPACE FOUNDATION operates the Pima Air & Space Museum as its primary public-facing institution.
  • Pima Air & Space Museum Partner — Administers the nomination process and hosts the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame exhibit.
  • Pima Air & Space Museum Partner — Collaborates on the production of The Aviation Show video series.
  • Pima Air & Space Museum Partner — Operated by the Arizona Aerospace Foundation
  • Pima County Government — Co-established the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame through a joint proclamation with the Pima County Board of Supervisors.
  • Pima County Board of Supervisors Partner — Provided governmental support for the museum's development and land acquisition.
  • Republic of India Partner — Donated a Consolidated B-24 Liberator to the museum, conditional on the Foundation covering delivery costs.
  • Sofilein Partner — Collaborated with YouTuber Sofilein on video content in preparation for the new Tucson Military Vehicle Museum.
  • State of Arizona Government — Co-established the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame through a joint proclamation with the Governor of Arizona.
  • Titan Missile Museum Partner — Operated by the Arizona Aerospace Foundation
  • U.S. Air Force Partner — Provided volunteer crew to transport the B-24 Liberator from India to Tucson.
  • United States Air Force Government — Provided certification and oversight for the museum in accordance with Air Force Museum standards.