Wikipedia

Moffett Field Museum

The Moffett Field Museum is an aviation museum located at the Moffett Federal Airfield near Mountain View, California, focused on the history of the airport.

Moffett Field Museum
Moffett Field Museum is located in California
Moffett Field Museum
Location within California
Former name
Moffett Field Historical Society Museum
Established1994 (1994)
LocationMountain View, California
Coordinates37°24′41″N 122°03′15″W / 37.4113°N 122.0542°W / 37.4113; -122.0542
TypeAviation museum
Founder
  • Carol Henderson
  • Rose Lesslie
Executive directorJeff Wasel[1]
Websitewww.moffettfieldmuseum.org

History

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Background

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Following the 1992 announcement that NAS Moffett Field was closing and the airport would be turned over to the National Air and Space Administration, a group of individuals established the Hail and Farewell Committee to collect historical artifacts related to the base.[2] The Moffett Field Historical Society was founded in May 1993 by Carol Henderson and Rose Lesslie.[3]

Establishment

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The museum originally opened in a 30,000 sq ft (2,800 m2) portion of Hangar One in 1994. For five years the museum was sponsored by the United States Navy Reserve. However, this ended when NASA raised the rent on the hangar in 1999.[a] At the same time, NASA required the museum to install a sprinkler system. Three years later, in January 2002, the museum was forced to close as it was unable to afford the system.[5]

Move

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The museum reopened in Building 126, a former U.S. Navy recreation center, across the street from Hangar One in April 2005.[3][6]

The museum opened time capsule in April 2007, but most of the contents were damaged by water.[7]

The museum began preparing a Lockheed U-2C for display in August 2014.[8]

The museum briefly closed in 2017 for upgrades to its HVAC system.[9]

The museum received an official duplicate of Rear Admiral William A. Moffett's Medal of Honor and sword in April 2018.[10]

Facilities

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A library is located at the museum.[11]

Exhibits

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Exhibits at the museum include electronic warfare, navigation, the USS Macon, a collection of ship's silver serving dishes, Rear Admiral William A. Moffett, memorial, a collection of uniforms, aircrew survival equipment, a Link Trainer, the various aviation organizations at Moffett Field over the years and a room with a model train layout leftover from the building's time as a Navy recreation center.[12]

Collection

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Lockheed ER-2 with Hangar One in the background

Programs

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The museum hold a bimonthly series of STEM clinics.[23][6]

See also

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References

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Footnotes

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  1. ^ In February, the museum opened a "Macon Room" about the airship USS Macon.[4]
  2. ^ The U-2Cs used by NASA were replaced by ER-2s in 1981 and 1989. The example on display at the museum was one of the original batch of aircraft and is therefore correctly designated as a U-2 and not an ER-2.

Notes

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  1. ^ Godlewski, Meg (30 December 2022). "Museum Spotlight: Moffett Field, California". Flying. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  2. ^ D'Agostino, Bill (4 January 2002). "NASA May Force Moffett Field Museum to Shut Its Doors". Mountain View Voice. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  3. ^ a b "History". Moffett Field Museum. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  4. ^ Larsen, Elaine (26 February 1999). "Hangar One". San Francisco Examiner. pp. P-1, P-4. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  5. ^ Barton, Bruce (9 January 2002). "Moffett Museum May Be History After Friday Shutdown". Los Altos Town Crier. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  6. ^ a b Martin, Malea (14 April 2023). "'I want us to be known as the STEM place': Moffett Field Museum is on a Mission to Modernize". Mountain View Voice. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  7. ^ DeBolt, Daniel (20 April 2007). "A Glimpse of History at Moffett Field". Mountain View Voice. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  8. ^ "Moffett Field Museum Prepares Historic U-2 Spy Plane for Display". Los Altos Town Crier. 20 August 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  9. ^ "Moffett Field Museum Reopens Today, Celebrates History of Naval Air Station". Los Altos Town Crier. 10 May 2017. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  10. ^ Noack, Mark (15 May 2018). "Moffett Museum Adds New Artifacts from Namesake". Mountain View Voice. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  11. ^ "[Library]". Moffett Field Historical Society Museum. Archived from the original on 14 May 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  12. ^ "Exhibits". Moffett Field Museum. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  13. ^ "Airframe Dossier - Bell AH-1S Cobra, s/n 68-15155 US, c/n 20689". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  14. ^ "Airframe Dossier - Hawker Siddeley AV-8A Harrier". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  15. ^ "Airframe Dossier - Lockheed U-2C, s/n 56-6681 USAF, c/n 348, c/r N708NA". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  16. ^ Dinius, Dede (29 September 2023). "ER-2 High-Altitude Airborne Science Aircraft". NASA. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  17. ^ "Airframe Dossier - Lockheed TF-104G Starfighter, s/n 28+09 WGAF, c/n 583F-5939, c/r N825NA". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  18. ^ "Airframe Dossier - Lockheed P-3A-25-LO Orion, s/n 150509 USN, c/n 5035". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  19. ^ "Airframe Dossier - Lockheed TP-3A Orion, s/n 151370 USN, c/n 5083". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  20. ^ "Airframe Dossier - Northrop-McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A- 7-MC (Lot 4) Hornet, s/n 161521 USN, c/n 38". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  21. ^ "Airframe Dossier - Vought F-8A Crusader, s/n 145399 USN". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  22. ^ "Airframe Dossier - Vultee BT-13A Valiant, s/n 41-22386 USAAF, c/n 6464". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  23. ^ "STEM Activities and Education". Moffett Field Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
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