Re: Hagerstown Aviation Museum

[kurtismey]

'I feel obliged to comment on the recent postings by members concerning the Hagerstown Aviation Museum. We are an all-volunteer museum that has as its focus the collecting and preserving of Hagerstown built aircraft that range from the Bellanca CD of 1916 to the last Fairchild A-10 of 1984. Our museum has had this focus since its inception four years ago and has been very successful in acquiring types that fit these criteria. Thus far we have purchased with donations the last flyable C-82 "Packet" built in 1945, been donated a 1953 C-119G "Flying Boxcar", formerly of the Royal Canadian Air Force, three flying PT-19's, a PT-26, a 1928 Kreider-Reisner KR-31, the one and only 1939 UC-61C, and a Fairchild "Bull Goose" missile. Beyond this, we have acquired several other airplanes because it was personally important for donors that their airplanes be preserved in Hagerstown. We have also acquired and preserved approximately 10,000-12,000 photographs as well as large numbers of documents, brochures and ephemera relating to Hagerstown aviation generally and Fairchild aviation specifically. These achievements have only been possible through the generous support of the Hagerstown community and aviation enthusiasts both nationally and internationally. Many members of the Fairchild Club have made significant contributions to the museum's efforts and I sincerely thank them for their support and encouragement.

That our collection does not include any New York built Fairchild airplanes is a direct result of our stated focus and present mission to preserve Hagerstown aviation. New York built Fairchilds represent approximately five years of the company's over sixty year manufacturing history. We would naturally be very pleased to have representative examples of these early Fairchilds in our collection, but I believe we have rightfully chosen to focus our energies and limited resources on preserving the lions-share of the company's products, i.e., those produced in Hagerstown.

Questions concerning the location of the museum and the availability of the collection for viewing have been raised in several postings on this site. The museum has for some time been working on acquiring adequate space on or near the Hagerstown Regional Airport to house, at least in part, its ever-growing collection of aircraft, artifacts and archives. Progress in this has been slow and difficult due to expansion of the military aviation business around the airport. Several companies have been expanding greatly over the past couple of years and this has made existing space unattainable. To that end, we have had to make do with a small display in downtown Hagerstown and having our aircraft collection available by appointment and during special events rather than with regular hours of operation. We are, however, well underway in the development of our Hagerstown Aviation Museum Visitor Center to be located on the Hagerstown Regional Airport. This facility will not house our aircraft collection but will have regular hours, be the initial museum contact site and be the starting point for tours of the collection.
I strongly recommend that anyone considering a visit to the Hagerstown Aviation Museum peruse our website, www.hagerstownaviationmuseum.org., and contact the museum prior to your visit so that we can make your visit pleasant and worthwhile.

The museum has several events planned over the next year that will showcase the aircraft collection. June 13 is the Wings & Wheels Car Show, June 14 the museum will have its entire aircraft collection on display with PT-19 and visiting aircraft fly-bys. Fairchild owners are invited to attend. Check the website for event updates.

Again, many thanks to you and the Club for your interest and support. Working together, we can preserve the great Fairchild Aircraft heritage that has been such a significant part of Hagerstown's aviation history.

Kurtis Meyers, President
Hagerstown Aviation Museum, Inc.
717-377-3030'

[OldOOwl@aol.com]

'I am very happy to see this posting by Kurtis Meyers. I have gotten over
my disappointment and will continue to support the Fairchild museum.
Whenever I get close to Hagerstown I will call before showing up.
I encourage all Fairchild Fans to also support the efforts of the
museum....after all...it's the only one we have.

I understand that since Fairchild Corp. has gone into bankruptcy the old
files and records may now be available for research.

No longer disgruntled....
Richard Hawley
NC19105
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