March Field Air Museum

What March Field Air Museum does

March Field Air Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit aviation and space museum located on a 30-acre campus at 22550 Van Buren Boulevard in Riverside, California, adjacent to March Air Reserve Base. The institution preserves and exhibits a collection of more than 118 historic aircraft and 30,000 artifacts spanning from World War I biplanes through modern unmanned aerial vehicles, including iconic airframes such as the B-17G Flying Fortress, B-29A Superfortress, B-52D Stratofortress, SR-71A Blackbird, and MQ-1B Predator. Supporting exhibits include the half-acre Firebase Romeo Charlie Vietnam-era fire base replica, the Frank Zizzo Radio Room, a Mission Control space gallery, a Strategic Reconnaissance exhibit, and the Heritage Courtyard memorial complex. Many aircraft are on long-term loan from the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy National Naval Aviation Museum, and the museum received American Alliance of Museums accreditation in 2011, placing it in the top 3% of U.S. museums.

The museum's business model is diversified across earned and contributed revenue streams. Earned income is generated through admission tickets ($18 adult, $12 senior, $10 veteran/child, free for active-duty military and members), 45-minute narrated tram tours ($8/person), six membership tiers ranging from $30 to $170 annually, private event rentals of hangars and patio spaces (capacities up to 845 cocktail), film and photography permits, and an on-site gift shop. Contributed income comes from donations, in-kind artifact contributions, and grant funding; the museum does not receive ongoing government support. Distribution is location-based: walk-in visitation, scheduled group and school tours, and private event bookings, supplemented by social media (Facebook, Instagram), a Curator's Corner blog, YouTube-hosted video archives, and earned media coverage of significant artifact arrivals such as the June 2026 return of the Nixon Presidential Helicopter for a multi-year restoration through 2028. The museum is governed by a board of directors led by President Jamil Dada and operated by an 11-50 person staff under Executive Director Michael D. Ellzey.

Name

March Field Air Museum

Legal name

March Field Air Museum

Website

https://marchfield.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

March Field Air Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit aviation and space museum in Riverside, California, preserving 118+ historic aircraft and 30,000 artifacts on a 30-acre campus adjacent to March Air Reserve Base, serving the general public, school groups, private event clients, and aviation enthusiasts through admissions, memberships, event rentals, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aviation Museum

NAICS

Museums (712110), Museums (71211), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Aviation museum exhibits
• Historic aircraft preservation
• Museum education programs
• Private event venue rental
• Artifact collection management

Headquarters

HQ city

Riverside

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Admission Fees: Visitors pay admission fees at the door. Adults $18, seniors $12, veterans $10, children 5-11 $10, children 4 and under free, active duty military free, members free.
2. Membership Program: Annual membership tiers provide free year-round admission plus perks (tram tour passes, store discounts, North American Reciprocal Museum benefits). Tiers range from $30 (Military/Veteran/Educator/Senior) to $170 (Family-PLUS).
3. Private Event Rentals: The museum rents its hangars, patio, conference room, and exhibit hall for corporate events, weddings, and parties. Revenue includes facility rental fees, catering coordination deposits, and event-related services.
4. Film & Photography Permits: The museum charges film fees and issues photography permits (including MIPAA film permits) for commercial, documentary, and professional shoots. Rates are project-dependent.
5. Retail / Gift Shop: On-site gift shop selling museum merchandise, apparel, and aviation-themed products to visitors.
6. Donations & Grants: The museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that relies on donations (financial, in-kind, artifact donations), grant funding, and membership contributions. It does not receive ongoing government funding.
7. Tram Tours: Narrated 45-minute tram tours of the outdoor flight line are offered at $8 per person, scheduled at 11am, 12pm, 2pm, 3pm, and 4pm.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

March Field Air Museum operates a 30-acre aviation and space museum campus in Riverside, California, displaying 118+ historic aircraft and 30,000+ artifacts spanning nearly 100 years of aviation history. The museum sells daily admission, narrated tram tours, annual memberships, group tours, private event venue rentals, and film/photography permits, supported by an on-site gift shop and donor/membership fundraising. It is operated as a public benefit 501(c)(3) nonprofit by the March Field Museum Foundation.

Product overview

March Field Air Museum is one of the largest non-government funded aviation and space museums in the world, operating as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The museum's core offering is its aircraft collection of 118+ historic aircraft spanning from WWI biplanes through modern tactical aircraft and UAVs. The collection is complemented by immersive exhibits including Firebase Romeo Charlie (Vietnam-era fire base), Frank Zizzo Radio Room, Mission Control (space exploration), Strategic Reconnaissance (SR-71 Blackbird), and the Heritage Courtyard memorial spaces. Supporting offerings include narrated tram tours, private event rentals, film/photography services, group tours, museum membership, volunteer programs, video archives, and artifact donation programs. The museum does not offer a software product, API, or AI capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Museum Admission Daily museum entry providing access to the aircraft collection, indoor exhibits, Heritage Courtyard, and self-guided campus tours. Adults $18, seniors $12, children 5-11 $10, children under 5 free, veterans $10, active duty military free, members free. Hours 9AM-5PM Tuesday-Sunday.
• Tram Tours 45-minute narrated tram tours of the outdoor Flightline covering numerous aircraft on display. Offered at $8.00 per person with scheduled daily departures.
• Museum Membership Program Annual subscription membership tiers ranging from $30 (Military/Veteran/Educator/Senior) to $170 (Aviator), providing free year-round admission, tram tour passes, 10% store discount, and reciprocal museum benefits at 1,000+ museums.
• Private Event Venue Rentals Facility rental for corporate events, weddings, and private parties in Hangar 1 (100/200/590 capacity), Hangar 2 (550/700/845), Patio (120/250/400), and Conference Room (40/60/60), with pre-approved catering, AV, and floral vendors.
• Film and Photography Services Commercial and professional filming/photography permits providing access to historic aircraft and aviation artifacts as production backdrops, with project-dependent rates, signed contract requirements, and MIPAA film permit plus FAA approval for drones.
• Group Tours Guided and self-guided group tours for adult groups and K-12 school field trips, featuring knowledgeable museum guides, free bus parking, and flexible catering options aligned with history and STEM curricula.
• Gift Shop / Retail Merchandise On-site gift shop selling museum merchandise, apparel, and aviation-themed products to visitors, with a 10% discount for museum members.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 years of aviation history preserved and exhibited for public education
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Hangar 24 Craft BeerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHangar 24 Craft Beer supplies craft beer for events at March Field Air Museum. The partnership provides event beverage offerings and a local craft beer connection aligned with the museum's aviation-themed brand.
• Moreno Valley Amateur Radio AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Moreno Valley Amateur Radio Association operates the Frank Zizzo Radio Room, a 1,100+ sq ft exhibit spanning over 100 radios from 1924 to the Vietnam era. The association provides expertise, equipment, and hands-on operation of the radio room for museum visitors.
• CB Catering & EventsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPre-approved catering vendor for museum private events. Provides full catering services including table/chair rentals, food, beverages, alcohol, linens, and waitstaff. Highly recommended by MFAM for event clients.
• Saboree Catering & EventsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPre-approved catering vendor for museum private events.
• Gourmet Gourmet CateringminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPre-approved catering vendor for museum private events.
• Los Michoacanos Catering ServiceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPre-approved catering vendor for museum private events.
• Cutting Edge CateringminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPre-approved catering vendor for museum private events.
• The Wine TrailerminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPre-approved bartending vendor providing wine service for museum private events.
• Jenny Cash BartendingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPre-approved bartending vendor for museum private events.
• Props AVminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPre-approved audio/visual services vendor for museum private events.
• Ellie Burgueno PhotographyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPre-approved photography vendor for museum private events.
• Crazy Tuna Party RentalsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPre-approved party supply rental vendor for tables, chairs, linens, and more.
• Titan Event RentalsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPre-approved party supply rental vendor for tables, chairs, linens, and more.
• Moreno Valley Flower BoxminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPre-approved floral and décor vendor for museum private events.
• March Inland Port Airport Authority (MIPAA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMIPAA issues film permits for commercial shoots at the museum. An additional fee and application process (minimum 2 weeks) is required for filming on museum grounds. MIPAA also listed as a Bronze Sponsor for the 2026 SPACEWOMAN event.
• National Museum of the U.S. Air Force (NMUSAF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple aircraft in the museum's collection are on loan from NMUSAF, including the B-17G Flying Fortress 'Starduster', B-52D Stratofortress, B-29A Superfortress, A-7D Corsair II, AQM-81A Firebolt, D-21 Drone, C-123K Provider, C-131D Samaritan, C-141B Starlifter, C-45J Expediter, B-47E Stratojet, and BT-13 Valiant. This loan arrangement is central to the museum's collection quality.
• U.S. Navy National Naval Aviation MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe EA-1E Skyraider (BuNo 132789) is on loan from the U.S. Navy National Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola, Florida. The aircraft will wear the livery of VAW-12 'The Bats'.
• Richard Nixon Foundation / Richard Nixon Presidential Library & MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Sikorsky VH-3A 'Sea King' Presidential Helicopter (Nixon's flying Oval Office) is being returned to March Field Air Museum from the Richard Nixon Presidential Library & Museum for a multi-year restoration through 2028, after which it will return as the centerpiece to the Nixon Library's new Education Center. The museum hosted a welcome reception on June 29, 2026.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Pima Air & Space Museum: A large Arizona-based nonprofit aviation museum with 300+ aircraft on a sprawling campus, offering admissions, memberships, tram tours, and aircraft restoration programs. Direct comparable in scale, nonprofit structure, and Southwest regional aviation tourism.
• Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum: A Denver-based nonprofit aviation museum housed in a historic Air Force hangar with extensive aircraft collection, event rentals, educational programs, and STEM initiatives. Direct comparable in size, nonprofit structure, and adaptive reuse of military facilities.
• Palm Springs Air Museum: A Southern California-based nonprofit aviation museum featuring a large collection of WWII, Korea, and Vietnam-era aircraft, with admission-based visitation, memberships, event rentals, and flight experiences. Highly comparable given similar regional focus, collection era, and nonprofit revenue model.
• San Diego Air & Space Museum: A California-based aviation and space museum with extensive aircraft collection, IMAX theater, educational programs, and admission/membership/event revenue model. Direct regional competitor for Southern California aviation tourism dollars.

Emerging players

• Yanks Air Museum: A smaller California-based aviation museum in Chino with a focus on restored flyable warbirds. Smaller and more restoration-focused than March Field but competes for the same Southern California aviation enthusiast audience.

Broad incumbents

• Museum of Flight: A major Seattle-based nonprofit aviation and space museum with extensive aircraft collection, educational programs, and event venues. Comparable in collection breadth, nonprofit model, and event rental business, though larger scale.
• National Museum of the U.S. Air Force: The official U.S. Air Force museum in Dayton, OH, with the world's largest collection of military aircraft. Functions as a key loaner/partner to March Field (lending multiple iconic aircraft) and represents the benchmark institutional scale in military aviation preservation.
• National Naval Aviation Museum: A large U.S. Navy aviation museum in Pensacola, FL, with extensive aircraft collection and loan partnership with March Field (EA-1E Skyraider). Comparable institutional scale and military aviation focus, though Navy-rather-than-Air Force-centric.
• Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum: The preeminent U.S. aviation and space museum in Washington, D.C., with the world's largest collection of aerospace artifacts. The dominant national competitor for aviation tourism and benchmark for museum accreditation standards, though federally funded.

Others

• Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum: A Yorba Linda, CA-based presidential library and museum that is a current partner (loaning the Nixon Presidential Helicopter) and shares Southern California regional tourism overlap. Not a direct aviation museum competitor but a key institutional partner and adjacent cultural attraction.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCdc54qsv5oWBRJaz5MxHeww
• Facebookfacebook.com/MarchFieldAirMuseum
• Instagraminstagram.com/marchfieldairmuseum
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/march-field-air-museum

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about March Field Air Museum