EAA AirVenture Museum Update

Greetings from the EAA Museum!

As we approach AirVenture Oshkosh 2014, I wanted to update you all with some of the things that are happening in the museum. The museum staff of Ron Twellman (curator), Sue Lurvey (librarian), Zack Baughman (assistant exhibit and docent coordinator) have been working very hard in maintaining EAA’s state of the art displays, exhibits, artifacts and collections.

Exhibits and Displays

• The First Wing wall was removed and relocated on the outside wall of the Hilton Theater. This relocation not only opened up the space behind the Wright Flyer, it also fits very well on the Hilton wall with Wright Flyer glass logo lit up.

• We will be moving a few aircraft around the last week of June. We will combine the Pitcairn PA-39 Autogiro, Little Wing LW-5 Autogiro, Pitcairn PCA-2 Autogiro “Miss Champion” together creating a new display on the history of the Autogiros and new improved signage.

• The Curtiss P-6E Hawk will be moved back in the Eagle Hangar. It was a first-line pursuit aircraft for the Army Air Corps in the early 1930s, and was the last of the fabric-covered biplanes used by the Air Corps.

• A new World War I exhibit is currently under construction in the Gorman / Hansen Gallery. This display will be filled with historical artifacts from WWI, i.e. clothing, photos, hardware, etc.

• The Messerschmitt/Hispano Buchon HA1112-M1L, was removed from the Top Secret area and reassembled on the Eagle Hangar floor. This certainly showcases this aircraft better and gives it more visibility.

• The Blériot XI bis Monoplane Replica N908LB will be brought over from the Pioneer Airport and put on display next to the Jenny, enhancing the aircraft from the early 1900s.

• The 1917 Standard J-1 biplane will be brought into the museum sometime after AirVenture and put on display near the Spirit of St. Louis. The display will also include WWI artifacts, period clothing and new improved signage.

• Over the next year you may begin to see a few changes with the display barriers and aircraft signage. We are looking to create a more open exhibit and display concept to give the viewers an uninhibited view of the aircraft as well as a more detailed description of the aircraft, focusing on not only the aircraft, but who flew them and the difference the aircraft made in the world of aviation.

The docent program continues to build momentum with strong leadership coming from Zack Baughman. Zack has established a docent committee that serves as the eyes and ears of the museum. A new docent training manual and course was created by Zack and key docents to help train incoming docents to the procedures of the museum. 

We hope you all get a chance to stop by the museum and see all the great things that are being done by our great staff. We are always open for suggestions and we’ll see you at AirVenture Oshkosh 2014!