CHAMPLIN FIGHTER MUSEUM
Larry Kruse — Mesa, AZ.
A chance to see the stuff that legends are made of doesn't come around all that often, especially when those legends are the deep-rumbling, piston-powered flying machines. The Champlin Fighter Museum in Arizona lets you vicariously live with some of the greatest combat aircraft the world has ever known.
History
No human invention has evolved more rapidly or dramatically than the airplane, and no type of airplane has contributed more directly to that rapid evolution than the fighter plane. Born and bred for life-and-death purpose, fighters carry a mystique rooted deep in a chivalric past—knights in armor on fire-breathing steeds who righted wrongs by singular acts of bravery while entire kingdoms watched and cheered.
The Champlin Fighter Museum opened in January 1981 and was created by businessman Doug Champlin. He began collecting historical combat aircraft in Enid, Oklahoma in 1969 with the intent of bringing together planes from World War I and World War II, as well as from the Korean Conflict, as representatives of the best and most advanced fighters of their respective eras. Realizing the Enid location would not provide the demographic traffic needed to support a privately funded museum, Champlin moved the collection to Mesa and established the museum at Falcon Field.
The hangars that display the Champlin aircraft were themselves part of WWII history, having housed trainers for British student pilots during the early years of the war.
Collection
Featuring only fighter aircraft from WWI and WWII through the dawn of the jet age, the museum houses nearly 30 fighter aircraft in pristine condition under 40,000 sq. ft. of spotless hangar space. Key points about the collection:
- WWII aircraft are restorations, brought up to beautiful, assembly-line condition.
- Most WWI aircraft are reproductions painstakingly built to the exact dimensions of original factory drawings and finished in authentic squadron colors.
- All of the planes are flyable; many have been used for flight demonstrations, air shows, and commercial ventures.
- At the time of the visit, the museum's Spitfire had been scheduled for rental to a nationally known electronics manufacturer for special events.
Notable Aircraft
- Rumpler Taube (WWI) — A reproduction commissioned to A.A. Williams in 1981. Built in Germany from original construction drawings over six years, then shipped to Mesa and reassembled by the museum's restoration department. It is authentically displayed at the front of the WWI hangar beside a sandbagged machine-gun bunker.
- Aviatik Berg D.I (WWI) — A reconstruction and one of only two surviving aircraft of its type. Finished in a distinctive multishaded gold fabric with polished brass details, it evokes the class and dignity of early aerial duels.
- Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3 (WWII) — The only complete and flyable example, a compact 32-ft span fighter that appears delicate yet was a deadly foe; over 35,000 of the type were built.
- P-38 Lightning — Under restoration/maintenance at times in the museum shop.
- Spitfire Mk IX — Part of the collection and occasionally flown or rented.
- Fokker D.VII — An impressive example undergoing work in the restoration shop.
- B-17 "Sentimental Journey" — Temporarily parked behind the museum; a total restoration from the Confederate Air Force, included here briefly though not a fighter.
American Fighter Aces Association (AFAA)
The museum is also the headquarters of the American Fighter Aces Association (AFAA), the organization of fighter pilots with at least five confirmed aerial victories. AFAA members have contributed extensive memorabilia, displayed in attractive glass cases that give human dimension to the aircraft on display. Features include:
- An Aces Gallery with photos and biographical data of over 500 fighter aces from 15 nations.
- 50 specially commissioned paintings depicting WWII aircraft in combat.
Restoration and Facilities
Visitors can see the museum's skilled restoration shop, where aircraft such as a P-38 Lightning, Spitfire Mk IX, and Fokker D.VII are periodically worked on. The renovated hangars provide ample, historically significant display space.
Planned expansion includes a connected display and snack bar area with a small theater. The display area will house a 175-piece weapons exhibit, primarily vintage armaments used in connection with the two world wars.
Visitor Services and Publications
The museum operates a gift shop stocked with books, drawings, and photos of particular interest to modelers and aviation buffs. Champlin Press publishes authoritative works written by airmen and authors who have lived their subjects. All gift shop items and books can be ordered by mail. A catalog is available by writing:
Champlin Museum 4436 Fighter Aces Dr. Mesa, AZ 85205
Conclusion
For modelers or aviation enthusiasts planning a vacation in the Southwest, the Champlin Fighter Museum is a must-see. It presents one of the finest collections of fighter aircraft, and few places allow you to relive the golden years of fighter development so completely.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
