Museum Ideas

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Mon May 11, 2009 10:09 am

Ok folks, this time I have another unusual set of questions.

The basic idea is that someone I know is interested in building a small museum. Here are some of the basic needs:
The building should be big enough to hold one aircraft the size of a P-39 or so and have another aircraft under restoration as well.
The building should have a section that is a museum with photos and artifacts.
The building should not be too big, and needs to possibly be capable of being at least partially climate-controlled.
The aircraft must be easily pulled out for flight.
The folks would like to do a metal building if possible

Now, in addition to the above ideas, I'm trying to help them find a way to make it look like its a WWII building or hangar - though that could be some sort of facade.

Any ideas?

Ryan

tulsaboy · **Posted:** Mon May 11, 2009 10:28 am

The simple thing would be to buy a prefabbed metal building designed as a hangar, which can be purchased relatively cheaply. The building comes basically as a kit that a local builder can erect very quickly on a prepared cement slab. To achieve the facade, the builder could then use steel studs (like for a wall) covered with EFIS (see the below link).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exterior_I ... ing_System

Though it's not my favorite finishing system, its great benefit is that it is cheap and can be made to look like a wide variety of finishes. Since the steel studs are also a flexible design tool, you could basically choose what WWII hangar you wanted to imitate (say Hickam or Wheeler for a Pearl Harbor look) and then could have the facade done in that fashion. While from the sides of the hangar it would be evident that it wasn't integral to the design of the building, from the front (say for photo ops) it would look pretty good. Any local builder who does shopping centers could do it.

Just a thought.

kevin

The Inspector · **Posted:** Mon May 11, 2009 10:57 am

Start by checking around at various airports that already have vintage smaller hangers. A few years ago a rancher from Eastern Washington asked the management @ KPAE about purchasing an old hanger to use as a loafing shed. The airport was getting ready to tear down a sheet steel and I beam alert hanger from Paines days as an ADC base. They showed the guy the hanger, he asked 'how much?' the airport said 'have it down and gone inside 30 days and it's yours'. Three weeks later, just a bare floor pad was left and the hanger was headed East on I-90 on a flatbed trailer.

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Mon May 11, 2009 11:05 am

The Inspector wrote:

Start by checking around at various airports that already have vintage smaller hangers. A few years ago a rancher from Eastern Washington asked the management @ KPAE about purchasing an old hanger to use as a loafing shed. The airport was getting ready to tear down a sheet steel and I beam alert hanger from Paines days as an ADC base. They showed the guy the hanger, he asked 'how much?' the airport said 'have it down and gone inside 30 days and it's yours'. Three weeks later, just a bare floor pad was left and the hanger was headed East on I-90 on a flatbed trailer.

Now that's an interesting idea! If anyone knows or hears of one within 150 miles of San Antonio drop me a line!

Ryan

the330thbg · **Joined:** Wed Nov 14, 2007 3:06 pm **Posts:** 2713

For a huge flight museum, it is ashamed we did not think of this before Rackspace moved into the old Windsor Park Mall in NE SA. That would have been a neat place for a museum.., close to Randolph, right off of 35!

A dead mall might be a great idea.., lots of open space! For a Museum of Flight, San Antonio. Not for flying, but for gazing!!!!

Cheers!

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Mon May 11, 2009 2:30 pm

the330thbg wrote:

That is ashamed we did not think of this before Rackspace moved into the old Windsor Park Mall in NE SA. That would have been a neat place for a museum.., close to Randolph, right off of 35!

A dead mall might be a great idea.., lots of open space!

Cheers!

Well, I live nearby and I'm not convinced that would've been a good spot anyhow! :shock:

San Antonio and Randolph's ATC probably wouldn't like it either!

Ryan

the330thbg · **Joined:** Wed Nov 14, 2007 3:06 pm **Posts:** 2713

anything at Stinson?

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Mon May 11, 2009 2:48 pm

No, the museum location is already set. It's more a matter of funding, design, schematics, etc... I've actually been working on that all day.

Ryan

Obergrafeter · **Posted:** Mon May 11, 2009 8:01 pm

Ryan look at my business card I gave you at Hondo.

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