MOJAVE, Kern County — Mojave’s aviation and spaceflight history attracts curious visitors, but not every aircraft or facility at the Mojave Air and Space Port at Rutan Field is open to the public.
The airport’s official visitor information says there are no regular public tours of the operational airport. However, people can visit designated public areas, including Legacy Park, the administration building’s historical displays and aircraft positioned as gate guardians.
Where visitors are welcome
Legacy Park, opposite the administration building, commemorates local aerospace experimentation and flight history. The airport identifies the Rotary Rocket Roton along with replicas of SpaceShipOne and Voyager among its displays. The administration building includes photographs and material about aviation milestones.
The airport also points visitors toward nearby dining and businesses in Mojave. Its instructions say visitors and media should normally approach the airport from the south along Airport Boulevard at the Highway 58 entrance, unless event organizers provide different parking directions.
Is the airplane ‘boneyard’ a public attraction?
No. According to the airport’s frequently asked questions, the aircraft storage or boneyard operations are privately owned and are not open for people to walk around. Visitors should remain in public areas and follow posted boundaries. The fact that an aircraft can be seen from a permitted viewpoint does not authorize entering a worksite or photographing restricted operations.
What about Plane Crazy Saturdays?
The Mojave Transportation Museum is associated with recurring Plane Crazy Saturdays, a public aviation event that the airport describes as generally occurring on the third Saturday of a month. The airport says a transient ramp area may be opened to visitors for aircraft viewing, with designated boundaries.
That is a recurring-event description, not confirmation that a particular upcoming date is taking place. Check the airport or organizer’s current calendar before driving to Mojave, and respect any changes for weather, security or airport operations.
Before you visit
- Check the airport’s official visitor page for current access instructions.
- Review the FAQ to distinguish public displays from restricted areas.
- Do not enter the boneyard, flightline or private testing sites without specific authorization.
- Allow for desert weather, sun exposure and high winds that may affect an outdoor visit.
The airport’s value to Mojave is not simply a collection of unusual airplanes. It remains a working center for aerospace activity, manufacturing and testing. Visiting responsibly means balancing public curiosity with the security and safety needs of people who work there.
Sources: Mojave Air and Space Port at Rutan Field official About Us and Frequently Asked Questions pages.
Support Mojave News
Choose how to support Mojave News:
Credit / Debit Card via StripeChoose an amount from $1. One-time support through the publisher's LINKERNO Stripe account.
Continue with PayPalZelle323-677-7643Open Zelle through your bank. Verify the recipient before sending.
Optional reader support. When possible, add “Mojave News” to the payment note. Contributions are not advertised as tax-deductible. Support does not influence editorial decisions.More from Mojave News
Explore more local reporting and community updates on the newspaper homepage.
Visit Mojave News →
COMMUNITY
Comments
Join the California58 conversation. You must be signed in to comment.
Create a free California58 account or sign in with an available social provider.