The Kansas Aviation Museum, located in Wichita, provides a glimpse into a 90 year aviation heritage in the heartland. In September of 1911, Albin Longren of Topeka became the first Kansan to build and fly a powered aircraft Kansas. Although Kansas native Clyde Cessna actually flew in May of that same year, his first flight took place over the salt flats of Oklahoma.
Since those early days, Kansas has been a world leader in aviation. In 1920, the Swallow became the first made-for-production aircraft in Wichita. By the late 1920s, the team of Lloyd Stearman, Walter Beech and Clyde Cessna opened the Travel Air Manufacturing Company. This company set the standard for excellence in aircraft for generations. Some 75 years later, over 50 Travel Air planes are still air-worthy.
Between 1920 and 1931, forty airplane manufacturing companies opened their doors in Wichita. In 1935, the first Wichita Municipal Airport dedicated its terminal building. By the 1940s, this airport was one of the busiest in the nation. In 1944, a take off or landing was recorded every 90 seconds.
Today, the Kansas Aviation Museum is housed in this wonderful art-deco terminal building. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the terminal building is home to a display of over 20 vintage planes, scores of models, an archive of over 200,000 items and an extensive restoration program.
Behind the building is the terminal building’s original ramp. Displayed on the ramp is a variety of aircraft including a 1957 B-52D. This incredible fighter has a wingspan of 185′ and weighs 225 tons. This particular aircraft flew missions out of Anderson Air Force Base as well as Thailand from 1966 to 1975 and still shows combat damage from the Viet Nam conflict.
Other notable planes include a Learjet Model 23 built in Wichita, November of 1963. This aircraft was the first business jet for Lear. This specific jet was the sixth Model 23 to come off the assembly line. There is also a Lockheed Navy TV-2 (USAF AT-33), a Cessna TA-37 (Tweety Bird), a Cessna O2-B Skymaster and a Beechcraft U-8 Queen Air, among others.
A particularly notable plane displayed on the ramp is the Beechcraft Model 73 Jet Mentor. This airplane was a prototype used in competition for a military trainer aircraft that the Cessna T-37 eventually won. The plane on display at KAM is one-of-a-kind.
Also displayed are three recent acquisitions. In the spring of 2003, Ryan International Airlines donated a Boeing 737-200. In August, Raytheon donated a Beech Starship. In the Spring of 2003, Raytheon announced its intention to decommission its entire fleet of Starship and to donate a very limited number of Starships to museums and educational institutions. This Starship was the first such donation. In September, the Kansas Aviation Museum received a KC-135E mid-air refueling tanker from the Kansas Air National Guard, Forbes Field, Topeka. All three of these latest acquisitions may also be seen on the ramp behind the building.
One of the most important activities at the museum is the restoration of vintage aircraft. Currently on display is a 1934 Stearman trainer that took almost three years of painstaking restoration efforts. Volunteers are working on a 1929 American Eagle, originally built at Fairfax Field in Kansas City. Also under restoration is a 1927 Swallow. This aircraft is very near completion, just awaiting the final stages of “doping the wings.”
A 1921 Laird Swallow is also being very skillfully built by KAM volunteers. Between 1920 and 1923, only 43 Laird Swallows were originally built. To our knowledge, none exist today. With original fittings and only a handful of drawings, this 1921 Laird Swallow is being rebuilt. When completed, it will be the only known Laird Swallow of its model in the world.
In addition to the day-to-day activities at the museum, plans are also underway for special events throughout 2004. Over the Memorial Day weekend, May 28-31, KAM will host Aerodrome Days 2004. This year’s event will also be very special in that it is also going to be a Stearman Reunion. We are expecting to have vintage Stearman aircraft in from throughout the United States. The event will kick off Friday night with a hamburger fry and vintage car show. Saturday morning, we’ll have a pancake feed and spend the day viewing beautiful vintage aircraft. There will be plenty of children’s activities and fun for the whole family throughout the weekend.
A new event, Murder at the Museum, is tentatively planned for October 9. This will be a murder mystery dinner theater set in the backdrop of the original airport administration building. This event is just in the planning stages, so be on the lookout for more information.
Saturday, Nov. 6, is the date for this year’s Wright Brothers’ Celebration. This is the 25th anniversary for the event so it is sure to be bigger and better than ever.
There are a lot of new exhibits and changes at the museum. Hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday. Admission is $5.00 for adults, children 6 and over $1.00, children 5 and under free.