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Aviation Heritage Park

Aviation Heritage Park and Museum
Aviation Heritage Park is located in Kentucky
Aviation Heritage Park
Location within Kentucky
Established2005 (2005)
LocationBowling Green, Kentucky
Coordinates36°55′12″N 86°26′10″W / 36.920°N 86.436°W / 36.920; -86.436
TypeAviation museum
DirectorBob Bubnis[1]
Websitewww.aviationheritagepark.com

The Aviation Heritage Park and Museum is an aviation museum located in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The park and museum highlight regional pilots their contributions to United States air and space travel.

History

Ideas for an aviation park in Bowling Green, KY arose out of a trip by a group of friends, including retired Air Force pilot, Brigadier General Dan Cherry, to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. During the trip, the group learned that a McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II aircraft was on display at a local Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Ohio. In fact, it was the exact F-4D flown by Cherry during the Vietnam War, including his dogfight and subsequent downing of a North Vietnamese MiG-21 in 1972.[2]

The aviation park was established in 2005, when the city of Bowling Green and Warren County, Kentucky agreed to the move the aircraft from Ohio. Aviation Heritage Park was dedicated in 2009, with Cherry meeting the Mig-21 pilot he shot down.[3] The park acquired more aircraft over the following years, including an F9F, F-111F, T-38, UH-1, J-3, and SH-3H.[4][5][6][7][8][9]

Aviation Heritage Park announced plans for an 11,000 sq ft (1,000 m2) museum building in October 2017 and broke ground one year later.[10][11] The new museum building opened to the public on 23 September 2023.[12][13]

Exhibits

Exhibits at the museum include a display about the River Rats.[14]

Collection

As of June 2024[23]

Events

The museum holds an annual Hangar Party fundraiser.[24]

Each year, the museum holds Open Cockpit Day where visitors can see inside the open cockpits of the aircraft on display. The event is free of charge, and you may bump into a pilot or two while at the park.[25] Open Cockpit Day 2024 occurs on 19 October 2024.

See also

See also: Category:Aerospace museums in the United States by state or territory

References

  1. ^ "Aviation Heritage Park Gets New Executive Director". WBKO. August 18, 2023. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  2. ^ "Veteran Aircraft Coming to Bowling Green". News-Democrat & Leader. June 28, 2005. p. A-7. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  3. ^ Jordan, Natalie (April 17, 2009). "Former Enemies on Hand for Dedication". Park City Daily News. pp. 1A, 6A. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  4. ^ Burch, Aaron (October 7, 2010). "F9F Panther Gets New Home". Park City Daily News. pp. 1A, 6A. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  5. ^ Brandenburg, Katie (May 23, 2013). "Restored Warplane Will Be Unveiled". Park City Daily News. pp. 1A, 5A. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  6. ^ Brandenburg, Katie (September 14, 2014). "Airplane to Be Moved to Park Next Weekend". Park City Daily News. p. 5A. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  7. ^ Harvey, Alyssa (May 9, 2017). "Landing Zone". Bowling Green Daily News. pp. 1A, 6A. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  8. ^ Swietek, Wes (December 31, 2017). "'She Had a Vision'". Bowling Green Daily News. pp. 1A, 7A. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  9. ^ "The long awaited SH-3H Sea King helicopter arrives in Bowling Green". WBKO. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  10. ^ Swietek, Wes (October 22, 2017). "Aviation Heritage Park Plans Museum". Bowling Green Daily News. pp. 1A, 8A. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  11. ^ Sergent, Don (October 11, 2018). "Taking Off". Bowling Green Daily News. pp. 1A, 6A. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  12. ^ Fletcher, Mason (September 23, 2023). "The Aviation Heritage Park Hosts Grand Opening of Museum". WBKO. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  13. ^ Story, Justin (September 24, 2023). "Aviation Heritage Park Museum Takes Off". Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  14. ^ Covey, Tucker (October 12, 2023). "River Rats Museum Exhibit Opens in the Aviation Heritage Park". WNKY. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  15. ^ "UH-1 Huey". Aviation Heritage Park. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  16. ^ "F-111 Aardvark". Aviation Heritage Park. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  17. ^ "Grumman Panther F9F". Aviation Heritage Park. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  18. ^ "Lockheed Shooting Star". Aviation Heritage Park. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  19. ^ "Phantom 550". Aviation Heritage Park. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  20. ^ "NASA T-38 Talon". Aviation Heritage Park. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  21. ^ "Piper J-3 Cub". Aviation Heritage Park. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  22. ^ "Sikorsky SH-3H Sea King". Aviation Heritage Park. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  23. ^ "Aviators Archives". Aviation Heritage Park. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  24. ^ French, Jackson (June 19, 2016). "'Big Dreams'". Bowling Green Daily News. p. 4A. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  25. ^ "Open Cockpit Day". Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
Quelle: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aviation_Heritage_Park