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Pacific Coast Air Museum

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Coordinates: 38°30′23″N 122°48′06″W / 38.5064°N 122.8018°W / 38.5064; -122.8018
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Pacific Coast Air Museum
Pacific Coast Air Museum is located in California
Pacific Coast Air Museum
Location within California
Established1989 (1989)
LocationCharles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport, Santa Rosa, California
Coordinates38°30′23″N 122°48′06″W / 38.5064°N 122.8018°W / 38.5064; -122.8018
TypeAviation museum
FounderHarrison Rued[1]
PresidentLynn Hunt
Websitewww.pacificcoastairmuseum.org

The Pacific Coast Air Museum is an aviation museum located at Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa, California. The museum displays a varied collection of over 30 American military, propeller, and jet aircraft.

History

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The museum was founded in 1989, having emerged from a group associated with EAA Chapter 124.[2][3] Late the following year, three members of the museum were killed when a PV-2D they were flying crashed into Clear Lake.[4] Nevertheless, the museum expanded, acquiring a number of aircraft in the 1990s including an Il-14 and an F-8 in 1993, an A-6E in 1994, an F-16N and F-14 in 1995 and a UH-1H in 1996.[5][6][7][8][9]

The museum merged in 1999 with the Redwood Empire Aviation Historical Society, a smaller organization.[3] In late 2001, the museum, which had rented a variety of hangars and tie-down spots for its collection of aircraft, at the Sonoma County airport, began the process of moving to a larger facility.[10]

In December 2010, the museum acquired an F-15 Eagle which, after launching from Otis Air National Guard Base in Massachusetts, was one of the first fighter aircraft over New York City during the September 11 attacks. The museum planned to fully restore the plane and make it the centerpiece of an exhibit.[11]

The museum intends to build and move to a new larger facility, still at the airport. One possibility is a location on Airport Boulevard at the main entrance to the county airport, a five-acre garden tilled by inmates at Sonoma County's low-security jail.[12]

Facility

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It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World airplane hangar - movie memorabilia

The museum building is the former dope and fabric shop for Santa Rosa Army Airfield.[13]

Next to the museum, immediately to the north, is the airplane hangar used in the 1963 Hollywood all-star comedy movie, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. In the movie, stunt pilot Frank Tallman flies a Beech 18 through the airplane hangar, with only 23 feet of clearance from wingtip to wingtip, and only 15 feet from the top of the tail to the hangar ceiling. Known as the Butler Building, the hangar was built during World War II, and is still in use today.[14][failed verification]

Exhibits

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A model room includes dioramas of Santa Rosa Army Airfield and Santa Rosa Naval Auxiliary Air Station and a model of the USS Intrepid.[15] Other objects include an R-4360 engine, SR-71 parts, an F-4N simulator and DC-6 and RF-8G cockpits.[16][17][18][19][20]

Collection

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American military jet aircraft on display
F-15 First Responder

Aircraft

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Other

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Events

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Beginning in 1989, the museum held an annual 2-day weekend open house.[66] By 2000, the event had become an airshow known as Wings Over Wine Country.[67] It continued until 2020, when it was cancelled due to the inabiloty to attract a demonstration team.[68][69]

It currently holds a Wings and Wheels Car Show.[70]

Programs

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The museum offers an aviation summer school, a merit badge in aviation program for Boy Scouts and an oral history program.[71][72][73]

A division of the museum called Flight Wing maintains a some of the aircraft in airworthy condition.[74]

References

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  1. ^ "[Untitled]" (PDF), Straight Scoop, vol. 13, no. 5, p. 1, May 2007, retrieved 5 July 2024
  2. ^ Hunt, Lynn (February 2019), "PCAM History: The First Thirty Years" (PDF), Straight Scoop, vol. 24, no. 2, p. 1, retrieved 16 September 2024
  3. ^ a b Chris Smith (April 9, 1999). "Aviation Collections Join Forces". Santa Rosa Press-Democrat.
  4. ^ Smith, Chris (14 October 1990). "WWII Aircraft Hobbyists Stress Safety in Wake of Lake Accident". The Press Democrat. pp. B1, B4. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  5. ^ Norberg, Bob (13 July 1993). "Museum Lands Two More Planes". The Press Democrat. pp. B1–B2. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  6. ^ "A6-E Intruder Touches Down at Fair". The Press Democrat. 1995. p. 31. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  7. ^ Sweeney, James W. (25 January 1995). "Top Gun Training Jet Rolls Into County Airport". The Press Democrat. p. B1. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  8. ^ Norberg, Bob (13 July 1995). "Jet of Desert Storm New Highlight of Museum". The Press Democrat. pp. B1, B6. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  9. ^ Smith, Chris (25 May 1996). "Vietnam-Vintage Chopper Added to SR Museum". The Press Democrat. pp. B1–B2. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  10. ^ Tom Chorneau (December 5, 2001). "Air Museum May Get a New Home". Santa Rosa Press-Democrat.
  11. ^ Smith, Chris (10 November 2010). "9/11 Fighter Jet is Coming Here – To Stay". The Press Democrat. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  12. ^ Bob Norberg (May 31, 2007). "Museum on the Move?". Santa Rosa Press-Democrat.
  13. ^ Hunt, Lynn (March 2019), "PCAM History: The First Thirty Years" (PDF), Straight Scoop, vol. 24, no. 3, p. 1, retrieved 16 September 2024
  14. ^ LeBaron, Gaye (23 September 1990). "Putting the Army Air Base Back on the Map". The Press Democrat. p. A2. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  15. ^ "Museum Collections". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  16. ^ "R-4360 Wasp Major Engine". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  17. ^ "SR-71 Blackbird Components". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  18. ^ "Blue Angels Cockpit". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  19. ^ "DC-6 Cockpit". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  20. ^ "RF-8G Crusader Cockpit". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  21. ^ "AW109 Helicopter". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  22. ^ "Airframe Dossier - Beech D45, s/n 144071 USN, c/n BG-378, c/r N8767V". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  23. ^ "BD-5J Bede". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  24. ^ "UH-1H Huey". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  25. ^ Chris Smith (May 25, 1996). "Vietnam-Vintage Chopper Added to SR Air Museum". The Press Democrat.
  26. ^ "T-37 Tweet". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  27. ^ "F-106 Delta Dart". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  28. ^ Lindsey Hahn (October 18, 2004). "General Jumper visits Pacific Coast Air Museum". U.S. Air Force. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
  29. ^ "A-4E Skyhawk". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  30. ^ "A-26C Invader". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  31. ^ "C-118 Liftmaster". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  32. ^ "F-16N Viper". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  33. ^ "A-6E Intruder". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  34. ^ "C-1A Trader". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  35. ^ "EA-6B Prowler". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  36. ^ "F-14A Tomcat". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  37. ^ "HU-16E Albatross". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  38. ^ "S-2A Tracker Airtanker". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  39. ^ "AV-8C Harrier". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  40. ^ "IL-14 Crate". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  41. ^ "Lockheed Jetstar". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  42. ^ "T-33 Shooting Star". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  43. ^ "A-7 Corsair II". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  44. ^ "Airframe Dossier - Vought A-7A-4c-CV Corsair II, s/n 153241 USN, c/n A150". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  45. ^ "F-4C Phantom II". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  46. ^ "F-15 Eagle". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  47. ^ "F/A-18A Hornet". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  48. ^ "F-86H Sabre Jet". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  49. ^ "RF-86F Sabre". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  50. ^ "Airframe Dossier - North American T-2C Buckeye, s/n 158313 USN, c/r N59CV". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  51. ^ "T-28C Trojan". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  52. ^ "F-5E Tiger II". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  53. ^ "T-38 Talon". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  54. ^ "Pitts Special S1". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  55. ^ "F-84F Thunderstreak". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  56. ^ "F-105F Thunderchief". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  57. ^ Bob Norberg (August 6, 2009). "Warplane honors 3 aviators". The Press Democrat.
  58. ^ "H-34 Choctaw Helicopter". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  59. ^ "Airframe Dossier - Sikorsky CH-34C Choctaw, s/n 57-1708 USAF, c/n 58-0868". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  60. ^ "SH-60F Seahawk". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  61. ^ "Stinson 108 Voyager". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  62. ^ "F-8U Crusader". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  63. ^ Dudnick, Laura (20 July 2024). "Iconic Jet Could Soon Be Soaring at Sunset Park". San Francisco Examiner. p. 6. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  64. ^ "D-21 Drone". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  65. ^ Bob Norberg (July 4, 2009). "Cold War drone comes to Sonoma County". Press Democrat.
  66. ^ "Air Museum Open House Takes Wing This Weekend". Sebastopol Times & News. 26 August 1992. p. B3. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  67. ^ "Pacific Coast Air Museum Presents 11th Wings Over Wine Country Airshow Aug. 19-20". Cloverdale Reveille. 9 August 2000. p. 7. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  68. ^ "[Homepage]". Wings Over Wine Country. Archived from the original on 24 May 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  69. ^ "Airshow Planned at County Airport". Cloverdale Reveille. 15 August 2001. p. 8. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  70. ^ "Wheels & Wings Car Show". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  71. ^ "Aviation Summer School". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  72. ^ "Merit Badges". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  73. ^ "Oral History Program". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  74. ^ "Flight Wing". Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
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