Museo de Aviación de Alaska

El Museo de Aviación de Alaska , anteriormente Museo del Patrimonio de la Aviación de Alaska , está ubicado en la Base de Hidroaviones del Lago Hood en Anchorage, Alaska . Su misión desde 1988 es preservar el patrimonio aeronáutico de Alaska y fomentar el interés público en la aviación. Sus áreas de especial interés incluyen la aviación en zonas remotas y la base del Ejército de la Segunda Guerra Mundial en la Isla Adak . ^{[ 1 ]}

Motivado por la destrucción de una colección de aeronaves históricas en un incendio en el entonces Museo de Transporte de Alaska cuatro años antes, Ted Spencer fundó la Sociedad Histórica de Aeronaves de Alaska en 1977. ^{[ 2 ] [ a ]} ​​El museo abrió al público en 1988 en el antiguo edificio de Alaska Aeronautical Industries. ^{[ 4 ] [ 5 ]} Al año siguiente, solicitó a la Legislatura del Estado de Alaska fondos para comprar los derechos de arrendamiento del terreno en el que se ubicaba. ^{[ 6 ]} Pronto comenzó a localizar restos de aeronaves en áreas remotas del estado, con el objetivo de recuperarlas antes de que fueran adquiridas por coleccionistas privados. ^{[ 7 ] [ b ]} Con la ayuda financiera de varias empresas y la legislatura estatal, adquirió un Stearman C2B en 1992. ^{[ 13 ]}

Then, in 1996, it was revealed that the museum was in financial trouble, with visitor numbers decreasing, a number of loans coming due and deferred rent by the Municipality of Anchorage coming to an end. As a result, the museum considered selling some of its aircraft and the mayor, whose audit had discovered the difficulties, proposed moving it to a nearby National Guard Armory.^[14] A report that September proposed dissolving the museum's board of directors and that the city take over its operation.^[15] A plan by two consultants, released in August 1997, proposed a new board of directors made up of both city and museum personnel.^[16] However, two months later, following claims that creditors owed money might seek to seize some of the airplanes, the museum sued the city, arguing that it was unfairly blocking it from selling a Stinson Model A to pay its debts.^[17][18] The museum finally sold the airplane in May 1998 and planned to use a portion of the proceeds to buy its property from the city.^[19]

An exhibit about the history of helicopters in Alaska opened in June 2016.^[20] The museum unveiled an L-1 restoration project that September.^[21]

The museum restored its Grumman Goose to flight in May 2024.^[22]

The museum is made up of the Main, Rasmuson, South, and Cecil Higgins Restoration Hangars; as well as a shelter.^[23][24] Also on display is the air traffic control tower cab used at Merrill Field from 1962 to 2002.^[25][26]

Exhibits include an art gallery, flight simulator, a display about the 75th anniversary of Alaska Airlines and recreations of a tool shed used by Reeve Aleutian Airways in Valdez, a Quonset hut and storefronts from 4th Avenue in Anchorage.^[27]

It is also home to the Alaska Aviation Hall of Fame.^[28]

• Historia de la aviación en Alaska
• Lista de aerolíneas en Alaska
• Lista de pilotos del Salón de la Fama de Alaska

• Sitio web oficial
• Sitio web no oficial

61°10′40″N 149°58′16″W / 61.17778°N 149.97111°W / 61.17778; -149.97111