Neighborhood-Kids All Local. All for Kids. All the Time.

Heritage Flight Museum Prepares to Move

by Kate Simmons10/5/2008 9:27:21 AM

[Bellingham, WA] - Bellingham's Heritage Flight Museum is moving again, to a longer-term facility located on the main road to the airport! HFM's Directors are pleased to announce that they have leased a newly constructed hanger from Tek Construction at 4165 Mitchell Way at Bellingham Airport.

Future pilot, Aiden, taxi's the mini-Mustang to its new hangar. Photo by Lyle Jansma.

In order to complete the move and settle in as quickly as possible, the Museum will not be holding their monthly open houses, nor any other major public event, for the remainder of 2008. An official grand opening for the Museum is being planned for January 2009 - details will be shared closer to that time. Museum Directors and Staff remain hopeful that land will be made available by the Port of Bellingham for the construction of a purpose-built museum hangar at some point in the near future.

During this move and set-up, Museum business and programs will continue to be run and developed. School and other youth groups interested in touring the collection during the closure are welcome to contact the Museum at 360.733.4422. Director of Programs, Kate Simmons, said "The fall and winter are always quiet, so this a good time to concentrate our efforts, get moved and settled in, and get ready for a big 2009." The Museum is currently seeking to fill a number of key volunteer positions; information is available on the Museum's web site, or by calling the main office.

Founded in 1996 by Maj. General William Anders (Apollo 8 astronaut), the Heritage Flight Museum is a non-profit, 501(C)(3) organization dedicated to the preservation and flying of historic military aircraft. The Museum settled at Bellingham International in 2001, and has been developing their collection of aircraft and their community programs since then.

In addition to volunteer opportunities for individuals and youth groups such as the Civil Air Patrol, Museum Staff have served as Culminating Project Community Advisors for graduating seniors from Bellingham and Squalicum High Schools, and as supervisors for History majors on internship from Western Washington University. Open house visitors are welcome to get an up-close look at the collection of memorabilia and artifacts, and the small selection of flying World War II and Korean War aircraft currently housed at Bellingham, which include a P-51 Mustang, Douglas Skyraider, North American T-6, Boeing Stearman, and L-13 Grasshopper.

For more information, visit the Heritage Flight Museum online, or contact Director of Programs & Administration, Kate Simmons, at (360) 733-4422.