Director's Update

 

Judy Newman Museum Director

 

2013 HERE WE COME!

WAAAM just finished the best year yet with over 30,000 visitors. What a year. We have had many donations of aircraft, cars, motorcycles, artifacts and money to help keep WAAAM truly world class. Visitors have arrived from everywhere and are certainly impressed with our museum and our volunteers. We hear constantly that our volunteers are friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. We know that but it is nice when other people know that too! In the fall we had our first donation of money toward our future expansion project so this is going to be a year of working on fundraising.

 

Ben Davidson, our volunteer Chief Pilot, has taken on H-1 & H-2! ( Hangars used for overflow, storage and restorations). He has made it possible to get around in the H-2 Hangar that houses all our aircraft and cars for future projects and sale. It is full but organized and the H-1 building is now ready for our next restoration projects. Ben does this on his weekends & days off from his full time job at Ft. Lewis where he is serving for his 31st year in the Army. Along with Ben, his wife Donna works at his side on her days off from this Museum as the Assistant Director, Gift Shop Manager and what ever else needs to be done. She will never say anything about all her time she volunteers as she is the one who writes the newsletter and feels embarrassed to say anything... but we know! I know it has been long hours and heavy work. Thank you.  

 

 

We have laid out a schedule of highlights for the Second Saturdays of 2013. Please check out the calendar on the right and make plans to come to WAAAM often.

 

I appreciate all that is done for this wonderful museum by so many great people. Among them is Ben Davidson. In his real life away from WAAAM he serves in the US Army at

Ft Lewis, WA.  He has been working tirelessly in the H1 Restoration Hangar getting it cleaned out and organized for our Pusher Airplane Project and making way for the next Auto restoration. It has been three months of long weekends to get us ready for this Second Satrurday for Ben and his sidekick (wife) Donna.

 

Gene Wright is building the frame work for the Model T Ambulance and is making good progress.

 

Mark Stanfield has volunteered to be the project manager for the Pusher Project.

 

If you have not been in for a while, remember to bring a friend and enjoy WAAAM again. Remember that your annual membership gives you admission to the museum for the entire year - at no additional charge.    

                  

 

Clear skies to you all,

Judy Newman 

In 1944 the US government wanted to see if black men could fly airplanes. Ben Berry along with other young black American men proved that they could.
"Flaps" has an interesting and inspiring story to share with us and we will pull up a chair and visit with him on January 12, 2013.

Ben flew a few of the types of aircraft we have at WAAAM. He learned in the Stearman - now we have to get "a tail dragger endorsement" to fly these!

Learn more at Tuskegee Airman National Museum


THE "PUSHER " moves to the restoration hanger this day! With a generous grant from the Ludwick Family Foundation we will have this early Curtiss Type Pusher in the air soon. Well, nine months is the plan and to have it flying by the Annual Hood River Fly-In (the weekend after Labor Day). The Curtiss OX5 engine will needs to be removed and rebuilt, the wings are already for fabric and dope, the airframe, flying wires and gear need lots of attention.

  

This is a museum volunteer project. Are you interested in early flight, history, research and restoration? We are accepting volunteers on this project. Contact Volunteer Project Manager - Mark Stanfield

As each Second Saturday comes around we are excited to share some of the antiques with you. Come out and see what takes flight and what takes a spin around the yard!

 9am          WAAAM opens

10 -2           A Museum in Action - watch and learn

10              Pushing out a few Cars and Planes. Getting them
                  out the doors and warmed up. Hear them run.
10:30          Flight of the  1932 WACO YPF
11               Chat with Ben Berry & Book Signing
11-1:30        Lunch is served
12:30          Tuskegee Airman Ben Berry Speaks
1:30            Book Signing

                  "TO THE MOON, MARS & BEYOND" by Ben Berry
 2               Help us "Push the Pusher" to the WAAAM
                  Restoration Hangar. Let's get this project started!