[4] Ground was broken in December 1980 and by March 1981 a barracks and an office building from World War II had been moved to the museum site.

[9] Then in 1983, an audit criticized leadership for poor accountability of resources, displaying aircraft outside the museum's mission, and lack of security.

[12] The announcement that Castle Air Force Base might close in 1991 brought the risk of the aircraft being moved to another museum.

[30] In June 2023, the museum announced that it had received three donations totaling $4 million to support the construction of a new Aviation Pavilion.

[34] An indoor museum features artifacts, photographs, uniforms, war memorabilia, aircraft engines, and a restored B-52 cockpit.

"[36] Museum management has reported that visitors, including paranormal investigators, have heard knocking and footsteps from inside the plane.