I thought I would share a little bit about a place I found yesterday. I had a business meeting in the small eastern Idaho town of Rexburg, north of Idaho Falls. While there I noticed a sign for a place called the Legacy of Flight Museum. I figured that since I had some time to kill, I’d go check it out.
Mind you, I honestly did not expect this venture to be too exciting; boy was I proved wrong.
For a small airport/museum, they had a pretty interesting inventory. All of their aircraft are maintained to a “flight-ready” condition. Their motto is, “aircraft were meant to fly, not sit around.” On display they have a Blue Angel’s A-4 Skyhawk, Navy S-2 Tracker, Beech Staggerwing, T-6 Texan, PT-17, O-1A Birddog, 3 P-51D Mustangs (one is Ole Yellar once owned by Bob Hoover, the Mormon Mustang and one called Section Eight). Possibly the rarest of their aircraft is one of only 3 flying P-63’s in the world. From what I was told by the museum director, the other two that are in flying condition are in Europe.
There are two gentlemen who retired from the Air Force that run the museum. Both of these guys are avid modelers and have an impressive collection. There are model aircraft ranging from the Wright Flyer to the F-35 and from almost every country you can think of. Some of the models are hung from the ceiling in the front reception area, while others are placed in cabinets throughout the space. In a small office, just inside the front door is where they both do their modeling. There are so many kits in various stages of completion. They have boxes stashed in cabinets throughout the space as well. These guys are full of knowledge and information.
I did take a few pictures of the aircraft on display; however, I didnt take any pics of the models (I’ll do that on my next trip over there). I will try to upload the pictures tonight when I get home.
So, if anyone is ever in the Rexburg area, stop by and take a look!
There is a place in Florida called “Fantasy of Flight” that is based on the same principle. I was there this past December and just recently found out that it was closed to the public a short while after. All the planes are flight ready. There are many containers stored there with parts for planes that they plan to rebuild. There is a very large room in one of the hangers just for storing engines.
On the day that I was there, the owner took his P-51 up for a few turns around the skies. Awsome. Sorry to see it closed as I had planned a return trip. The owner told us that he had all kinds of plans in the works to expand the place.
I live about 20 minutes from that museum. They just had an airshow, which they do every year. A few weeks ago my friend and I got to work on the Mormon Mustang. Sort of by coincidence but oh well it was groovy. They used to have an Avenger, but I think they sold it. Pacific Fighters restoration shop is here in Idaho Falls, you see cool stuff flying in and out and around here somewhat frequently. Love it when Skyraiders come in.
Fantasy of Flight was originally Weeks Air Museum at the New Tamiami Airport in South Dade County. Kermit Weeks relocated to Polk City right after the destructive and killer Cat 5 Hurricane Andrew hit S. Florida on August 24, 1992. He had an early B-17 that apparently he could not move and was heavily damaged by the storm. He he did manage to move his large collection to safer ground. I visited the Tamiami location many times and was amazed at all the history in that place. I have his new location not too far from me and will eventually take a peek at his impressive collection.
Weeks told us that he had plans to lengthen the main runway, add more hangers, and set up areas like dioramas. He wanted to hire more people to do the restoration work. Can’t imagine what happened.
Could you give out the new location? We’ll be going down that way again and would really like to see the collection again. Didn’t have time to see it all last time.