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McMinnville Air Museum

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Industry Observer with No Longer Processing Mortgages. MLO #293441 expired

On our way back from stay at Depoe Bay, OR, my wife and I stopped at the McMinnville Air Museum.McMinnville Air Museum

Their primary building is basically built to house a one of a kind aircraft - Howard Hughes' "Spruce Goose".  From the picture you can get a bit an idea about its size, but to know that even today no other plane has been built with a larger wing span, and there are only a couple that come within a foot of the height of the tail is all the more impressive, knowing this was build during and just after WWII.  When he got the government contract to build it, they required that no metal be used in the fuselage/wings/tail of the plane due to the shortages during the war.  It was therefore built of many plys of birch.

This building also covers most of the history of flying through WWII type aircraft. They are arranged in a manner that is very conducive to wanting to learn more about this period in aviation history.

 

McMinnville Air Museum

 In another building, across the parking lot - through a walkway of the planetary system, there is a great display of the history of manned and unmanned flight into the heavens.  They have a couple of missiles from the cold war, as well as several jets.  Two of the very interesting exhibits are the X-15 and the SR-71.  They also have some of the satellite mock ups and rover type machines that have been used in outer space, on the moon and Mars.

They also have a movie theater in a third building near this parking lot.

Then for the kids they have an indoor water park -- with a 747 on the roof, and slides coming out the exit doors!

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Steven CookSteven T Cook
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Comments (4)

Than Maynard
Coldwell Banker Heart of Oklahoma - Purcell, OK
Broker - Licensed to List & Sell - 405-990-8862

The SR-71 Blackbird was a very cool plane at the time. Super sonic spy plane, no weapons, just take pictures and run.

Dec 02, 2012 04:56 AM
Steven Cook
No Longer Processing Mortgages. - Tacoma, WA

Than -- yes it was a great plane.  I wonder what plane we have taking those pictures now --that hasn't been declassified yet.  Since I am pretty sure that the sattelites are doing it all.

Dec 03, 2012 02:59 AM
Atlanta's Home Inspector, David Lelak IHI Home Inspections
IHI Home Inspections 404-788-2581 - Canton, GA
Experience the IHI Difference

Wow! Our mural and airplane bed would feel right at home with this post! Thanks for sharing this, Steven. Museums are wonderful opportunities to learn about the history of an area as well as its people.

Dec 12, 2012 01:18 AM
Steven Cook
No Longer Processing Mortgages. - Tacoma, WA

David & Bonnie -- thank you for stopping by.  There is another air museum a few miles west of this near Tillamook -- that is housed in old Dirigible hangers.  And then we have the Boeing Air and Space Museum at the south end of Seattle.  Won't go into the other vehicle museums at this time.

Dec 12, 2012 02:37 AM