NEWSLETTER OF THE YANKEE AIR MUSEUM

Transcription

1 NEWSLETTER OF THE YANKEE AIR MUSEUM HANGAR HAPPENINGS WHAT S WHAT SHAPPENING HAPPENINGTHIS THISMONTH MONTHIN INAND AND ABOUT ABOUTTHE THEYANKEE YANKEEAIR AIRMUSEUM MUSEUM INSIDE THIS ISSUE Welcome Letter 1 Volunteer Spotlight 1 Touch Tour 2 Historic Presentation Night (APRIL) 2 Bomber Buffing 3 Volunteer at Thunder Over Michigan 4 Museum Day Live 4 American Bistro Night 5 B-17 & B-25 Rides 6 WACO Rides 6 C-47 Rides 7 Kroger Community Rewards 7 Become a Member 7 Detroit Aviation Show Corporate Experience Flex Rides 9 Save the Bomber Plant Brick Campaign 10 CONTACT US FOR MORE INFO ISSUE ELEVEN APRIL 2016 WELCOME TO HANGAR HAPPENINGS Welcome to Hangar Happenings Online and thanks for being a friend of Yankee Air Museum! Hangar Happenings Online is designed to help you stay informed on the latest Yankee Air Museum happenings and to ensure you're on the forefront of all museum-related events. Engage with other museum members and learn about ways Yankee Air Museum is growing the aviation community. Each month we highlight our most popular events and profile members who are helping to make a difference. From all of us at the Yankee Air Museum, we thank you for your support and hope you'll join us in becoming a part of building the new museum. Bomber Buffing is fast becoming the area's favorite activity. Read more on page three. VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT Spring is finally here and flying season is right around the corner. Last year Bob Mazarowski responded to Tom Carroll's ad on the web site for new volunteers. Bob worked for Pan Am, Northwest and Delta Airlines in aircraftmaintenance before retiring in 2010, and National Airlines at Willow Run from Since there was not a need for volunteers in the maintenance department he considered becoming the Flight Ride Coordintor for the B-25 flights. One Wednesday Bob met Dave Wright when he was signing passengers in for B-17 flight rides. He took the job and went to work. Bob was bornand raised in Bayside, Queens, New York and lived there until He served 4 years in the Air Force and was stationed in Texas. In 2000 Bob was hired by Northwest and met and married his present wife. He said, I began a whole new life. Bob, or Maz as he likes to be called, now lives in Plymouth and is an avid gardener. He likes the summers in Michigan, but like many of us, not the winters. During flying season you can find Bob in his office on Tuesdays and Thursdays. He believes that customer service is everything.

2 APRIL 2016 HANGAR HAPPENINGS 02 YANKEE AIR MUSEUM KICKS OFF FIRST TOUCH TOUR! Saturday, March 5 marked a turning point in the Museum s history! This was the day that we began to offer our first ever Touch Tour for people with visual impairment! We had close to a dozen people with varying degrees of visual impairment participate in the Tou. Docents led the guests on a sighted-guide tour, stopping at various exhibits along the way for the guests to explore. The guests were allowed to explore artifacts such as the SPAD XIII biplane, Rosie s Rivet Tools, helmets, uniforms, and much more. As one guest remarked, I thought I knew what a propeller looked like, but now I really know what it looks like! We would like to sincerely thank the State of Michigan, Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Services for Blind Persons and Dan Furton for the excellent training that our staff and docents received prior to this event day! Yankee Air Museum is proud to extend our programming to offer a Museum experience to all of our guests who visit the museum. If you re interested in a Touch Tour, please contact Curatorial Director Julie Osborne at Julie.Osborne@yankeeairmuseum.org HISTORICAL PRESENTATION NIGHT PRESENTS FREE and Open to th e PU BLIC Wednesday, April 6th, 2016 at 7:30 PM Admission is FREE to the public. A I R M U S E U M H I S T O R I C A L P R E S E N T A T I O N N I G H T IN 1942, THE LARGEST FACTORY IN THE WORLD was built in Washtenaw County, Michigan. They called it the Willow Run Bomber Plant, and it was instrumental in winning World War II. On April 6th, don t miss this fascinating presentation by Dennis Norton, as he shows photos and tells the stories of how Albert Khan and the Ford Motor Company built an airplane plant to produce a bomber an hour, the plant s post-war uses, and the current critical efforts to save a significant portion of one of America s most noteworthy and historic manufacturing structures. Wednesday, 2nd 7:30pm Wednesday, AprilAPRIL 6th, 2016 at 7:30 PM General Purpose Room, YANKEE AIR MUSEUM, Willow Run Airport Free Admission ECORSE RD. WILLOW RUN AIRPORT D ST. YANKEE AIR MUSEUM BECK RD. IN 1942, THE LARGEST FACTORY IN THE WORLD was built in Washtenaw County, Michigan. They called it the Willow Run Bomber Plant, and it was instrumental in winning World War II. On April 6th, don t miss this fascinating presentation by Dennis Norton, as he shows photos and tells the stories of how Albert Khan and the Ford Motor Company built an airplane plant to produce a bomber an hour, the plant s post-war uses, and the current critical efforts to save a significant portion of one of America's most noteworthy and historic manufacturing structures. Y A N K E E TYLER RD. ANN ARBOR EXIT 190 BELLEVILLE RD. Held in the General Purpose Room in the Museum's Headquarters. Yankee Air Museum East Side, Willow Run Airport D St., Belleville, MI Phone (734) / YankeeAirMuseum 2016 YANKEE AIR MUSEUM CONTACT US FOR MORE INFO YANKEE AIR FORCE, INC D Street (48111) Belleville, Michigan USA hangarhapps@ yankeeairmuseum.org

3 HANGAR HAPPENINGS APRIL ST ANNUAL BOMBER BUFFING ON TAP: IT MUST BE SPRING! The Yankee Air Museum is asking everyone to its 21st Annual Bomber Buffing. This year it s bigger and better than ever! The historic World War II Boeing B-17 heavy bomber Yankee Lady and North American B-25 medium bomber Yankee Warrior are on the west side of Willow Run Airport, in Hangar 1, Bay 8 and need their aluminum skin polished to a high gloss. Winter inspections and maintenance are complete, the planes have been washed and this is the last step in preparing for the 2016 flying and air show season. It s a springtime tradition at the Museum. There is no cost to participate in this event that runs from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 9, Fueling the event, a Marco s Pizza luncheon will be served for everyone buffing a plane. People are encouraged to bring plenty of clean, soft rags. Mothers Polishes, Waxes and Cleaners, Inc. has donated plenty of aluminum polish for people to use. This is our twenty-first annual Bomber Buffing, imagine that! exclaimed Ray Hunter, Chairman of the YAM Board of Directors. And it never gets old. These planes are aviation rock stars and people of all ages come out every April to get up close and polish them. Believe me, it s a big help to our flight crew. Hunter says this polishing party is especially meaningful because 2016 is the 30th Anniversary of Yankee Air Museum s purchase of the B-17, for $250,000. Today, Yankee Lady is one of only ten B-17s still flying and one of only five on which people can take a ride. We are continually working on our aircraft, added Hunter. Every year there are specific restoration projects on various areas of the planes to keep them in award winning condition. This is important to us as a Museum that honors Veterans, and educates their children and grandchildren about the role of aviation in protecting America s freedom. Hunter said most people only get to see planes like this flying overhead occasionally or on display behind ropes. He says the Yankee Air Museum wants people to be able to touch the aircraft and feel the excitement of getting them ready to fly. There s an added attraction this year, the Douglas C-47 Skytrain and our Waco biplane will be offering rides, weather permitting, said Kevin Walsh, YAM Executive Director. The Museum has been offering affordable air tours in these airplanes since late last year and for many, they have become the perfect entry level to vintage aircraft flying. In planning the Bomber Buffing event, the Museum staff always work to make sure the event is appealing to the whole family. Let s face it, it s hard to compete with these cool planes, but we have added a separate event under the same roof in the next bay called the Detroit Aviation and Airlines Collectibles Show, Walsh said. According to Walsh, the Collectibles Show will feature Yankee Air Museum logo merchandise and dealers of airline memorabilia will be selling their specialties as well. Walsh says that with the rich history of early airline development at Willow Run, this show is a natural attraction. This is a terrific time to join history in the making, assured Walsh. Come to the Bomber Buffing and check us out. You re going to find we re a membership friendly organization that offers pressure free opportunity. Yankee Air Museum security volunteers will be on hand to help direct free parking and access to the Bomber Buffing. Hangar 1 is on the northwest side of the airfield. Follow the road signs for west and south access to Willow Run Airport to get to Hangar 1. Entry will be through the door under the awning of M2 Aircraft Management, Willow Run Airport, Hangar 1, 801 Kirk Profit Drive, Ypsilanti, Michigan The Bomber Buffing event is FREE to everyone and runs from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday CONTACT US FOR MORE INFO YANKEE AIR FORCE, INC D Street (48111) Belleville, Michigan USA hangarhapps@ yankeeairmuseum.org

4 HANGAR HAPPENINGS APRIL

5 HANGAR HAPPENINGS APRIL ON THE HORIZON APRIL Saturday, April 9 - Detroit Aviation and Airline Collectibles Show - 9AM - 4PM - Annual Bomber Buffing at Yankee Air Museum - 10AM - 2PM THUNDER OVER MICHIGAN AIR SHOW VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Want to be a REAL air show insider? Then volunteer to be a part of the AWESOME A-TEAM! That s the Admissions/Ticket Team tasked with getting hundreds of cars quickly and efficiently through the gates. You ll work a 4 hour shift, then you are free to see the show! Saturday shifts starting at 11AM are available; Sunday shifts can start as early as 7AM. Be prepared to spend several hours at a time on your feet, but you can take breaks. Got teenage kids? Bring them along to help you; they ll love the fast paced A-Team action! Saturday, April 30 - Annual Bistro at the Museum JUNE Wednesday, June 22 - Wild Wednesday at Willow Run AUGUST Saturday, Aug. 7 - Willow Run Victory Car Show Sat. & Sun, Aug Thunder Over Michigan Air Show Historic Presentation Night 1st Wednesday of Month - 7:30 PM Admission is FREE and open to the public BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE YANKEE AIR MUSEUM OFFICERS Chair - Ray Hunter Vice-Chair - Dick Stewart Secretary - Speed Gant Treasurer - Randy Hotton Every volunteer receives Air Show T-Shirt; custom made (be the envy of all your friends, or have them join you on the A-Team!) Free Lunch Free air show entry when not working Entry into Volunteer/Aircrew/VIP tent (you might end up sitting next to an F-22 Raptor pilot!) All the cold water you can drink FUN interacting with people who are coming to see airplanes, not to mention working with other awesome volunteers! Satisfaction that you are helping build the future museum! You ll never have more fun at an air show! For more information or to get scheduled contact: Dave Drano Steiner A-Team CO dsteiner@blackmoreco.com MUSEUM DAY LIVE! Saturday, September 26, 2016 As part of the Smithsonian Affiliates program, Yankee Air Museum is teaming up with thousands of Museums across the country to offer free admission this day only! Make sure to register and bring your admission ticket along! DIRECTORS Bob Hynes Brian Higgins William Rands III Rob Bovitz Dave Steiner Ells Stout Jim Ruker Peter DeLoof Director Emeritus - Bill Hanney Executive Director - Kevin Walsh YANKEE AIR FORCE, INC D Street (48111) Belleville, Michigan USA hangarhapps@ yankeeairmuseum.org

6 HANGAR HAPPENINGS APRIL 's USO American Bistro Dinner Dance - Sponsorships and Silent Auction Yankee Air Museum's annual Bistro will be held on April 30th. This year it will be in Hangar 1 near the old Bomber Plant, soon to be the new home of the museum. Yankee Air Museum s Flyable Aircraft will be the backdrop. Sponsorship opportunities are available for the event, and items are sought for the silent auction. Please contact Jane Spires (bistro@yankeeairmuseum. org) for more information about sponsorship opportunities or to donate items for the silent auction. Funds raised from this event go towards building the new Museum. CONTACT US FOR MORE INFO YANKEE AIR FORCE, INC D Street (48111) Belleville, Michigan USA hangarhapps@ yankeeairmuseum.org

7 HANGAR HAPPENINGS APRIL B-17 & B-25 RIDES B-17 & B-25 EXCURSIONS Book A Flight Experience! Flight experiences on our B-17 Yankee Lady or B-25 Yankee Warrior are available beginning in May and run throughout October. We offer flights out of Willow Run, MI and Port Clinton, OH on a regular basis. We also fly around the country throughout the air show season to bring this experience to other aviation enthusiasts. Reservations for each are required, so click on either one of our classic beauties to learn more and to find out when they are coming to a city near you! Go to our website to book your flight today! Pricing on the B-17: $450 for non-yam member Pricing on the B-25: $400 for non-yam member BOOK NOW! Payment required when booking. * See Thunder Over Michigan for special pricing for the air show weekend. WACO RIDES The Yankee Air Museum, based at historic Willow Run Airport, is pleased to announce it has been granted FAA approval to operate its 1992 Waco Biplane for sightseeing flights. Called Air Tours, these flights will give riders a fantastic open cockpit experience over some of Michigan s most scenic areas. After boarding and taxiing, the biplane ride lasts for 15 minutes. Pricing on the WACO is as follows: 1 PERSON (not to exceed 350lbs in passenger weight): $195 for YAM member $225 for non-yam member 2 PERSONS (not to exceed 350lbs in combined passenger weight): $295 for YAM members $325 for non-yam members Gift certificates for the 2016 flying season are available now. Please write to biplanerides@yankeeairmuseum.org for more information. CONTACT US FOR MORE INFO YANKEE AIR FORCE, INC D Street (48111) Belleville, Michigan USA hangarhapps@ yankeeairmuseum.org

8 HANGAR HAPPENINGS APRIL Air Museum, based at the historic Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti, offers sightseeing rides on its historic C-47 "Yankee Doodle Dandy" aircraft which continues in the 2016 flying season. The C-47 aircraft is a commercial Douglas DC-3 converted for military use during WWII that served in a variety of capacities in multiple operations throughout the war and beyond. The C-47 has often been referred by some of its former WWII pilots as the most rugged and reliable aircraft flown during the war. This can be attributed to the fact that its genesis was the Douglas DC-3, which was a commercial, passenger airliner. At that time the design specifications for commercial aircraft were far more rigid than for aircraft built solely for military use. These hearty aircraft served to transport paratroopers to their destinations and played a vital role in the D-Day invasion at Normandy as well as the Battle of the Bulge. They also were used to transport troops, to tow gliders used for troop insertions behind enemy lines, to evacuate the wounded, and to deliver supplies. After the war, many C-47s were converted back to commercial DC-3 passenger airliners. C-47 flights will give riders an exciting sightseeing experience over some of S. E. Michigan s most interesting and familiar areas. After boarding and taxiing, the C-47 ride lasts about 15 minutes. Gift certificates for the 2016 flying season are available now. Pricing on the C-47: $175 for YAM member $195 for non-yam member C-47 RIDESThe Yankee C-47rides@yankeeairmuseum.org, or visit or call for more information. KROGER COMMUNITY REWARDS BENEFIT YANKEE AIR MUSEUM If you live in Michigan and shop at Kroger, you can designate Yankee Air Museum to receive community reward money. By simply shopping at Kroger you ll be supporting the museum which will receive a check from Kroger every quarter! After you register online at you will see a confirmation message printed at the bottom of your receipt that Kroger is donating to the Yankee Air Museum. Yankee Air Museum s NPO number is 83614, but we are listed in the database, so if you type in Yankee when prompted for who you wish to support, Yankee Air Museum will come right up. Register online at It s pretty easy and doesn t cost you a thing! April is the month you must renew your Kroger rewards signup. Just go to the web site and follow the prompts to renew. BECOME A MEMBER OF THE YANKEE AIR MUSEUM Memberships to the museum are available for as low as $60 and you are granted access to: Free admission to the Yankee Air Museum Free ticket to the Thunder Over Michigan Air Show Discounts on B-17 Yankee Lady, B-25 Yankee Warrior, C-47 Yankee Doodle Dandy, and WACO flights Free admission to monthly Historic Presentation Nights Special member benefits at Yankee Air Museum events Discounts on Retail merchandise Discounts on banquet facility rentals at the new Museum CLICK HERE TO BECOME A MEMBER

9 HANGAR HAPPENINGS APRIL

10 HANGAR HAPPENINGS APRIL SAVE THE BOMBER PLANT BRICK CAMPAIGN To donate go to: 1 Small acrylic momento with chip inside For a gift of $ to $ you are entitled to one of these engraved momentos with a piece of brick from the plant embedded in the acrylic. 2 Engraved whole brick For a gift of $ to $ you are entitled to one complete engraved brick. ~ Only 200 available ~ 4 3 Engraved brick on a plaque For a gift of $ to $ you are entitled to one engraved brick mounted to a wooden plaque with an engraved brass plate. You will have 3 lines of 20 characters each to engrave as you like in addition to the standard engraving on the brick. Spaces are characters. ~ Only 150 are available ~ Piece of brick embedded in a larger acrylic keepsake A gift of $ to $ will entitle you to one of these larger embedded pieces of brick with an additional 3 lines, 20 characters each, for your inscription. ~ There are only 50 available ~ 5 A brick inside a shadow box A gift of $ or more will entitle you to one of these very special bricks from the plant. These bricks were manufactured by John Strong Haggerty Company of Detroit and stamped with J.S.H. on the brick. ~ Only 200 will be available ~ 807 Willow Run Airport Ypsilanti, MI The The Michigan Aerospace Foundation is is a a (c)(3) non-profit corporation. Gifts to the Foundation are tax deductible as provided by law.