 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Voters Approve Plans for "Spruce Goose" Museum
McMinnville Oregon May, 20 1998 With most of the votes counted, it appears McMinnville, Oregon citizens have given a big yes to the the museum with a name almost as big as the airplane it will house (The Capt. Michael King Smith Evergreen Aviation Educational Center). "So far it looks that way, we've got 73% of the vote....yes" said museum director Gary Thompson today. The mammoth flying boat, created by Howard Hughes, achieved fame in its one-and-only flight on November, 2 1947. The Evergreen Museum won the right to display the historic aircraft in 1992 after the Disney Corporation terminated the lease on the Long Beach, California building where it had been on display since 1982. With an effort befitting the size of the worlds largest airplane, the HK-1 was disassembled and moved north. Plans for the Oregon museum were put on hold when its founder, Michael King Smith, was killed in a 1995 auto accident. After regrouping, the museum has moved steadily forward, raising funding and receiving most of the legal approvals needed to begin the construction. This step by the McMinnville voters marks nearly the final hurdle for the project. "Now we can go to ODOT [Oregon Dept. of Transportation] and request access permission from highway 18.....that takes 4 to 6 weeks." said Thompson "When you've got that in your hand you can go to the city planning commission for specific construction plans approval. They already approved the general plan, now they get down to specifics. We're looking at probably an August ground breaking" The museum is seeking corporate and individual sponsorship to complete and operate the museum. Memberships are available, as well as many collectable items in the gift store, accessible from their website. It's time for the aviation community to get behind the project and provide the last push needed to make this dream a reality. As always -All Aviation FlightLine
OnLine- Related Information |