Texas Air Museum - Stinson Chapter Explained
The Texas Air Museum - Stinson Chapter is located on Stinson Municipal Airport (the second oldest continuous operating airport in the United States). The museum has many static aircraft, along with several rare examples under restoration. This is a non-profit 501(c)(3) all volunteer museum. Funding comes only from admissions, gift shop sales and public donations[1] .
History
The Texas Air Museum Stinson Chapter was founded by John Douglas Tosh, a World War II veteran,[2] on October 9, 1999. This is San Antonio Texas only aviation museum open to the general public. The museum's mission has been dedicated to tell the stories of San Antonio's and Texas' vital role in the development of civilian and military air power.
It pays tribute to aviation pioneers, notably the co-founders of Stinson Airport Katherine Stinson, her sister Marjorie Stinson and brother Edward Stinson. The museum also highlights technical achievements in the realm of aviation, and above all, pays respect and honor to those who gave their lives to defend freedom.
Collection
The museum's newest collection of aircraft[3] to be restored includes one Stinson Model R (NC12159 - believed to have once owned by Arlene Davis), one SM-8A Stinson Junior, one PT-23, one PT-26, one AT-17 Bobcat, two PT-19, one frame of 1928 Heath Parasol and one Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner. All these projects were received in October 2023.[4]
The museum's newest library collection is photographs from John W. Underwood with a few photos of Stinson Model R aircraft. One Model R belonging to American aviator and air racer Arlene Davis.
On display are rare Sweetheart Pillowcases from various World War II military installations in Texas.
Aircraft on display
- HUS-1A Seahorse
145728 Delivered to the Navy in 1958. Is painted in original Navy orange when assigned to NASA's Project Mercury used in training Navy Underwater Demolition Team Frogmen in space capsule recovery. Reassigned to the Marine Corp as one of forty HUS-1s fitted with amphibious pontoons, re-designated UH-34E in 1962.
- Northrop F-89B Scorpion
49-2434 Delivered November 1951. Was the first airframe converted as a B model. Is the oldest surviving F-89.
- McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom II
63-7415 On 20 November 1963, The U.S. Air Force Tactical Air Command accepted its first two production McDonnell F-4C Phantom II jet fighters[5] and this museum has the original F-4C-15-MC 63-7415 on display.
- McDonnell F-101 Voodoo
59-0421 1959 McDonnell F-101B-115-MC Voodoo C/N 745 was originally assigned to the United States Air National Guard Niagara Falls International (IAG / KIAG)
- Stolp Starlet SA 500
N808JR Built 1973
- WACO GXE
NC7970 Aircraft number 1801. Built 1929. Has rare Curtiss OXX-6 V8 Engine Curtiss OXX
- Piper J-3 Cub
NC32851 Built 1940
- Spinks Akromaster
N31SA Built prior 1970
- McClish Funk B85C
N77712 Built 1946
- Merlin IV C Expediter 556
N566UP Built 1983
- Pietenpol Air Camper
N36RN Built 1968 (Home Built) with 5 cylinder Lambert Radial Engine
- Eichmann Aerobat I Experimental Aircraft
NX17638 Built (est.) 1937 with 40 HP Continental Engine by Mr. Ellis Eichmann in Brownsville, Texas
- Palomino or Omega II
1960 (est.) This is a two-place, tandem-seating incomplete static display. Research is still underway, however articles suggest this is a third generation of the Midget Mustang.[6]
- Piper Tri Pacer
This is an incomplete static display (unknown year or ID number) once used by St. Philip's College (United States) as a training aid.
- Rally 2B
1982 Single seat version with 35hp Cuyuna engine.Scale replica aircraft on display
Aircraft scheduled for restoration
Engines on public display
- Wright R-3350 Duplex-Cyclone 18 cylinder rated at 2,200 HP
- Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major 28 cylinder rated 3,600 HP
- Pratt & Whitney J57
- Allison J35
- Lycoming R-680 Production Number 201
- Lycoming R-680-9 Number 7777
- Ranger L-440 Model L-440-1, Ranger Model 6-440C-2, Air Corps. Number 42-191765, Mfrs. No. 4919 mounted in engine test stand.
- Kinner R-5 Kinner R-55
- Jacobs R-755 Number Identification J-19945
- Continental R-670 1942 200 HP used on a Stearman Aircraft
- Lycoming O-145
- Continental R-670 W670-N, W670-240 240HP Aircraft engine modified by Gulf Coast Dusting Co., Houston, Texas. Mod. Ser. No. 4901272
- Crosley 1947 Modified 25 HP Crosley CoBra used in first seven Mooney M-18 Mite.
- Northrop Ventura PD-74/D reciprocating engine for drone and aircraft. Serial number 1.
- Allison J35 Allison J-35 turbine engine with a few cutaways to see turbines.
- Ramjet XRJ-30-MA-1
- Allison T56 Three different displays in stage completion order; bare T-56 on stand, T-56 with added propeller gear box on stand, and complete C-130 engine with cowlings mounted on ground support tow trailer.
- Westinghouse J34 Two J34-WE-36A used as A&P training aids removed from Lockheed P-2 Neptune.
Vehicles on public display
See also
External links
Notes and References
- https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=SRFUMABJ7MEKE&source=url&ssrt=1733203826245"PayPal Donation Page"
- America's Youngest Warriors 1996, Vol I, p.481.
- News: Davis . Vincent T. . 'Daddy's Home': San Antonio woman recalls days of flight on the wild Northwest Side . 20 August 2024 . San Antonio Express-News . 16 October 2023.
- News: Davis . Vincent T. . ‘A hell of a good airplane’: San Antonio family donates vintage aircraft to Texas Air Museum . 2 November 2023 . San Antonio Express-News . 31 October 2023.
- News: McCarthy . John . 'This Day in Aviation': Important Dates in Aviation History 20 November 1963 . 20 August 2024 . This Day in Aviation . 20 November 1963.
- Flying Magazine January 1967, p.15.
