North Carolina Aviation Museum
Encyclopedia
The North Carolina Aviation Museum and North Carolina Aviation Hall of Fame displays a collection across two hangars of static aircraft, uniforms and memorabilia, and an extensive collection of aircraft models. Nearly all aircraft on display are privately owned and on loan. All aircraft on display are kept in flight-worthy condition and the collection changes periodically. Aircraft restoration and museum operations is performed by a small staff of paid employees along with volunteers.
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In 1996, Peddycord spearheaded an air show held in June to generate support for the museum. About this time, Bob Moon offered to serve as the facility's first manager. During Moon's three years there, he assembled dozens of aircraft of all types, which he would later donate to the facility. Many of those models still hang from the NCAM's gift shop ceiling, which was named after him following Moon's October 2007 death.
In 1997, a second air show was scheduled for June 5. Peddycord and his son Rick were killed the day before the event when their two aircraft collided in mid-air during practice. The facility was renamed the Peddycord Foundation for Aircraft Conservation (PFAC) in Peddycord's honor; another local businessman, Craig Branson, continued the effort to draw support for the PFAC.
In 1998, Branson purchased a B-25 for restoration and generated enough local support to have a second hangar built to house the aircraft. The aircraft was completely restored in 2004 and made limited flights in 2004-5.
In 2001-2, the facility was renamed The North Carolina Aviation Museum, reflecting an expanded mission that included artifacts, uniforms, weapons, artwork and models. During this time-frame, the NCAM was also designated as the official site for the North Carolina Aviation Hall of Fame. Both names were combined and now the facility is referred to as the North Carolina Aviation Museum and Hall of Fame.
Branson died in 2006. In 2008, the museum featured a F4U-4 Corsair, courtesy of Classic Fighters of America pilot Doug Matthews, one of an estimated 40 air-worthy examples in the world.
the first Saturday in June. The event includes visiting aircraft displays, free small airplane flights for children, helicopter rides, a racing car exhibit, Ham Radio
demonstrations, face painting by the Marines, remote control model aircraft, and scale model displays. In 2009, the "NCAM's Third Annual Fly-In attracted about 80 aircraft and 1,500 patrons. At the fourth fly-in in 2010, those figures jumped to 150 aircraft and more than 2,500 people.
History
Founded in 1994 by Asheboro businessman Jim Peddycord as the Foundation for Aircraft Conservation, what would eventually become the museum first started out with a couple of his "warbirds" and an empty hangar at the Asheboro Regional AirportAsheboro Regional Airport
Asheboro Regional Airport is a city-owned public-use airport located six nautical miles southwest of the central business district of Asheboro, a city in Randolph County, North Carolina, United States. It was formerly known as Asheboro Municipal Airport.Although many U.S...
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In 1996, Peddycord spearheaded an air show held in June to generate support for the museum. About this time, Bob Moon offered to serve as the facility's first manager. During Moon's three years there, he assembled dozens of aircraft of all types, which he would later donate to the facility. Many of those models still hang from the NCAM's gift shop ceiling, which was named after him following Moon's October 2007 death.
In 1997, a second air show was scheduled for June 5. Peddycord and his son Rick were killed the day before the event when their two aircraft collided in mid-air during practice. The facility was renamed the Peddycord Foundation for Aircraft Conservation (PFAC) in Peddycord's honor; another local businessman, Craig Branson, continued the effort to draw support for the PFAC.
In 1998, Branson purchased a B-25 for restoration and generated enough local support to have a second hangar built to house the aircraft. The aircraft was completely restored in 2004 and made limited flights in 2004-5.
In 2001-2, the facility was renamed The North Carolina Aviation Museum, reflecting an expanded mission that included artifacts, uniforms, weapons, artwork and models. During this time-frame, the NCAM was also designated as the official site for the North Carolina Aviation Hall of Fame. Both names were combined and now the facility is referred to as the North Carolina Aviation Museum and Hall of Fame.
Branson died in 2006. In 2008, the museum featured a F4U-4 Corsair, courtesy of Classic Fighters of America pilot Doug Matthews, one of an estimated 40 air-worthy examples in the world.
Aircraft
- Piper J-3 Flitfire - Orville Wright flew in this plane in 1943 (as part of a fund-raising campaign for the RAF Benevolent Fund by Piper Aircraft Company).
- 1930 Savoia-Marchetti S.56Savoia-Marchetti S.56|-See also:-Bibliography:This page contains material originally created for ...
, one of only two remaining in the world. It is on three-year loan from the Reynolda House Museum of American Art in Winston-Salem, N.C. - Cessna L-19 Bird DogCessna L-19 Bird DogThe Cessna L-19/O-1 Bird Dog was a liaison and observation aircraft. It was the first all-metal fixed-wing aircraft ordered for and by the United States Army since the U.S. Army Air Forces separated from the Army in 1947, becoming its own branch of service, the U.S. Air Force. The Bird Dog had a...
- A Korean War era aircraft designed to identify enemy operating positions. - Stearman PT-13D Kaydet- a standard primary trainer flown by the United States and several allied nations during the late 1930s through World War II.
- Beechcraft T-34 Mentor - a propeller-driven, single-engined, military trainer aircraft derived from the Beechcraft Model 35 Bonanza. It was listed for sale as of Oct. 1, 2010)
- Pilatus P-3Pilatus P-3-References:*Jane's All the world's aircraft 1956-7 p. 223: London, Jane's All The World's Aircraft Publishing Co, Ltd*-External links:*...
- Swiss primary training aircraft, Switzerland's attempt to create an aircraft similar in design and function to the T-34 "Mentor." - Fairchild F-22- Two-seat, light sport/utility plane.
- Shehane Aerosport Quail - Experimental aircraft built in 1978, uses Volkwagen engine for power plant, one of a kind.
- Denney KitfoxDenney KitfoxThe Denney Kitfox is a series of small personal kit aircraft with folding wings that was originally designed and manufactured by Dan Denney and his company Denney Aerocraft of Boise, Idaho....
- complete frame, awaiting engine, skin, controls before construction can begin. - Purcell Sea SpritePurcell Sea SpriteThe Purcell Sea Sprite was an experimental homebuilt glider aircraft. It was intended to be operated by experienced pilots under 200 feet attached to a tow boat. Created by Thomas Purcell of Raleigh, North Carolina, the aircraft weighed about 175 pounds and could be built from plans for about $400...
- a 1975 experimental aircraft, one of a kind. - Purcell Flightsail Pelican - a 1990s experimental aircraft, one of a kind.
- Rutan VariEzeRutan VariEze-See also:-References:* "Flying the VariEze", Air Progress, April 1978.* * * * Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83. London:Jane's Yearbooks, 1982. ISBN 0-7106-0748-2.* * Flight International 1976...
- composite canard aircraft, 1st sold in N.C., 3rd sold in U.S., currently under active restoration as of June 1, 2010 by Mike/Ryan White. - Link TrainerLink TrainerThe term Link Trainer, also known as the "Blue box" and "Pilot Trainer" is commonly used to refer to a series of flight simulators produced between the early 1930s and early 1950s by Ed Link, based on technology he pioneered in 1929 at his family's business in Binghamton, New York...
s - flight simulators awaiting restoration, used for pilot training from the 1930s until the early 1960s. - BAI Aerospace Unmanned Aerial Vehicle - was used aboard the Coast Guard Cutter, the USS Harriet Lane until 2002.
- Curtis Wright J-65 jet engine
Past
- F4U-4 Corsair
- B-25
- Beechcraft C-45A
- Pilatus PC-9Pilatus PC-9The Pilatus PC-9 is a single-engine, low-wing tandem-seat turboprop training aircraft manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland.-Design and development:...
Large scale models
In addition to 150+ aircraft models displayed suspended from the ceiling of the gift shop, the collection includes scale models with wingspans of up to ten feet:- 1903 Wright Flyer
- P-47D Thunderbolt
- BF-19 Messerschmitt
- P-51 MustangP-51 MustangThe North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
Fly-in
Since 1996, the museum has sponsored a fly-inFly-in
A fly-in is a pre-arranged gathering of aircraft, pilots and passengers for recreational and social purposes.Fly-ins may be formally or informally organised, members of the public may or may not be invited, the gathering may be at an airport or in a farmer's field.Fly-ins can be aimed at specific...
the first Saturday in June. The event includes visiting aircraft displays, free small airplane flights for children, helicopter rides, a racing car exhibit, Ham Radio
Amateur radio
Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...
demonstrations, face painting by the Marines, remote control model aircraft, and scale model displays. In 2009, the "NCAM's Third Annual Fly-In attracted about 80 aircraft and 1,500 patrons. At the fourth fly-in in 2010, those figures jumped to 150 aircraft and more than 2,500 people.