Palm Springs – November 05, 2026 -- On Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, at 1 p.m., the Palm Springs Air Museum will dedicate a Blue Angels F/A-18 Super Hornet. It is the first Super Hornet placed on permanent public display outside a military installation.
The jet appeared on camera in Top Gun: Maverick
The aircraft is featured in Top Gun: Maverick as one of Captain Pete "Maverick" Mitchell's on-camera aircraft. It is dedicated to museum founder Robert Pond, USN, and the event marks the museum's 30th anniversary.
A water arch salute and a Bearcat flyover open the ceremony
The program includes a Water Arch Retirement ceremony for the jet and a flyover by a Grumman F8F Bearcat. Brief dedication remarks follow, and the museum is serving free 30th anniversary "birthday" cake.
Scheduled participants:
- Air Museum Board Chairman Dick Shalhoub
- Vice Chairman Fred Bell
- Bob Pond's daughter, Polly Pond Holley
- Palm Springs City Councilmember Grace Garner
- Super Hornet combat pilot LCDR Evan "Squints" Goss, USN
Admission starts at $24 and the museum holds more than 75 airframes
The museum is at 745 N. Gene Autry Trail and is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Its 91,000 square feet of open hangars and tarmac hold more than 75 vintage airframes from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Global War on Terror.
Adult admission is $26. Seniors, teens 13 to 17 and retired military pay $24. Children 12 and under are free with a paid adult, and active military and immediate family are free with ID. The museum is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and the first Saturday in February.