Lone Star Flight Museum
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The Lone Star Flight Museum, located in Galveston, Texas, displays more than 40 historically significant aircraft and many hundreds of artifacts related to the history of flight. The museum's collection is rare because most of the aircraft are flyable. Located next to Scholes International Airport at Galveston, Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark, and Moody Gardens, the museum is housed on about 100,000 ft² (10,000 m²) of property, including its own airstrip.
The museum began as a private collection of historic aircraft in 1985. By 1990, that collection had grown enough that its owner decided to place them on public display. The Lone Star Flight Museum, a non-profit organization funded entirely through private donations, was formed for that purpose.
The museum's collection often participates in airshows across the country. As of 2005, the museum's aircraft annually log more than 40,000 miles (60,000 km) of cross-country flying to various air demonstrations.
The museum's P-47 Thunderbolt participates in USAF Heritage Flights throughout the year. The USAF Heritage Flight program was established in 1997 to commemorate the Air Force's 50th anniversary. It involves today's state-of-the-art fighters flying in close formation with World War II, Korean and Vietnam era fighters such as the P-51 Mustang and the F-86 Sabre. The flight's mission is to safely and proudly display the evolution of U.S. Air Force airpower and to support the Air Force's recruiting and retention efforts.
The museum's North American B-25 Mitchell also serves closely with the Disabled American Veterans program. The DAV Airshow Outreach Program was developed to increase public awareness of disabled veterans and to serve veterans in communities across the nation. Using two B-25 medium bombers, the program reminds the public of the sacrifices veterans have made and continue to make to keep our nation free.
In 2007, the museum launched its newest program by offering rides in some of its Warbirds. The LSFM now operates flights for passengers in the B-17 Flying Fortress, North American B-25 Mitchell, T-6 Texan and the PT-17 Stearman.
The Texas Aviation Hall of Fame, located within the museum, honors the contributions of residents or natives of Texas to aviation and spaceflight. Inductees include Howard Hughes, Alan Bean, and President George H. W. Bush.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Collection
- Flight worthy
- Boeing/Vega B-17G Flying Fortress 44-85718 Thunderbird
- Republic P-47D-40RA 44-90368 Tarheel Hal
- Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon
- B-25J-30NC 44-86734 "The Official B-25 of the Doolittle Raiders Association"
- Hawker Hurricane IIB (Damaged at LSFM airshow 4/26/08)
- Supermarine Spitfire
- SBD Dauntless
- Chance Vought F4U-5NL 121823
- Grumman F6F Hellcat
- Douglas DC-3
- L-5 Sentinel
- TBM Avenger
- On static display or in restorations
- On loan from National Museum of the United States Air Force
[edit] References
- Lone Star Flight Museum, official site
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Lone Star Flight Museum
- Galveston.com
- Aerial view from Google Local (Note B-17 Thunderbird on ramp.)
