EXHIBITS
Something for Everyone
Welcome to the March Field Air Museum. With 114 aircraft and more than 30,000 individual artifacts, our museum strives to promote an understanding of humanity’s reach for the skies and of March Field’s pivotal role in the development of flight. For over 100 years, March Field has been home to aviation pioneers, some famous and some anonymous. They have left a treasure trove of precious artifacts from aircraft to flight gear, from simulators to uniforms, from photos to personal letters.
We encourage you to come walk in the footsteps of heroes. Step through a World War I trench line under the shadow of the world’s fastest manned aircraft, the SR-71 Blackbird. Walk through a Vietnam era Fire Base surrounded by a brace of helicopters. Stand beneath the wings of a massive B-52 Stratofortress or World War II combat icons including the B-29A Superfortress and B-17G Flying Fortress “Starduster.”
Whatever your age or background, the sleek fighters, bombers, and cargo aircraft of the MFAM have something to fascinate everyone. With such a rich variety of artifacts, the museum’s exhibits are constantly evolving to bring you new experiences however many times you visit. Enjoy your visit. At the March Field Air Museum, exhibits cover a wide range of topics. Explore the rich history of March Field (today’s March Air Reserve Base). Tour Mission Control and learn about the history of space exploration. Experience the sights and sounds of a Vietnam War-era firebase. Tour over 100 historic aircraft from the earliest days of aviation to the latest tactical aircraft operating today.
This is just a small taste of what’s in store if you visit the March Field Air Museum!
What's New?
At the March Field Air Museum, we constantly create engaging exhibits showcasing over 100 years of aviation history. Recent additions include an Observation Deck overlooking the SR-71 Blackbird, a Curtiss Jenny replica, and immersive displays like “The Civilian Experience of Aerial Bombardment.” Discover new artifacts and experiences with every visit!
Firebase Romeo Charlie
Fire Base Romeo Charlie, spanning half an acre next to the museum’s education hangar, replicates a Vietnam-era Forward Operating Location. It features period helicopters, including an AH-1 Cobra, two UH-1 Iroquois, H-21 Shawnee, H-34 Choctaw, and OH-6 Cayuse. The base includes an Entry Control Point, defensive walls, bunkers, and a Base Operations Center. A Flight Control Tower, trucks, utility vehicles, and a sound and lighting system enhance the immersive experience.
Frank Zizzo Radio Room
Communication is crucial for modern military operations on land, sea, or air. Since military aviation’s inception, communicating with the ground or between aircraft has been challenging.
The Zizzo Radio Room, opened in March 2021, spans over 1,100 sq. ft. and features 100+ radios, from a 1924 RCA Radiola to a Vietnam-era PRC-10 “Backpack” Transceiver. Operated by the Moreno Valley Amateur Radio Association, it includes a functioning 1947 Hallicrafters TV and a Morse Code practice station.
Innovation Through Conflict
Centrally located within the museum’s main exhibit buildings, 29 climate-controlled cases showcase military aviation’s history, conflicts, personalities, technologies, and tactics. Explore aviation’s evolution through rare artifacts and detailed information, spanning from the Great War to the conflict in Afghanistan. Highlights include flight helmets, WWII Home Front items, POW artifacts, Women Air Service Pilots (WASPs), the Tuskegee Airmen, Jimmy Doolittle, General Curtis LeMay, and recent additions celebrating the U.S. Military’s growing inclusiveness.
March Field Timeline
The March Field Timeline exhibit features vignettes that chronicle the history of the West Coast’s oldest military airfield, covering local experiences in WWI, the interwar period, WWII’s impact, and a personal look at the life of Staff Sergeant Vincent Rogers.
Mission Control
Welcome to Mission Control, an interactive gallery exploring the space race and technological achievements from 1957 to today. Discover rare artifacts, including historic space equipment and memorabilia, and engage with hands-on flight simulators. This exhibit delves into the milestones of human space exploration, highlighting key moments, innovations, and the relentless pursuit of reaching the stars. Join us on a journey through decades of astronomical progress and scientific breakthroughs.
Strategic Reconnaissance
Explore aviation surveillance technology in the new Reconnaissance exhibit at March Field Air Museum. Featuring the legendary SR-71 Blackbird, the exhibit includes support equipment and artifacts showcasing aerial reconnaissance’s development and impact. Discover three large cases of SR-71 artifacts, cameras tracing tactical reconnaissance evolution, video presentations on intelligence collection, and a detailed look at the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Highlighting CIA pilot Al Rand’s U-2 flight suit, the exhibit underscores aircraft intelligence’s historical significance.
