Air Classics Museum of Aviation

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Air Classics Museum of Aviation
Aurora Municipal Airport (Illinois)-3.JPG
USA Illinois location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location within Illinois
Established1990 (1990)
Location Sugar Grove, Illinois
Coordinates 41°45′51″N88°29′02″W / 41.7643°N 88.4838°W / 41.7643; -88.4838
Type Aviation museum
Founder
  • Rod Kath
  • Robert Knoll
  • Irvin Lewandowski
  • Larry Matt
  • Jack Rodgers
Website Archived 10 February 2025 at the Wayback Machine

The Air Classics Museum of Aviation is an aviation museum located at the Aurora Municipal Airport in Sugar Grove, Illinois.

Contents

History

Establishment

The museum was founded by Rod Kath, Larry Matt, Irvin Lewandowski, Jack Rodgers, Robert Knoll in 1990 after they met at The Landings Airport in Huntley, Illinois. It opened with 17 aircraft three years later at the DuPage Airport in West Chicago, Illinois and began fundraising for a purpose built facility across the airport. However, within two years Knoll, Lewandowski and Rodgers had died. Their deaths resulted in a significant drop in funding and in another two years the museum was being asked to leave the airport. [1] [2] [3] Shortly before moving, it completed the restoration of a F4F-3 for a display at O'Hare International Airport. [4] [ failed verification ] [5] [ failed verification ]

Move to Aurora

It moved to the Aurora Municipal Airport in Sugar Grove, Illinois within a year. [6] [ failed verification ] Not long thereafter, in 1999, the museum announced a partnership with the Bannockburn Corporation to create the Ageless Classics Transportation Museum to display the latter's collection of classic cars. [7]

Exhibits

Exhibits at the museum include a display about women in aviation. [8]

Collection

Aircraft at the museum Aurora Municipal Airport (Illinois)-4.JPG
Aircraft at the museum

Events

The museum holds an annual open house. [20]

References

  1. ↑ Sereque, Art. "A Brief History". Air Classics Museum of Aviation. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Vintage Aircraft on Display". Times-Press. AP. October 27, 1994. p. 11. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  3. ↑ Grady, William (February 9, 1997). "Aviation Museum's Near Miss". Chicago Tribune. pp. 1, 6. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  4. ↑ Caricato, Vic. "Wild About Wildcats". Air Classics Museum of Aviation. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  5. ↑ Pesavento, Mark (August 24, 1997). "Hero's Welcome". Chicago Tribune. pp. 1–2. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  6. ↑ Kath, Rod. "Aurora Here We Come". Air Classics Museum of Aviation. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  7. ↑ Van Matre, Lynn (December 23, 1999). "One-Time Car Shop to Become Museum". Chicago Tribune. p. 2. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  8. ↑ Pierce, Gala M. (September 21, 1998). "Women in Flight Exhibit to Get Off the Ground". Daily Herald. pp. 1–2. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Bell UH-1H Iroquois A.K.A. Huey". Air Classics Museum of Aviation. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Curtiss-Wright Corp P-40 Warhawk (Replica)". Air Classics Museum of Aviation. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  11. ↑ "McDonnell-Douglas F-4B Phantom II". Air Classics Museum of Aviation. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  12. ↑ "McDonnell Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk". Air Classics Museum of Aviation. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Ling-Temco-Vought A-7E Corsair II". Air Classics Museum of Aviation. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Bayerische Fleugwerke Messerschmitt Bf-109 (Replica)". Air Classics Museum of Aviation. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  15. ↑ "North American Aviation P-51D Mustang (Replica)". Air Classics Museum of Aviation. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  16. ↑ "North American RF-86F Sabre". Air Classics Museum of Aviation. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  17. ↑ "North American T-39 Sabreliner". Air Classics Museum of Aviation. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Republic Aviation F-105D Thunderchief". Air Classics Museum of Aviation. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Republic P-47D Thunderbolt (Replica)". Air Classics Museum of Aviation. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  20. ↑ Alleman, Annie (June 17, 2016). "Have Some Fun with Dad on Father's Day". Beacon-News. p. 3. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
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