May 14, 2004 - College Park Aviation Museum

 

I've had been meaning to visit the College Park Aviation Museum for some time, so we drove down to College Park. I was very impressed; it's relatively new and well worth a visit for any aviation enthusiast. My Mom, Lynnette and I are standing outside the museum.

I also was impressed with the airport itself (KCGS). The runway is 2600 feet, they have an FBO and the overall place is very well-kept and maintained. I'd like to fly in sometime. Unfortunately, due to its proximity to Washington D.C., only those actually based at the airport are allowed to fly in and out. Hopefully, someday the security will be lifted.

 
The museum features the Wright Brother, which makes since, since they started the airport and taught the first two aviator students there. Wilbur actually moves and talks ala Disneyland.
The museum's showpiece, I thought, was this immaculate 1909 Wright Flyer B. The photo doesn't do it justice. The fabric was pure white and the spars were silver. I thought they were aluminum, but they were actually wood painted silver. The Ken Hyde organization build this aircraft. It is much more advanced than the famous 1903 Flyer of Kitty Hawk fame. It has wheels, two seats, and an elevator. The museum has footage of one of them flying around the field, never getting higher than 100 feet!
My Dad checking out the 1909 Flyer.

I was kind of disappointed with the Centennial of Flight celebration at Kitty Hawk, December 17th, 2003. I had no problem with what they were trying to achieve -- fly an exact replica exactly 100 years later to the minute. However, the original only flew because of the strong wind and cold temperatures that day. So the replica couldn't get airborne 100 years later on a day with light winds and warmer temperature.

Still, I think they should have flown the 1909 version, so the entire world could have seen some sort of Wright Flyer airplane fly. It was a big missed opportunity by the aviation community.

The 2003 EAA AirVenture at Oshkosh also should have had a Wright Flyer fly around as part of the airshow. Despite it being the Centennial anniversary, there was only a static display.

A replica of the Bleriot; first plane to fly the English Channel.
Another shot of the Bleriot.
This is a Stearman that local pilot Gus MacLeod flew to the North Pole a few years ago. They were selling his book at the gift shop; I should have bought it.
This shot gives you an idea of the museum's size.
Lynnette took me for a ride around the patch.
We stopped at the nearby Robert H. Goddard Space Museum. Not much too it, but I did like this diarama of Goddard and his first rocket.
Lynnette going for a spacewalk.
 
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