Epic Fans Help Arizona Aerospace Foundation Beat the Heat
In Tucson’s blazing heat, the Arizona Aerospace Foundation faced a challenge familiar to many large museum operations: how to keep vast, hangar-style spaces cool without relying on expensive, energy-intensive HVAC systems. Their solution? Epic Fans.
In 2025, the Foundation opened the Tucson Military Vehicle Museum, a sprawling indoor space showcasing ground-based military operations. During construction, engineers recommended Epic HVLS Fans [link to product page?] to manage airflow efficiently across the open layout. Foundation CEO Scott Marchand quickly saw the value.
“We were really, really quite impressed with them, with the design and technology,” Marchand said. “They’re much quieter, and they move a lot more air and they’re significantly more affordable than expected.”
Cooling such a large space with traditional air conditioning didn’t make financial sense, especially since summer heat suppresses daily attendance.
“Summer weather reduces our daily attendance, so it’s just not logical to spend a lot of money on air conditioning,” Marchand explained.
Instead, the Epic Fans created a comfortable environment for guests without interfering with the museum experience.
“The fans are a perfect compromise. If you have air moving over in spaces you’re going to feel comfort,” he said. “The Epic fans move a lot of air very quietly and efficiently, and they don’t sort of intrude on your experiences.”
The success of the first installation led the Foundation to deploy Epic Fans again, this time in the Pima Air & Space Museum’s restoration facility, where volunteers and staff work on delicate aircraft components and paint jobs. Here, precise airflow was critical: too much turbulence could stir up dust or disrupt spray patterns during restoration work.
“They move an awful lot of air comfortably, but at a volume that doesn’t disrupt our painting operation,” said Marchand. “It’s just enough airflow to keep everybody comfortable, but it doesn’t stir up dust. It doesn’t disrupt spray patterns. They’ve been really, really superb products.”
- Comfortable Airflow without the need for full HVAC systems
- Quiet Operation that preserved the guest experience
- Controlled Circulation ideal for restoration work
- Cost-Efficient Performance that aligned with the Foundation’s operational needs
With multiple installations now in place, Marchand says the partnership with Epic is just getting started.
“When the time comes and we need more fans, we’ll definitely go back to Epic.”
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About the Arizona Aerospace Foundation
The Arizona Aerospace Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to preserving and presenting aviation, space, and military history. It operates several world-renowned sites, including the Pima Air & Space Museum, Titan Missile Museum, and now the Tucson Military Vehicle Museum. The Foundation also supports ongoing research, restoration, and educational outreach, connecting generations through stories of innovation, service, and exploration.