The museum was established in November 1979.[3] The same month a B-17 was delivered to the airport.[4] Ground was broken in December 1980 and by March 1981 a barracks and an office building from World War II had been moved to the museum site.[5][6][7] It opened with 12 aircraft on 20 June 1981 as a branch of the United States Air Force Museum system.[8] Only four months later, an additional four aircraft were placed on display.[9] Then in 1983, an audit criticized leadership for poor accountability of resources, displaying aircraft outside the museum's mission, and lack of security.[10][a] By 1987, the museum was raising money to build a new "Flight of Fancy" exhibit building.[12]
Privatization
The announcement that Castle Air Force Base might close in 1991 brought the risk of the aircraft being moved to another museum.[13] However, after a study, an agreement was reached with the Air Force that the museum would remain open as a private entity.[14] In advance of the base's closure in April 1995, an effort was made to refresh the airplanes while federal resources were still available.[15][16][b] The loss of federal funding eventually caused financial problems for the museum.[18]
Around 2002, the museum began planning for a new building to house its more delicate aircraft as well as serve as a research library.[19][20]
Present
In May 2008, the museum reached its 50th displayed aircraft milestone with the addition of a Douglas A-4L Skyhawk. The aircraft was shipped to the museum in August 2006, and restored at a cost of $12,000.[21]
The museum received an F-16 in February 2016.[23] In 2021, the museum received 5 aircraft from Naval Air Museum Barbers Point, which had closed two years prior.[24][25][26] A McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II was moved to the museum in July 2023.[27] The museum opened the Copper Wings Cafe in July 2023.[28] A UH-12 was donated to the museum in December 2023.[29] The following May it received a TBM Avenger that had been ditched off Daytona Beach in 2022.[30]
In June 2023, the museum announced that it had received three donations totaling $4 million to support the construction of a new Aviation Pavilion.[31]
Facilities
The museum has a restoration facility in a World War II hangar at a separate location from the main museum grounds.[32] Volunteers at the hangar prepare the aircraft for display.[33]
An indoor museum features artifacts, photographs, uniforms, war memorabilia, aircraft engines, and a restored B-52 cockpit.[35][failed verification]
Alleged paranormal occurrences
The B-29A Superfortress exhibit is reported to be haunted by a spirit named "Arthur."[36] Museum management has reported that visitors, including paranormal investigators, have heard knocking and footsteps from inside the plane. In addition, lights in the aircraft have been known to turn on and off, and the propellers are known to turn even though they are locked in place. An apparition has allegedly been photographed on several occasions, and paranormal researchers claim to have detected anomalous readings on their equipment.[37] The paranormal occurrences have been featured on an episode of UPN's Real Ghosts (1995).
Collection
Boeing B-29A SuperfortressLockheed SR-71 BlackbirdConvair RB-36H PeacemakerDouglas B-23 Dragon
