Santa Maria Museum of Flight explained

Santa Maria Museum of Flight
Map Type:California
Coordinates:34.905°N -120.4547°W
Location:Santa Maria, California
Type:Aviation museum

The Santa Maria Museum of Flight is an aviation museum located at the Santa Maria Public Airport in Santa Maria, California.

History

The origins of the museum lie in the efforts of fifteen business leaders who formed a committee in 1983 to evaluate the possibility of an aviation museum. Less than one year later, the Santa Maria Aeronautical Museum and Exhibits was chartered.[1] The museum initially opened in 1988 as a gift shop in the Santa Maria Airport terminal building.[2] Construction on a 6000square feet hangar began in June 1989, with plans at the time eventually calling for a 140000square feet facility.[3] The museum opened to the public in July 1990.[4]

A second hangar, built as a set for the movie The Rocketeer, was brought in from a different location at the airport and by 1994 was being renovated for use by the museum.[5] [6] Two years later, after the Western Spaceport Museum and Science Center failed, the Museum of Flight acquired its collection.[7]

The museum received an F-4S on loan from the National Museum of Naval Aviation in February 2000.[8] [9]

The museum was engaged in fundraising to build a 7200square feet hangar in 2003.[10]

A memorial garden for the Ninety-Nines women's pilots association was dedicated in 2012.[11]

While the museum was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic it added a new member of the board of directors and replaced the roof and siding on one of the hangars.[12] [13]

Facilities

The Edward J Horkey Memorial Research Library is located in the museum's Early Aviation Hangar and holds over 4,000 books.[14]

Collection

Events

The museum held an annual airshow called Thunder Over the Valley until 2015.[24]

References

Notes

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Museum & Ramp . Santa Maria Museum of Flight . 23 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200220170625/http://www.smmof.org/museumandramp.aspx . 20 February 2020.
  2. News: Volunteers are Paying Off at Santa Maria Airport Shop . 23 January 2024 . Five Cities Times-Press-Recorder . 30 November 1988 . 13.
  3. News: Work Under Way on Flight Museum . 23 January 2024 . South County Tribune . 29 June 1989 . 8.
  4. News: Jackoway . Richard . Air Museum Ready to Take Initial Flight; Opening Next Week . 23 January 2024 . Five Cities Times-Press-Recorder . 20 July 1990 . 8.
  5. News: Fans, Cast, Locals Blast Off with 'Rocketeer' . 23 January 2024 . Santa Maria Times . 16 November 2021 . A6.
  6. News: Scully . Janene . Board Considers Movies . 23 January 2024 . Santa Maria Times . 18 February 1994 . A-1, A-6.
  7. News: Carter . Matt . Spaceport Museum Plans Shelved . 23 January 2024 . Lompoc Record . 18 September 1996 . A1, A3.
  8. News: Scully . Janene . Phantom Flight . 23 January 2024 . Santa Maria Times . 31 January 2000 . A-1.
  9. News: Scully . Janene . Phantom Delivery . 23 January 2024 . Santa Maria Times . 3 February 2000 . A-1.
  10. News: Scully . Janene . Museum Expansion Slowly Taking Off . 23 January 2024 . Santa Maria Times . 19 August 2003.
  11. News: Pilots Dedicate Garden, Celebrate History . 23 January 2024 . Santa Maria Times . 9 September 2012.
  12. News: Hodgson . Mike . Former Fairpark CEO Persons Joins Board of Santa Maria Museum of Flight . 23 January 2024 . Santa Maria Times . 9 November 2020.
  13. News: Hodgson . Mike . Santa Maria Museum of Flight Takes Wing Again at Santa Maria Public Airport . 23 January 2024 . Santa Maria Times . 18 April 2021.
  14. Web site: Research Library . Santa Maria Museum of Flight . 23 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200220171055/http://www.smmof.org/library.aspx . 20 February 2020.
  15. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Douglas A-4C Skyhawk, s/n 147825 USN, c/n 12589 . Aerial Visuals . 23 January 2024.
  16. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Consolidated-Fleet 2, c/n 157, c/r N7629B . Aerial Visuals . 23 January 2024.
  17. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Hughes H-1B (replica), c/n 2, c/r N258Y . Aerial Visuals . 23 January 2024.
  18. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Lockheed P-38 (replica) Lightning, c/n 003, c/r N238P . Aerial Visuals . 23 January 2024.
  19. Web site: Airframe Dossier - McDonnell F-4S Phantom II, s/n 153868 USN, c/n 2403 . Aerial Visuals . 23 January 2024.
  20. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Rotorway Exec 90, c/n 5066, c/r N92SF . Aerial Visuals . 23 January 2024.
  21. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Rutan Quickie . Aerial Visuals . 23 January 2024.
  22. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Stinson L-5 Sentinel, c/r N63393 . Aerial Visuals . 23 January 2024.
  23. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Stinson-Vultee V-77 Reliant, c/n 77-0104, c/r N9280H . Aerial Visuals . 23 January 2024.
  24. News: Anderson . Logan B. . Santa Maria's Thunder Over the Valley Has Been Grounded . 23 January 2024 . Santa Maria Times . 4 April 2016.

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