Are you driving to Las Vegas on the way to California or vice versa? Don't fly by this hidden gem if you or someone with you is into aircraft! Joe Davies Heritage Airpark is a family-friendly and unique airplane museum located in Palmdale, California. There are fascinating displays of aircraft that show the historical significance of the United States Air Force like never seen before. It is so cool to see these beauties up-close! There is a collection of aircraft flown, tested, designed, produced or modified planes from the United States Air Force. There are 21 retired military aircraft on display that also includes a 1/8 scale model of the B-2 Spirit, an AGM-28 Hound Dog Missile, a B-52, a C-46, and various aircraft components. I read that once complete, they will have over 40 retired military and civilian aircraft in the future. To top it all off, admission to the park is free! If you are interested in a fun afternoon spent with family, friends, or even solo, Joe Davies Heritage Airpark checks all the boxes! read more

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Interesting and educational outdoor aircraft museum. It is well maintained with various walkways with informational plaques regarding the planes and jets on exhibit. Be sure to check out the gift shop and adjoining Blackbird Airpark next door. Clean restrooms are available. There is also a limited selection of snacks, bottled water, and sodas in the gift shop. Great place to take family for a morning or afternoon outing. Plenty of parking. read more

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This place this place is fantastic. It's worth the drive. Everybody will love it if you go there. There's plenty of parking and the staff is very helpful. read more

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This is the much larger "brother" to the the Blackbird Airpark nextdoor. Aircraft buffs will love the displays! But bring sunscreen and water because you'll be doing a lot of walking. There are so many planes on display that we could not see them all on our single visit! I would love to come back, but alas we were only in this area once. My only request is that the owners provide a few more benches and a shady area. read more

This is just an amazing collection of aircraft. I don't think I've ever been this close to this variety of WW2 props and later jet aircraft. I came in from the Blackbird Airpark, which is next door. From the distance, I immediately recognized the NASA 747 as the one that carried the Endeavour Space Shuttle from Kennedy Space Center to LAX and the California Science Center. Getting closer, I was stunned to see the variety of other aircraft I had seen in pictures, but never in person. There is a gift shop for both airparks on the Blackbird side; I decided to support them by buying a polo shirt there. Interesting time chatting with a couple of local residents about sonic booms in the area or seeing Space Shuttle landings. read more

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This is an expansive outdoor museum showing all kinds of different jets and trainers from years gone by. They have jets going all the way back to World War II, as well as modern jets, including a 747. You can walk right up to most of the jets, but of course you cannot go inside. There are also other display such as muscles, engines, and other gear used in NASA missions. Each site has a descriptive panel explaining the background and technical specifications of each jet. For each jet they have a program called "adopt a plane," where a sponsor can help subsidize the cost for any particular site. This attraction has free admission and free parking. I enjoyed my visit here. It is definitely worth a visit. Your kids will especially love this place. There is also a good-sized picnic area, which will add to the fun of your day. Restrooms are a short walk away. There's also a small air museum next door, which features the SR-71 spy planes. read more

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This is a fantastic air park / aviation museum. While many have it beat on quantity, this one houses some very special airplanes. It should be on the bucket list of any serious aviation enthusiast (or obsessive as my wife refers to me on the subject) Located right next to the Palmdale Regional Airport and more importantly USAF Plant 42, the airpark is home to a decent number of static displays, and a tiny visitor center. It is often confused with the adjacent Blackbird Park but its hard to do one without walking over to the other. I mean lets face it. You if you have ventured this far out into the desert, your an fanatic, so seeing both is usually what most of us do. There are many cool aircraft to be seen here including the 747 Shuttle Carrier, the X-55 ACCA, the F-14, and a BUFF (plus many more) There are a few benches and not alot of shade to be had, but its fun and free. read more

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Super interesting and great learning experience for all ages... Wish it was open more and maybe in middle of week? Thank you! read more

Thanks for the help and my correction regarding Joe Davies Heritage Airpark, fellow Yelper. :) Had to make make a correction for my review for the correct venue. Had no idea I just missed seeing the other side of the airpark being that the Blackbird Airpark is separate from Joe Davies Heritage Airpark. Boys (at least the guys I've known) and their love for fighter planes... or planes in general is inevitable. We took a sharp u-turn as we were driving by. Their planes are visible from the street and hard to resist stopping for a look. Even sweeter is there was no parking fee or any entry fee. I even looked for a donation basket or something to help give back to this cool exhibit. We only had a few moments to look around, but I'd definitely want to bring my son back here. It is a really cool space to explore!!! Lots of stories and information about each of the planes. Cool to see the size and efficiency/speed of these monumental machines. read more

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One visit, you get to see two sister airpark for free! Both Joe Davies Heritage Airpark and Blackbird Airpark are interconnected. While Blackbird Airpark only have four (but cooler looking) aircraft on display, Joe Davies Heritage Airpark have total of 18 aircraft on display. Below are the list for all 18 models (as of May 2014) B-2 Spirit (1:8 scale model), F-86 Sabre, C-140 Jetstar, A-4 Skyhawk, T-38 Talon, A-7 Corsair II, F-4 Phantom II, F-100 Super Sabre, F-104 Starfighter, F-105 Thunderchief, F-5 Tiger, F-101 Voodoo, Triumph - Phototype Business Jet, F-14 Tomcat, T-33 Shooting Star, AGM-28 Hound Dog Missle, B-52 Stratofortress, and C-46 Commando There are some tables out in the open where you can sit and enjoy some family picnic. It's good to see the REAL (not the toy version) Fighter aircraft ... maybe once in your lifetime. Overall, it's a nice airpark for local families to visit and for visitors to stop by. Note: Just like Blackbird Airpark, the park only opens on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 11 AM to 4 PM. In addition, you can call and schedule guided tours available on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 7 AM to 11 AM. read more

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When NASA Space Shuttles landed at Edwards AFB, they were ferried back to Florida on modified Boeing 747s. Joe Davies Heritage Airpark is the retirement home of one of 2 planes that flew those trips. The 747 was built in 1973, and flew for Japan Air Lines before NASA bought it in 1989. Boeing modified it with struts to hold the shuttle, and extra vertical stabilizers. This exhibit is located immediately next door to the Blackbard Airpark, which houses other interesting historical aircraft, but under different ownership. read more

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Others did a great job describing the park. I'd like to add that as someone who really doesn't know anything about planes, I nonetheless found this place interesting and fascinating, and the people who work there are very nice. There is information on almost all the planes on plaques. the planes are cleaned and painted regularly, much of it by volunteer groups, and the grounds are well-kept. It was windy while I was there between 1-3 pm. Also worthwhile is the Blackbird Airpark at the corner, which are connected by a path through an open gateway. They have the same hours. However, they are not run by the same entities, a common mistake people often have. I ate chicken and sausage jambalaya at Lee Esther's Creole and Cajun Cooking beforehand, just two miles away. That's a pretty good day, I think. :D read more

A Must visit for any Aviation or space enthusiast ! A quick visit to the website of the city of Palmdale initially indicated that my Monday drive to Palmdale would not offer the chance to tour the airpark. The park is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 Am to 4 PM excluding major Holidays and weather permiting. The website of the city of Palmdale also offers a number to reach for private guided tours. Kathleen enthusiastically offered to meet at the museum on Monday ! Guided tours are available Monday through Saturday upon request. To schedule a tour, call 661/267-5345 Kathleen offered the promised guided tour with stories for each of the aircrafts in the collection on display + the Starfighter being worked on The Collection : 16 aircraft at static display plus a 1/8 scale model of the B-2 Spirit, an AGM-28 Hound Dog Missile and various components from other aircraft. Boeing 747SR-46 Boeing B-52D Stratofortress Curtiss C-46D Commando Dornier 328-300 - X 55 Douglas YA-4C Skyhawk Grumman F-14D Super Tomcat Lockheed C-140 Jetstar Lockheed F-104C Starfighter Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star McDonnell F-101F Voodoo McDonnell Douglas F-4D Phantom North American F-86 Sabre Mk.5 North American F-100D Super Sabre Northrop F-5E Tiger II Northrop T-38A Talon Republic F-105G Thunderchief Scaled Composites 143 Triumph Vought A-7B Corsair II More information at : http://www.cityofpalmdale.org/Airpark http://www.aviationmuseum.eu/World/North_America/USA/California/Palmdale/Joe_Davies_Heritage_Airpark.htm For the photos posted below, the F117 is no longer visible in the Blackbird airpark next door. Thank You again Kathleen for the tour, I shall return even if the park is a Long Long Long Way From Home ( for this FOREIGNER dude) read more

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This really is a hidden gem. Free and open to the public. You could tell that a number of these planes have seen better days, but there are fantastic people that are doing what they can to take care and maintain the facility. Where else can you walk under a 747? read more

The Joe Davies Heritage Park is a work in progress with room to expand and it is already great. How wonderful that there is a free aircraft museum right in Palmdale. It almost makes me wish I still lived there. This is such a great collection of military aircraft from the modern, to the slightly less modern, to the truly antique and the legitamately legendary. I saw an F-16, F-4, F-14, F-5, F-105, F-86, F-104, T-38, A-6 and more. Those are just some of the planes you can see close up. A little further away is a B-52 and the NASA 747 used to ferry the Space Shuttle. I assume some day the walking trails will lead there as well as the trails seem to be unfinished heading that way. Also down towards that end are picknic tables being added to the existing collection. Nearby is a hangar with one side closed. The backside, however, is open. Inside is an A-4 being readied for display in the future. Just more proof they are expanding. This is a must visit place for any aerospace junkie like me. Even if you don't go crazy seeing planes as I do I am sure you will enjoy this place. Just to see the engineering that went into these planes is enough to make anyone feel a sense of awe. Be sure to read the plaques to get a better understanding of what it is all about. read more

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Upon discovery that there was a park with fighter jets practically in my backyard, I planned a visit my first free Saturday. I drove up there, and arrived a tad early. I parked outside the gate for a lil bit until security came by (precisely at 11AM) to open up the chained gate. I followed him into the parking lot, parked the car, and stepped out to take a look at the place. While the park is only open on the weekends, there are no employees here at this time. It's a self-guided tour for the most part. Self guided, and completely free. Just another free state park brought to you by the state of California. It's absolutely awesome. There's a cement path winding its way around the planes, and a slight path in the sand for some of their newer aircraft on display. In front of each plane sits a pedestal with all the relevant information on that aircraft. Most of the planes were military, but there were a few civilian jets as well, in addition to the planes, there are several bombs and missiles on display as well. The even and flat path took you around through everything. There are even picnic tables under the shade of the wings of the larger aircraft. I thought that was a pretty neat touch. It'd be a pretty cool place for a picnic. While there were chains around most of the fighters, most were set close enough to the planes you could touch them. It was quite cool to walk up to the massive planes, and simply touch them. I could feel history coursing along the fuselage. I silently wondered what these planes had seen and where they had been over the course of its lifetime. Every now and again while I walked around the planes, a gust of wind would blow up a small sandstorm. Several times I had to shield my camera from a sudden wave of sand. When I returned to the car, my hair was all crazy and windblown. So, prepare for that. There's also a brochure that you can download off the website. It's got the layout of the park, and has further information on each item in their collection. It was certainly handy to get and print out in advance. In addition to the brochure, you can arrange a tour of the planes on their website. They're in the office and will reply Monday through Thursday. Don't send an email on Friday expecting a tour on Saturday. I'll certainly try that next time I visit. FYI: Here's more information on some of the planes I photographed. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AGM-28_Hound_Dog http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F14_Tomcat http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-4_Phantom_II http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-38_Talon read more

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A nice collection of military aircraft with a focus on fighter jets. Even better, it is next to the Blackbird Airpark with a mere gate between the two parks so you only need to park the car once. Both parks are free. Without any pavement or ground cover, it's dusty on a windy day. Also, there was no opportunity to go inside any of the planes. Without much to do in the Antelope Valley, the combination of this park and the Blackbird Park next door are probably the most interesting 40 minutes you can find in the region. read more

Great little outdoor aircraft museum, you can get right up to the planes to explore. Lockheed Blackbird museum is a hundred yards away down a trail. Not that it's mapped wrong on Apple Maps, navigate to the blackbird museum instead. read more

Nice display so airplanes. They have. Good variety of planes on display. Good place to take pictures. Nice family outing.

Can't believe we have all those majestic airplanes in just one place. For free!!! A must go for every aviation fan. A suggestion: you open from 11 to 4. Get a vending machine with at least water. The summer in the desert is mean. A sad note: all those aircraft there with not even a roof on it. We are thankful for those who help keep it well conserved, but it's frustrating see all of it exposed to the elements 365 days a year. read more

Great place to go! But make sure to call and make appointment with a tour! Way better! Our tour guide name was Kathleen I believe

An outdoor museum of sorts, with pathways leading between various jets of various military/government agencies. The parking lot did not seem too big, but there was plenty of space as few visitors were here the day I came. A small path leads to the neighboring Blackbird Airpark (more of an extention of this park, but with a focus on stealthy aircraft). read more

Having visited many aviation museums and being an air force veteran I was very impressed with the condition of the planes. The paint jobs were fresh and expertly done unlike other nearby aviation locations, the selection of planes was better than you would think in a small desert town location. Be mindful of the hours Fri Sat Sun only. How ever if the volunteers are working on an airplane the gate will be open. read more