The Lone Star Flight Museum, located in Houston, Texas in the United States, is an aerospace museum that displays more than 40 historically significant aircraft and many hundreds of artifacts related to the history of flight. The museum's collection is rare because most of the aircraft are flyable. Located next to Ellington Airport, the museum is housed on about 100,000Â ft2 (10,000 m2) of property, including its own airstrip. The museum, formerly located in Galveston, moved to Houston to avoid a repeat of the devastation suffered during Hurricane Ike.
History
A Tour of The Lone Star Flight Museum (Galveston Pt. 1) - This week I head out to Galveston island to check out the Lone Star Flight Museum. Lone Star Flight Museum https://www.lonestarflight.org/ ...
The museum began as a private collection of historic aircraft in 1985. By 1990, that collection had grown enough that its owner decided to place them on public display. The Lone Star Flight Museum, a non-profit organization funded entirely through private donations, was formed for that purpose.
2008 damage and restoration
The museum reported heavy damage from Hurricane Ike, stating on September 16, 2008, that the hangars and Hall of Fame had received seven to eight feet of water and the lobby three to four. Damaged aircraft include a B-58A and F-100 on loan from the US Air Force Museum, Consolidated PBY-5A, Dehavilland DH-82A, Grumman F3F-2, Lockheed PV-2D, and Stinson L-5. Aircraft flown out of harm's way in advance include their B-17, B-25, DC-3, P-47, F6F, F4U, SBD, PT-17, T-6 and the F8F. Most of the airworthy planes were flown out of the museum prior to the hurricane. Those remaining as well as the static displays were largely destroyed or heavily damaged.
Move to Houston
Following the destruction of Hurricane Ike, the museum made the decision to move to Ellington International Airport in Houston. It is working with the Collings Foundation and Texas Flying Legends to create a combined aviation museum complex. In March 2014, the museum received $7.6 million from FEMA. The museum broke ground at its new location on November 9, 2015. Initially scheduled to be dedicated on September 1, 2017, the opening was postponed to September 16th due to Hurricane Harvey.
TF-51 crash
On October 23, 2013 a P-51 (TF-51) Mustang owned by the museum crashed in Halls Lake, just south west of the museum. Both the pilot and a paying passenger from the UK were killed in the crash.
Airshows
The museum's collection often participates in airshows across the country. As of 2005, the museum's aircraft annually log more than 40,000 miles (60,000Â km) of cross-country flying to various air demonstrations.
The museum's P-47 Thunderbolt participates in USAF Heritage Flights throughout the year. The USAF Heritage Flight program was established in 1997 to commemorate the Air Force's 50th anniversary. It involves today's state-of-the-art fighters flying in close formation with World War II, Korean and Vietnam era fighters such as the P-51 Mustang and the F-86 Sabre. The flight's mission is to safely and proudly display the evolution of US Air Force airpower and to support the Air Force's recruiting and retention efforts.
The museum's North American B-25 Mitchell also serves closely with the Disabled American Veterans program. The DAV Airshow Outreach Program was developed to increase public awareness of disabled veterans and to serve veterans in communities across the nation. Using two B-25 medium bombers, the program reminds the public of the sacrifices veterans have made.
In 2007, the museum launched its newest program by offering rides in some of its warbirds. The LSFM now operates flights for passengers in the B-17 Flying Fortress, North American B-25 Mitchell, T-6 Texan and the PT-17 Stearman.
Texas Aviation Hall of Fame
The Texas Aviation Hall of Fame, located within the museum, honors the contributions of residents or natives of Texas to aviation and spaceflight. Inductees include Howard Hughes, Alan Bean, Senator Lloyd Bentsen, and President George H. W. Bush.
Collection
Airworthy
- Bell TAH-1P Cobra 76-22599 â€" It is on loan from the Vietnam War Flight Museum.
- Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress 44-85718 Thunderbird
- Boeing N2S-3 Kaydet 7718
- Boeing N2S-5 Kaydet 38490
- Cessna 172E Skyhawk â€" It has been converted to T-41 configuration.
- Douglas A-1D Skyraider 126882 â€" It is on loan from the Vietnam War Flight Museum.
- Douglas TB-26C Invader 44-35371
- Douglas DC-3 2213
- Douglas A-24B Dauntless 42-54682 â€" It is painted as an SBD.
- Fairchild PT-19 Cornell
- Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat 94204
- Grumman TBM Avenger â€" It was damaged by Hurricane Ike on September 13, 2008.
- Hawker Hurricane Mk IIB â€" It was damaged at an airshow on April 26, 2008 and further damaged by Hurricane Ike on September 13, 2008.
- Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon 37634 â€" It was damaged by Hurricane Ike on September 13, 2008.
- North American B-25J Mitchell 44-86734
- North American SNJ-5 Texan 85053
- Republic P-47D Thunderbolt 44-90368 Tarheel Hal
- Stinson L-5 Sentinel 42-98798 â€" It was damaged by Hurricane Ike on September 13, 2008.
- Supermarine Spitfire TE392 â€" It was damaged by Hurricane Ike on September 13, 2008.
- Vought F4U-5N Corsair 121881
On static display or in restoration
- Grumman S-2 Tracker â€" It was damaged by Hurricane Ike on September 13, 2008.
- Lockheed P2V Neptune
- Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21
- North American F-100D Super Sabre â€" It was damaged by Hurricane Ike on September 13, 2008 and is on loan from the National Museum of the United States Air Force.
See also
- Scholes International Airport at Galveston
References
External links
- Lone Star Flight Museum
