Aviation Heritage Park Explained

Aviation Heritage Park and Museum
Map Type:Kentucky
Coordinates:36.92°N -86.436°W
Location:Bowling Green, Kentucky
Type:Aviation museum
Director:Bob Bubnis[1]

The Aviation Heritage Park and Museum is an aviation museum located in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The park and museum highlight regional pilots their contributions to United States air and space travel.

History

Ideas for an aviation park in Bowling Green, KY arose out of a trip by a group of friends, including retired Air Force pilot, Brigadier General Dan Cherry, to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. During the trip, the group learned that a McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II aircraft was on display at a local Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Ohio. In fact, it was the exact F-4D flown by Cherry during the Vietnam War, including his dogfight and subsequent downing of a North Vietnamese MiG-21 in 1972.[2]

The aviation park was established in 2005, when the city of Bowling Green and Warren County, Kentucky agreed to the move the aircraft from Ohio. Aviation Heritage Park was dedicated in 2009, with Cherry meeting the Mig-21 pilot he shot down.[3] The park acquired more aircraft over the following years, including an F9F, F-111F, T-38, UH-1, J-3, and SH-3H.[4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]

Aviation Heritage Park announced plans for an 11000square feet museum building in October 2017 and broke ground one year later.[10] [11] The new museum building opened to the public on 23 September 2023.[12] [13]

Exhibits

Exhibits at the museum include a display about the River Rats.[14]

Collection

Featured Aviators

As of June 2024[23]

Events

The museum holds an annual Hangar Party fundraiser.[24]

Each year, the museum holds Open Cockpit Day where visitors can see inside the open cockpits of the aircraft on display. The event is free of charge, and you may bump into a pilot or two while at the park.[25] Open Cockpit Day 2024 occurs on 19 October 2024.

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Aviation Heritage Park Gets New Executive Director . 13 November 2023 . WBKO . 18 August 2023.
  2. News: Veteran Aircraft Coming to Bowling Green . 13 November 2023 . News-Democrat & Leader . 28 June 2005 . A-7.
  3. News: Jordan . Natalie . Former Enemies on Hand for Dedication . 13 November 2023 . Park City Daily News . 17 April 2009 . 1A, 6A.
  4. News: Burch . Aaron . F9F Panther Gets New Home . 13 November 2023 . Park City Daily News . 7 October 2010 . 1A, 6A.
  5. News: Brandenburg . Katie . Restored Warplane Will Be Unveiled . 13 November 2023 . Park City Daily News . 23 May 2013 . 1A, 5A.
  6. News: Brandenburg . Katie . Airplane to Be Moved to Park Next Weekend . 13 November 2023 . Park City Daily News . 14 September 2014 . 5A.
  7. News: Harvey . Alyssa . Landing Zone . 13 November 2023 . Bowling Green Daily News . 9 May 2017 . 1A, 6A.
  8. News: Swietek . Wes . 'She Had a Vision' . 13 November 2023 . Bowling Green Daily News . 31 December 2017 . 1A, 7A.
  9. Web site: The long awaited SH-3H Sea King helicopter arrives in Bowling Green . WBKO . 23 June 2024.
  10. News: Swietek . Wes . Aviation Heritage Park Plans Museum . 14 November 2023 . Bowling Green Daily News . 22 October 2017 . 1A, 8A.
  11. News: Sergent . Don . Taking Off . 14 November 2023 . Bowling Green Daily News . 11 October 2018 . 1A, 6A.
  12. News: Fletcher . Mason . The Aviation Heritage Park Hosts Grand Opening of Museum . 13 November 2023 . WBKO . 23 September 2023.
  13. News: Story . Justin . Aviation Heritage Park Museum Takes Off . 13 November 2023 . Bowling Green Daily News . 24 September 2023.
  14. News: Covey . Tucker . River Rats Museum Exhibit Opens in the Aviation Heritage Park . 13 November 2023 . WNKY . 12 October 2023.
  15. Web site: UH-1 Huey . Aviation Heritage Park . 13 November 2023.
  16. Web site: F-111 Aardvark . Aviation Heritage Park . 13 November 2023.
  17. Web site: Grumman Panther F9F . Aviation Heritage Park . 13 November 2023.
  18. Web site: Lockheed Shooting Star . Aviation Heritage Park . 13 November 2023.
  19. Web site: Phantom 550 . Aviation Heritage Park . 13 November 2023.
  20. Web site: NASA T-38 Talon . Aviation Heritage Park . 13 November 2023.
  21. Web site: Piper J-3 Cub . Aviation Heritage Park . 13 November 2023.
  22. Web site: Sikorsky SH-3H Sea King . Aviation Heritage Park . 13 November 2023.
  23. Web site: Aviators Archives . Aviation Heritage Park . 23 June 2024.
  24. News: French . Jackson . 'Big Dreams' . 13 November 2023 . Bowling Green Daily News . 19 June 2016 . 4A.
  25. Web site: Open Cockpit Day . Bowling Green Daily News . 23 June 2024.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Aviation Heritage Park".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.