Thunderbird Field II Veterans Memorial

What Thunderbird Field II Veterans Memorial does

Thunderbird Field II Veterans Memorial, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2017 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, operating a three-phase mission to preserve WWII aviation heritage, fund aviation education, and support disabled veterans. Its core asset is the Memorial Plaza at Scottsdale Airport, anchored by a restored 1941 Boeing-Stearman PT-17 aircraft on permanent display since May 2018, complemented by 55-inch interactive educational kiosks covering aviation careers and the history of Thunderbird Field II — the WWII Army Air Corps pilot training facility that operated from June 22, 1942 until 1944, graduating over 5,500 pilots. The organization runs an Aviation Scholarships Program that has awarded 30 scholarships to Arizona students pursuing careers as pilots, mechanics, avionics technicians, and air traffic controllers at institutions including Arizona State University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and Arizona community colleges. Its third pillar, formalized in September 2021, is the Dogs4Vets Program, which channels financial support to an Arizona-based nonprofit that trains and places service animals with disabled veterans suffering from PTSD, mobility limitations, and emotional care needs. The organization previously operated paid Stearman open-cockpit rides from September 2017 to May 2018 as a charity revenue stream before retiring the aircraft for permanent display.

The business model is donation- and event-driven rather than transactional. Revenue is generated through individual contributions (facilitated by a PayPal donation flow), recurring corporate sponsorships (including Telgian Holdings as a five-year sustaining sponsor 2018-2022, plus Atlantic Aviation, CrossFirst Bank, and the City of Scottsdale as a Titanium Partner), and proceeds from the annual Swing Time Gala — a 1940s-themed hangar party featuring big band music, swing dancing, and auctions that has drawn notable guests including NASA astronaut Captain Sunita Williams. The organization distributes its message through a website (tbird2.org), a YouTube channel, periodic press releases (over 19 documented from 2017-2025), and event-based community engagement. Governance is provided by a Board of Directors and Advisory Board with deep aviation, military, and financial-services expertise, including Founder & Chairman Stephen Ziomek and President & CEO Gunnar Buzzard. The organization operates exclusively within Arizona, serves Arizona-based students and veterans, and holds no patents, technology products, or AI/ML capabilities — its competitive position rests on its unique historical asset, municipal co-location at Scottsdale Airport, and its established multi-stakeholder donor and partner ecosystem.

Name

Thunderbird Field II Veterans Memorial

Legal name

Thunderbird Field II Veterans Memorial, Inc.

Website

https://tbird2.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Thunderbird Field II Veterans Memorial, Inc. is an Arizona-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that preserves WWII aviation heritage at Scottsdale Airport through a restored Boeing-Stearman PT-17 memorial plaza, awards aviation scholarships to Arizona students, and supports disabled veterans via the Dogs4Vets partnership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veteran Memorial and Aviation Education Nonprofit

NAICS

Historical Sites (71212), Historical Sites (712120)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Museums (e.g., Maritime, Aviation, Sports, Music, Film) (THAJADAF)

Keywords

• Veterans memorial
• Aviation scholarships
• Historical preservation
• Nonprofit fundraising
• Veteran support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Scottsdale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Thunderbird Field II Veterans Memorial, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that preserves the WWII aviation history of Scottsdale Airport through a memorial plaza featuring a restored 1941 Boeing-Stearman PT-17 and interactive educational kiosks, provides aviation scholarships to Arizona students pursuing STEM aviation careers, and supports disabled veterans through partnerships such as Dogs4Vets for service animal assistance.

Product overview

Thunderbird Field II Veterans Memorial, Inc. is a non-profit organization operating as a three-phase initiative: (1) The Memorial Plaza featuring a restored 1941 Boeing-Stearman PT-17 aircraft as centerpiece with interactive educational kiosks; (2) The Aviation Scholarships Program providing financial awards to Arizona students for aviation-related degrees at approved institutions; and (3) The Dogs4Vets Program supporting veteran service animal organizations. The organization also hosts the annual Swing Time Gala, a 1940s-themed fundraising event, and previously operated the Stearman Rides charity flight program (now discontinued with the aircraft on permanent display).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Thunderbird Field II Memorial Plaza

Quantifiable outcome

• 30 aviation scholarships awarded since 2019 to Arizona students pursuing aviation careers
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, principal, foundational and legacy.

• Dogs4VetscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2021Dogs4Vets is an Arizona-based nonprofit dedicated to training and placing service animals with disabled veterans. TB2 formally announced its financial support relationship with Dogs4Vets in September 2021, representing Phase Three of TB2's three-part mission to directly improve the lives of veterans through service animal support for those with PTSD, mobility limitations, and emotional care needs.
• City of ScottsdaleprincipalStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Scottsdale is a Titanium Partner and principal benefactor. The organization is located at Scottsdale Airport, which is owned and operated by the City of Scottsdale since 1966. The City acquired the airfield beginning its civic chapter.
• Atlantic AviationfoundationalGTM or Marketing PartnerAtlantic Aviation is recognized for ongoing support of the Thunderbird Field II Veterans Memorial. Rick Wielebski serves as Aviation Director at Atlantic Aviation and is on the TB2 Advisory Board.
• CrossFirst BankfoundationalGTM or Marketing PartnerCrossFirst Bank is a sponsor of the Aviation Scholarship Program and supports the Veterans Day Commemoration Event, contributing to TB2's mission of supporting students pursuing aviation careers.
• Telgian Holdings, Inc.legacyGTM or Marketing PartnerTelgian Holdings, Inc. is recognized for five consecutive years (2018-2022) of sustaining sponsorship of TB2 as a cornerstone of the memorial's continuing-sponsor program.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Commemorative Air Force: National organization dedicated to preserving WWII-era military aircraft in flying condition through volunteer-led units across the U.S. Directly comparable in mission (WWII aviation preservation, education, and commemoration) and use of restored warbirds as the centerpiece asset.
• Honor Flight Network: National nonprofit transporting U.S. veterans to visit memorials in Washington, D.C. Comparable as a veterans-tribute organization that uses aviation to deliver its mission and engages a similar donor/veteran community.
• EAA Aviation Museum: EAA's museum in Oshkosh, WI focuses on the history of flight and supports youth aviation education including scholarships and STEM programs. Directly comparable in combining aircraft preservation with student aviation scholarships.
• National WWII Museum: New Orleans-based museum and education complex dedicated to telling the story of the WWII generation. Comparable as a WWII-focused public history and education institution with a strong aviation component and broad fundraising apparatus.
• Veteran's Heritage Museum: A small Arizona veterans-focused museum preserving military history through exhibits and veteran recognition events. Directly comparable in mission, scale, and the combination of physical exhibits with veteran-support programs.
• Pima Air & Space Museum: Arizona-based aviation museum operating a large collection of historic aircraft with public exhibits, educational programming, and restoration facilities. Closest geographic and mission peer to TB2 as a public-facing WWII/aviation heritage site in Arizona.
• Pat Tillman Foundation: Arizona-rooted nonprofit providing scholarships and community to veterans, service members, and their families. Comparable in combining scholarships with veteran support and operating from the same regional donor base as TB2.
• Dogs4Vets: Arizona-based nonprofit that trains and places service animals with disabled veterans. Directly comparable as TB2's primary Phase Three program partner, addressing veteran PTSD, mobility, and emotional-care needs via service animals.

Regional players

• Arizona Aviation Heritage Foundation: Arizona-focused nonprofit promoting aviation heritage and education across the state. Comparable as a regional aviation-heritage organization working in the same geography on overlapping STEM and commemoration goals.

Broad incumbents

• Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum: The largest aviation and space museum in the world, operated by the Smithsonian Institution. Comparable as a national aviation heritage institution; broader scope but overlapping mission around aviation preservation, education, and public access.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@thunderbirdfieldiiveterans123
• Facebookfacebook.com/thunderbirdfield

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Thunderbird Field II Veterans Memorial