I haven't seen this posted here yet, so I'll mention it in case anyone was planning a post-shutdown visit...
The Historic Flight Foundation has closed its Paine Field location and is moving everything to their new facility at Spokane's Felts Field.
That facility opened in December and housed many of their aircraft (P-51B, DC-3, Staggerwing, Stearman, Travel Air) over the winter and last week they were joined by the Spitfire IXe, AT-6A, L-4J, WACO, and both Beavers (one of which is marked as a USAF L-20). All the aircraft fly.
Also, over the winter the sole airworthy Hamilton Metalplane was acquired and spent the winter in Spokane.
The Bearcat and B-25 will arrive once their maintenance is s completed.
If you look at their Facebook and other photos taken back in December, you'll see a Navy-marked Goose as well, that is Addison Pemberton's ship which is based at Felts, he parked it in their hangar for the winter.
It's not part of the HFF.
https://m.facebook.com/HFFSpokane/The facility was purpose built and featured a STEM classroom, library and nice mezzanine. It will be available for private events, a few of which were done before the lengthy Washington state shutdown (the museum won't reopen until the county is in "Phase III", not expected until mid-June at the earliest).
There has been a very favorable community response to the facility being used for private functions which typically occur in the evening and won't disrupt normal operations but which will bring in revenue to help keep the doors open.
The reason for the move seems to be that the old location was on the far side of the field which limited any chance for growth.
Felts Field is a rather historic place, its been operational since the early '20s and famously was the location for the well-attended 1927 National Air Races which took place a few months after Lindbergh's flight. Lindy stopped there on his national tour. The art deco terminal, clock tower and two period hangars survive in great condition. Now it strictly a GA field; the ANG and airlines having left in the '50s.
Felts has long been a center for antique aircraft, with about a dozen Stearmans in residence at any given time, and home for several local pilots/restorers. Perhaps it is best known as the base of Pemberton and Sons Aviation, internationally known for their restoration of antique civil types, most famously the airworthy Boeing 40 mailplane/airliner.
Aside from the Stearmans and Goose, other warbirds on the field include a pair of T-28s, a Bucker Jungmann (ex-Mira Slovak and E.K.Gann), Stampe, L-21 and the Sheriff's two OH-58s and Huey.
With the closure of FHCAM and the move of HFF, that leaves Paine Field rather lacking in warbirds and historic types (aside from the Museum of Flight's restoration facility).
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