Where would you locate a new aviation museum?

[Nathan]

Maryland has the Martin Museum

Ah! very true. But there not a flyable museum are they? I took the initial question as for a flying museum.

Also, I think my great little home state wouldn't be such a bad place to harbor a flyable museum. But as far as exact location, thats to be determined.

Hey Chris! Looks like everyone would like it in their back yard. Seriously though Pa would be ideal!

[IndyJen]

I think I'd put this museum in Shelbyville, Indiana, right there on I-74 midway between Indianapolis and Cincinnati. Good highway access, and conveniently located on the same field where my own airplane is located!

And in the middle of this new museum, I'd have Hot Stuff, indoors out of the weather. The 5,000 foot runway of Shelbyville is plenty long enough for a PV-2, which is good, because putting her indoors for maintenance is no reason to stop flying her.

And because we have apparently gotten a huge quantity of money from somewhere, if we're building this fantasy museum there in Shelbyville, we might as well buy Tom Wood's old collection, and put it in that building too, and fly all those planes from that same runway.

Okay, then! Send us the check, and we'll get right on it.

[B29B24crewchief]

I can't comment on my hopes and dreams of where I would want it to be but I can say that the next large warbird museum will be wherever Jim Cavanaugh decides to build it for his collection and the B-29 and the B-24.

Dave

[Ztex]

I can't comment on my hopes and dreams of where I would want it to be but I can say that the next large warbird museum will be wherever Jim Cavanaugh decides to build it for his collection and the B-29 and the B-24.

Dave

I think Denton would be a good place for Cavanaugh to build a B-29 hanger!

[maradamx3]

I'm thinking at Ellington Field in Houston. Right down the road from NASA, the current home of the WOH annual airshow, and a former AF base and ANG post. NASA has facilities on the premisis, so some kind of link or tie in with them might help. Also, it could be a plan B for people that want to go to Space Center Houston only to be disappointed by the crowds.
I know Lone Star is in Galveston, so maybe a joint venture with them. Not everyone wants to drive the extra half hour and fight the traffic. Just thoughts!

[Dave Hadfield]

I'd locate:
1) near a significant population base (for visitors and volunteers)
2) in an area of decent weather if possible
3) at an airport where you can offer the flying experience, plus have Open House, and Fly-In days
4) at an airport where there is some grass -- by far a better surface for many vintage airplanes
5) at an airport where there are no take off and landing fees, and where there are no noise complaints
6) at an airport where there is ample hangarage
7) not next-door to another aviation museum, but not too far away either. This encourages visiting each other and sharing publicity at air events.
at an airport where there are at least 2 runways, to keep crosswinds to a minimum for these sometimes cranky vintage machines.

Dave

[mustangdriver]

Maryland has the Martin Museum

Ah! very true. But there not a flyable museum are they? I took the initial question as for a flying museum.

Also, I think my great little home state wouldn't be such a bad place to harbor a flyable museum. But as far as exact location, thats to be determined.

The question is for an aviation museum. I didn't see anything for static or flying. Either way Baltimore still has more than Pittsburgh. Air heritage is a shell of what it once was.

[B29B24crewchief]

I'd locate:
1) near a significant population base (for visitors and volunteers)
2) in an area of decent weather if possible
3) at an airport where you can offer the flying experience, plus have Open House, and Fly-In days
4) at an airport where there is some grass -- by far a better surface for many vintage airplanes
5) at an airport where there are no take off and landing fees, and where there are no noise complaints
6) at an airport where there is ample hangarage
7) not next-door to another aviation museum, but not too far away either. This encourages visiting each other and sharing publicity at air events.
at an airport where there are at least 2 runways, to keep crosswinds to a minimum for these sometimes cranky vintage machines.

Dave

Great insight and forethought but where is that??
Dave

[rwdfresno]

I'm not sure what would be an ideal location but I think that a place that would make sense to build a world class aviation museum would be as near hwy 99 in central CA as possible but within towing distance of Castle Air Museum. There are enough aircraft there to build one of the worlds best static display aviation museums if you could get the majority of them out of the weather.

Ryan

[RNDMTRS4EVR]

Stead airport in Reno, NV. Two BIG runways plenty of space, home of the Air Races. Decent weather for most of the year, two interstates running through that part of Nevada. Reasonable population size, and best of all it is at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Scott.........

[Enemy Ace]

The Former NAS Atlanta/ Dobbins ARB. It completely mystifies me why Atlanta can't get a decent museum going what with having Lockheed building the c-130 and F22 there, Delta Airlines, Atlanta Hartsfield airport, a great local flying scene etc. etc.

[Randune]

Deer Park Washington
only 15 miles North of Spokane Wa. and Only 400 miles from the Seattle area. Easy loop for anyone wanting to make a museum tour. On the border of Washington/Idaho. Tourism is pretty healthy here. Rent should be relatively reasonable as well. Just my 2 cents. For that matter not too far north from Twin Falls Idaho.

[Warbird Kid]

How about the former Madison Army Airfield in Madison Indiana? Google it if you dont know where it is. I'd buy up that property if I could.

[wendovertom]

I'd locate:
1) near a significant population base (for visitors and volunteers)
2) in an area of decent weather if possible
3) at an airport where you can offer the flying experience, plus have Open House, and Fly-In days
4) at an airport where there is some grass -- by far a better surface for many vintage airplanes
5) at an airport where there are no take off and landing fees, and where there are no noise complaints
6) at an airport where there is ample hangarage
7) not next-door to another aviation museum, but not too far away either. This encourages visiting each other and sharing publicity at air events.
at an airport where there are at least 2 runways, to keep crosswinds to a minimum for these sometimes cranky vintage machines.

Dave

Great insight and forethought but where is that??
Dave

Well WENDOVER OF COURSE
1. about 2 million people pass through Wendover on I-80 every year!
2. There are about 250+ days of VFR flying conditions each year
3. We do fly-ins, CJAA "jet blasts", EAA Young Eagles and our annual air show which you can flyin to as well every year!
4. Ok, dagnabit - no grass here
5. No problem no problem no problem - in fact one year when the F-16 demo team flew in the mayors of both towns asked to have them "buzz" city hall!
6. I have 4 hangars big enough for a B-17 and one big enough for a B-29! Hows that for size??
7. The Hill AFB museum is 2 hours away and has an excellent collection - but not too close
8. I have one 8000x150 and one 8000x100 - plus we are getting a parallel taxiway in the next year!

Here are a few photos - the 509th Composite Group B-29 hangar under restoration and a few air show shots
looking west

looking northeast

interior of one of the original engine shops being restored

Air show - looking toward the hot ramp

Air show - Utah Vette club and a waterbomber!


We have 3 T-33s, one MIG-15 that are flying, a C-123 that was the "Con-Air" movie prop and the USAF has a F-86L on loan here - now we need a few more vintage planes to put on display!

Tom P.

[mustangdriver]

I would start a museum at the Akron Foulton Airport in the Air Dock hangar. I would move the Maps collection there as well as a real FG-1D