2 MemberShip RESTORATION NewSletter UPDATES 4 HANGAR NEwS 6 MUSEUM EDUCATION 8 EVENTS IN REVIEW s we move into the winter of 2020, we memberships active during the closure have been Ahave had an opportunity to look back credited with an additional 11 weeks, to make up over the impact that this year has had on for the time we were closed!). These contributions the museum. I wanted to take a moment ensured that we could retain our excellent staff to thank everyone who has continued to and allowed the museum to be well positioned support the museum during this difficult year, to re-open when it was safe to do so. I am whether as members, donors or volunteers. pleased to say that the support we enjoyed It is clear that we are by no means out-of- from our community, when taken alongside from the the-woods yet, and the museum staff as well grants we were able to receive, including CARES Director as our dedicated Volunteers continue to Act Support from Virginia Humanities, allowed find ways to adapt our operations to further us to avoid laying off a single employee. prioritize guest safety, cleanliness and to resume some of our regular programs with Responsibilities shifted as staff stepped an added emphasis on social distancing. into non-traditional roles. Our part-time Museum Store staff supported our educators Losing the opportunity to host all three in creating behind the scenes video content of our major air show events in a single year out on the flight line, and everyone pitched With 2020” drawing to has certainly presented the museum with in to remodel the Museum Store. a close, we wanted this a financial hurdle to overcome. However, It has been a tough year for us, just as it has edition of Prop Noise to these unusual times have also given us the opportunity to focus on what really matters to been for businesses across our community, focus on everything that our museum – creating engaging educational with service interruptions and cancelled the museum has been experiences leveraging a world-class collection activities, and patience needed from all parties able to achieve and all of airworthy vintage military aircraft. While as we navigate the ever-changing landscape of the positivity that has it has not been easy, staff and volunteers of what some are calling the new normal. have found a range of creative ways to keep come from redoubling However, with 2020 drawing to a close, we forging ahead with our mission amidst a sea of wanted this edition of Prop Noise to focus on our commitment to regulations and vital public health guidance. everything that the museum has been able our mission in the “ We are especially thankful to those to achieve and all of the positivity that has face of adversity. members and donors who made contributions come from redoubling our commitment to during the 11 weeks that the museum was our mission in the face of adversity. We hope closed by Executive Order (Don’t forget that to see you all out at the museum soon! 2020, A YEAR IN REVIEW | 1 ReStoratioN UPDATES TBM second engine run TBM Avenger he team at the Fighter Factory has Motors. Our TBM-3E (BuNo 53454) is one Tcompleted the restoration of our Avenger! produced by General Motors and built at the After an unfortunate mishap several years Eastern Aircraft Division plant in Trenton, New back, the aircraft required extensive overhaul. Jersey. Delivered to the Navy on May 26, 1945, Waylaid by the need to create several complex the aircraft did not see combat service during Stearman custom parts, the restoration has progressed World War II, but features in the museum slowly but surely. Shortly before the conclusion collection as a representation of the overall type. of the restoration effort, Fighter Factory n addition to the Avenger being back General Manager Tom Kurtz said, “As with Avengers, although originally developed as Ion display in the Navy Hangar, she any long-term project, we are always filled a carrier-based torpedo bomber to replace is joined by the museum’s Stearman with excitement as we near completion. We the obsolete TBD Devastator, would become Biplane, also fresh from a restoration. all hope that our efforts have contributed in widely used as conventional bombers, mine The Stearman has received an extensive some small way to keeping WWII history alive.” layers, scouts, anti-submarine patrol aircraft overhaul and has received all new fabric, and even electronic countermeasures With a freshly overhauled engine, propeller control surfaces and a fresh coat of paint. platforms across the fleet. From its first service and reconstructed cowling fitted, the aircraft This airplane is a fan-favorite and we are in combat at the Battle of Midway, the Avenger was subjected to an extensive series of test pleased to have it back in the air, with its would see service throughout the rest of the runs and test flights before being returned to first flight post restoration taking place on war with the US Navy and Marine Corps. the museum for display. Now able to be viewed August 13th. Although our Ride Program from the Navy Hangar, the Avenger was flown Our Avenger once again wears the markings has not yet resumed, our war veteran for the public on October 24th and will be of US Navy Ace Captain Richard “Zeke” Cormier Stearman is now ready, willing and able! included in our flying schedule again next year. of Compost Squadron 1 (VC-1) based on the Originally designed by Grumman, 7,546 of USS Card (CVE-11). Cormier became an ace Our Stearman, although marked the 9,837 Avengers produced during World while flying the F6F Hellcat in the Pacific following as a US Navy N2S, was actually built in War II were actually manufactured by General his 75 Atlantic combat missions in the Avenger. 1941 as a PT-17 Model A75N1 (serial number 41-25254) for the U.S. Army TBM in the shop before engine install and propeller fitting Air Corps. It served as a Primary Trainer throughout the war and remained in service until retired in 1945. The airplane, like so many others, was saved from the scrap heap by being used as an aerial applicator or crop duster. It was among the first airplanes to be placed on display at the Military Aviation Museum. 2 | RESTORATION UPDATES Stearman A Remodeled Lobby & New Museum Store lthough regulations required we so keep an eye out on our Facebook Aclose to the public through part of and Instagram for our featured items. our busiest season, the museum used The museum’s main floor exhibits this time to complete some much needed have also been expanded to include renovations that were begun during the some new items that have been in winter. The primary focus of this effort storage at the museum, including several was to create a new, more open space unidentified pieces that visitors can help for our museum Store, and to adjust identify! Our engine exhibit now includes the entry experience for our guests. This a cutaway Me-262 engine allowing new entry design was aimed at allowing visitors to look inside one of the war’s our visitors to more quickly immerse most significant and secret technological themselves in aviation history and the accomplishments, the first jet engine to be museum’s remarkable collection of aircraft fitted to an operational combat aircraft! and artifacts from the World Wars. The museum staff also took the Our museum Store in its previous opportunity to refresh the bathrooms on location was rapidly outgrowing its limited the main floor, with further improvements space and more room was needed to coming for our lobby and first floor showcase our great range of items, as well exhibits in the near future. as to introduce some new ones! Some of the new items include vintage beach bags -- and totes made out of recycled army tents (a fast favorite!) as well as an expanded Visitors are welcome at the Museum range of buildable warbird kits by Cobi. We Store even if they do not wish to purchase have also made it easier to shop online for an admission to the museum. Much of our all of your favorite items and will be running catalog is available for purchase online as well, several sales during the holiday season, with on-site pickup as an available option. RESTORATION UPDATES | 3 haNGAR NEwS 75th Anniversary of VE Day Concert Livestream Arsenal of Democracy: hen the Novel Coronavirus emerged late in 2019, plans were already underway We must be the great W 75th World War II Victory ” across the United States to mark the 75th Commemoration Flyover arsenal of democracy. Anniversary of the end of World War II. With bans on public gatherings in place across the – PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT country and many events intended to coincide escheduled from its date earlier in with VE Day on May 8th postponed, the 2020, the Arsenal of Democracy museum decided to take its celebration online! R Mosquito made it to the staging airport in Flyover was one of the most anticipated Culpeper, Virginia. Sadly, the” weather did not Theresa Eaman, a voice familiar to any events on our schedule for this year. The who have attended one of our air shows or plan was to join up with private collectors, cooperate, and the flyover was moved to its events in the past, suggested to us that we and flying museums from all across the rain date, before ultimately being scrubbed host a special concert without an in-house country, and to fly more than 70 Warbirds altogether due to the weather conditions.