Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum

Last updated
Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum
Polikarpov Po-2 Paul Allen's WWII Flying Heritage Collection.jpg
The collection's Polikarpov Po-2 on display.
Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum
Former name
Flying Heritage Collection
Established2004
Location Paine Field, Everett, Washington
Coordinates 47°53′57″N122°16′47″W / 47.89917°N 122.27972°W / 47.89917; -122.27972
Type Aviation museum
Founder Paul Allen
Owner Steuart Walton
Website www.flyingheritage.org

The Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum is a U.S.A. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the display and preservation of rare military aircraft, tanks and other military equipment. The museum reopened on the Memorial Day Weekend 2023. [1] [2]

Contents

On rotation in the three working hangars are military artifacts from the United States, Britain, Germany, the Soviet Union, and Japan.

The Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum is housed in three working hangars at Seattle-Paine Field International Airport in Everett, WA. Mechanics are typically on-site Monday through Friday, working on maintaining the technology and operating condition. The museum provides guided tours three days a week, hosts a variety of activities, features war conflict simulators, and possesses countless historical artifacts.

History

In 1998, Microsoft Corporation co-founder Paul Allen began acquiring and preserving vintage aircraft. [3] Allen's passion for aviation and history, and his awareness of the increasing rarity of original World War II aircraft, motivated him to restore these artifacts to the highest standard of authenticity and share them with the public.

The Collection opened to the public in 2004 at the Arlington, Washington, airfield, but in 2008 moved to a newly renovated historic industrial hangar located at Paine Field in Everett, Washington, United States. [4] In 2013, the Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum added a 22,000 square foot expansion hangar for its expanding collection. In 2018, came another expansion featuring the opening of Hangar C, which added over two dozen artifacts. On March 24, 2017, the Museum changed its name from the Flying Heritage Collection to the Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum to reflect the transition from exclusively aircraft to a military vehicle & armament as well. [5] In 2018, the Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum became a public 501c(3) nonprofit. On March 3, 2020, the Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum temporarily closed due to complications that arose as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. [6]

In April 2022, the industry magazine Air Classics reported that the museum's collection was sold, promising further details in its June issue. The Dutch Aviation Society reported that the buyer was Steuart Walton, grandson of Walmart founder Sam Walton. [7] The sale was confirmed by CNN and other media in August, 2022. The plan is for the museum to remain in Everett; reopening in 2023 under the stewardship of the Wartime History Museum, a nonprofit established by Walton earlier in 2022. [8] [9]

Walmart heir Steuart Walton's nonprofit, the Wartime History Museum, acquired aviation artifacts from the FHCAM and reopened the museum on Memorial Day Weekend of 2023. [10] The museum remains open with increasing operations.

Museum programming

FHCAM is currently hosting a variety of programs at the museum.

Walking tours: These docent-led tours are scheduled in advance as indicated on the activity schedule. They focus on pre-scheduled topic areas and involve walking about the hangars to view artifacts related to the topic. Walking tours range from approximately 90 minutes to two-and-a-half hours in length. They are limited to 20 guests on a first come, first served basis.

Behind the barriers tours: These tours offer guests the opportunity to get closer to a particular artifact or set of artifacts, depending on the tour focus area. Docents lead the group behind the barriers for an up-close look at the subject matter. Tours last between 60 and 90 minutes and are limited to 15 guests. Special event tickets are required for attendance.

Lectures: Lectures are held in Battlefront Theater, offering guests a chance to sit and learn through instruction and audio/visual displays. They are mostly static, though depending on the topic, may include some time in the hangars looking at artifacts. Lectures can accommodate up to 35 guests, and generally last between 60 and 90 minutes.

Ad-hoc docent tours: Volunteer docents are on site during open hours. A docent is available at 11 am daily at the Docent Headquarters (HQ) to lead interested guests on an impromptu tour based on interest areas of the group.

Runups: Aircraft engines need to be started as part of the annual maintenance cycle. Runups are scheduled between March and October and generally include two engines (could be two planes for single-engine aircraft, or one plane for multi-engine aircraft). Guests have an opportunity to observe the process, including startup and taxi, of each aircraft involved. They generally last approximately 45 minutes, including a brief overview of the process from one of our mechanics. There is also a post-runup Q&A session in Battlefront Theater, beginning 15 minutes after the end of the runup and lasting approximately 30 minutes.  

Artifact experiences: Provides guests with an opportunity to "experience" a specific artifact. Depending on the artifact, this could be sitting in the artifact, touching, or looking into, a section that is normally not available for public access. These activities are normally offered during specific windows of time and are limited in number of guests.

Virtual reality (VR) and simulator experiences: These provide guests the opportunity to experience an artifact-themed topic through a set of virtual reality glasses or computer-based simulator. Different types of VR/simulation are coupled with an artifact experience or other related activity to enhance the guest understanding of what the particular encounter would have been like.

The airworthy Ilyushin Il-2 of the Flying Heritage Collection, flown with a "reversed" Allison V-1710 powerplant, as the original engine had been designed to do. Ilyushin Il-2m3 Shturmovik - Paine Field - USA (Sept 2012) - Ready to fly view 1..jpg
The airworthy Ilyushin Il-2 of the Flying Heritage Collection, flown with a "reversed" Allison V-1710 powerplant, as the original engine had been designed to do.

List of warbirds

The Flying Heritage and Combat Armory has a number of historic artifacts. Their most prized collection items are all aircraft. However, FHCAM also has a rich collection of armoured fighting vehicles. The specific histories and stories of the aircraft can be discovered in-person at the museum.

United States

North American P-51D Mustang

North American B-25J Mitchell

Republic P-47 Thunderbolt

Curtiss P-40C Tomahawk

Goodyear FG-1D Corsair

Grumman F6F Hellcat

Curtiss JN-4D Jenny

Bell UH-1B Iroquois "Huey"

United Kingdom

Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vc

Hawker Hurricane Mk.XIIAa

de Havilland D.H.98 Mosquito T.Mk.III

Avro Lancaster B. Mk.I (nose section)

Soviet Union

Polikarpov I-16 Type 24 "Rata"

Polikarpov U-2/Po-2

Ilyushin II-2M3 Shturmovik

Imperial Japan

Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa (Oscar)

Mitsubishi A6M3-22 Reisen (Zero or Zeke)

Nazi Germany

Fiesler Fi 103 V-1

Fiesler Fi 103R Reichenberg

Fiesler Fi 156 C-2 Storch

Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-5

Focke-Wulf Fw 190 D-13 (Dora)

Messerschmitt Me 262

Junkers Ju 87 R-4 Stuka - Under restoration

Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-3 (Emil)

Messerschmitt Me 163 B Komet

Mittelwerk GmbH V-2 Rocket

List of tanks

The collection features a variety of vehicles and armament dating from WWII to some present-day artifacts. Most of the artifacts are from the United States, Germany, Japan, or the Soviet Union. However, many of these vehicles have changed hands many times before arriving at FHCAM.

United States

M1A1 Abrams turret trainer

M8A1 Patton (Cut in Half)

M4A1 Sherman

M5A1 Stuart

M60A1 Patton

M24 Chaffee

M7B1 Priest

M8 Greyhound

M26 Pershing

M55 self-propelled howitzer

United Kingdom

Churchill Mk VII Crocodile

Soviet Union

FMDB T-34/85

T-54M

Germany

Jagdpanzer 38(t) (Hetzer).

Panzerkampfwagon IV Ausf. H

Japan

Type 95 Ha-Go

List of artillery

United States

M2 155mm "Long Tom" field gun

United Kingdom

17-Pounder Mk. I anti-tank gun

Germany

75mm PaK 40 anti-tank gun

88mm Flak 37 anti-aircraft gun

Japan

47mm Type 1 anti-tank gun

List of vehicles

United States

M5A4 high-speed tractor

AM General M936A2 wrecker

Dodge WC24 command car

Dodge WC54 ambulance

Ford GPW "Jeep"

Harley-Davidson WLA

Landing craft, vehicle, personnel (LCVP)

M3A1 half-track personnel carrier

M274A5 Mule

Germany

BMW R75

Opel Super 6

Scheuch-Schlepper

Volkswagen Kubelwagen Typ 82 Kfz.1

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fieseler Fi 156 Storch</span> German liaison aircraft

The Fieseler Fi 156 Storch was a liaison aircraft designed and produced by the German aircraft manufacturer Fieseler. Its nickname of Storch was derived from the lengthy legs of its main landing gear, which gave the aircraft a similar appearance to that of the long-legged, big-winged bird.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vulcan Real Estate</span> American holding company based in Seattle

Vale Group LLC, doing business as Vulcan Real Estate, is an American private holding company based in Seattle, Washington. The company was founded as Vulcan Inc. in 1986 by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and his sister Jody Allen to establish and oversee the family's diverse business activities and philanthropic endeavors. It includes the Paul G. Allen Estate and Trust and advises the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Museum of the United States Air Force</span> Military and aviation museum in Dayton, Ohio, US

The National Museum of the United States Air Force is the official museum of the United States Air Force located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, six miles (9.7 km) northeast of Dayton, Ohio. The NMUSAF is the oldest and largest military aviation museum in the world, with more than 360 aircraft and missiles on display. The museum draws about a million visitors each year, making it one of the most frequently visited tourist attractions in Ohio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Air Force Museum London</span> Aviation museum in London, United Kingdom

The Royal Air Force Museum London is located on the former Hendon Aerodrome, in North London's Borough of Barnet. It includes five buildings and hangars showing the history of aviation and the Royal Air Force. It is part of the Royal Air Force Museum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reynolds Museum</span> Museum of transportation, aviation, agriculture, and industry in Wetaskiwin, Alberta, Canada

The Reynolds-Alberta Museum is an agricultural, industrial, and transportation museum in Wetaskiwin, Alberta, Canada. The museum is situated on an 89-hectare (220-acre) property containing the main museum building, an aviation display hangar, and its storage facility.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Planes of Fame Air Museum</span> Aviation museum in Arizona and California

Planes of Fame Air Museum is an aviation museum in Chino, California, The museum has many flying and static aircraft, along with several rare examples under restoration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paine Field</span> Airport located in Snohomish County, Washington state, United States

Seattle Paine Field International Airport — also known as Paine Field and Snohomish County Airport — is a commercial and general aviation airport serving the Seattle metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Washington. It is located in unincorporated Snohomish County, Washington, between the cities of Mukilteo and Everett, about 25 miles (40 km) north of Seattle. PAE covers 1,315 acres of land.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fantasy of Flight</span> Aviation museum in Polk City, Florida, USA

Fantasy of Flight is an aviation museum in Polk City, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum</span> Aviation museum in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum is an aviation museum located at the John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport in Mount Hope, Ontario, Canada. The museum has 47 military jets and propeller-driven aircraft on display.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour</span> Aviation museum in Mukilteo, Washington

The Future of Flight Aviation Center, officially known as Boeing Future of Flight, is an aviation museum and education center located at the northwest corner of Paine Field in Mukilteo, Washington. It is the starting point for the Boeing Tour, a guided tour of a portion of the nearby Boeing Everett Factory in Everett, Washington. The 73,000-square-foot (6,800 m2) facility, owned by Snohomish County via Paine Field and operated by Boeing, opened in 2005 at a cost of $24 million; it is funded by a sales and use tax from the county via its public facilities district. The museum includes a 28,000-square-foot (2,600 m2) gallery containing static and interactive exhibits and displays as well as a 240-seat theater, café and shops.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boeing Everett Factory</span> Airplane assembly facility in Everett, Washington

The Boeing Everett Factory, officially the Everett Production Facility, is an airplane assembly facility operated by Boeing in Everett, Washington, United States. It sits on the north side of Paine Field and includes the largest building in the world by volume at over 472 million cubic feet (13,400,000 m3), which covers 98.3 acres (39.8 ha).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vintage Wings of Canada</span> Aviation Museum in Quebec, Canada

Vintage Wings of Canada is a not for profit, charitable organization, with a collection of historically significant aircraft. The facility is located at the Gatineau-Ottawa Executive Airport, Quebec, Canada. It was founded by former Cognos CEO and philanthropist Michael U. Potter. Most aircraft in the collection are in flying condition, or being restored to flying condition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Collings Foundation</span> Aviation and automotive preservation foundation in Massachusetts, United States

The Collings Foundation is a private non-profit educational foundation located in Stow, Massachusetts, with a mission dedicated to the preservation and public display of transportation-related history, namely automobile and aviation history. The Collings Foundation is headquartered at a small private airfield in Stow that includes a small museum that opens for special events and pre-scheduled tour groups.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre</span> Aviation museum in Montrose, Angus

The Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre is located to the north of Montrose, Angus, Scotland. Montrose has the distinction of having the first operational military airfield in Great Britain and the Heritage Centre is located on the former airfield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chico Air Museum</span>

The Chico Air Museum is a nonprofit aviation museum located at the Chico Municipal Airport in Chico, California. Its mission statement is to "collect, preserve, document and display aircraft, and aviation and space artifacts. The museum’s primary purpose is to educate and inspire people of all ages about aviation and the history of flight".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arkansas Air & Military Museum</span> Aviation and military museum in Fayetteville, Arkansas

The Arkansas Air & Military Museum is an aviation and military museum located at Drake Field in Fayetteville, Arkansas. It is the largest aviation museum in Arkansas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Historic Flight Foundation</span> Aviation museum in Spokane, Washington

The Historic Flight Foundation (HFF) was an aviation museum located at Felts Field in Spokane, Washington. The museum collected, restored, and flew historic aircraft from the period between Charles Lindbergh's solo Atlantic crossing in 1927 and the first commercial flight of the Boeing 707 in 1957, a 30-year period when airplanes evolved from relatively simple wood and fabric biplanes to commercial jets. The museum was previously located at Paine Field in Mukilteo, Washington, but relocated to Spokane during the spring of 2020 due to the presence of commercial air service at Paine Field.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">N7470</span> Prototype of the Boeing 747

N7470, also named as "City of Everett", is a Boeing 747 aircraft that was built by Boeing as the prototype of the type. The aircraft rolled off the assembly line on September 30, 1968, and had its first flight on February 9, 1969. After the conclusion of the 747-flight testing program, Boeing retained the aircraft, using it for research and testing purposes until the early 1990s. The aircraft took its final flight on April 6, 1995, to the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington where it remains on display.

References

  1. Gates, Dominic (August 4, 2022). "Walmart heir acquires Everett's Flying Heritage Museum from Paul Allen's estate". The Seattle Times . Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  2. Podsada, Janice (August 4, 2022). "Flying Heritage Museum to reopen with new owner at Paine Field". The Everett Herald. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  3. http://www.flyingheritage.org/
  4. "ORA: Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum" . Retrieved June 2, 2014.
  5. Catchpole, Dan (11 April 2017). "Growing Flying Heritage Collection now has a new name". HeraldNet. Everett Herald and Sound Publishing, Inc. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  6. Podsada, Janice (2020-05-28). "Flying Heritage and Combat Armor Museum will close — for now". HeraldNet.com. Retrieved 2021-11-21.
  7. Podsada, Janice (April 19, 2022). "Paul Allen's Flying Heritage museum collection reportedly sold". The Everett Herald . Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  8. Gates, Dominic (August 4, 2022). "Walmart heir acquires Everett's Flying Heritage Museum from Paul Allen's estate". The Seattle Times . Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  9. Podsada, Janice (August 4, 2022). "Flying Heritage Museum to reopen with new owner at Paine Field". The Everett Herald. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  10. "Flying Heritage museum gives update on reopening". Globalair.com. Retrieved 2023-03-22.