Curatorial Updates
Preparation has begun for the arrival of our exciting new Galileo exhibit, scheduled to open this Spring. Due to the container ship back-up in Long Beach, the exhibit supplier, the Artisans of Venice, cannot give us an exact arrival date but we feel certain that all should come together in the next 30 to 45 days.  Galileo’s scientific contributions to civilization’s understanding of the universe, and ultimately to the exploration of space, will be specifically highlighted in the new exhibit.

After a long absence, the reproduction of the Wright Brothers’ “Flyer” will soon be back on display in the Museum’s Rotunda. The required restoration work is underway in the Modern Jet Age Gallery, across the aisle from the Blue Angel’s F-18, and is expected to take several months to finish. The long anticipated arrival of the flyer at the Museum’s Balboa Park location, when completed, will add the final component to the “Pioneers of Flight” exhibit theme carried throughout the Museum’s magnificent entry way.

Restoration Updates
Although the pandemic has slowed the progress of several restoration projects, a couple are nearing completion, not the least of which is our “Flying Ambassador,” the Aeronca L-3. The project began with a bare bones tube fuselage in need of rebuilding in several places, and is now nearing completion. The Aeronca should be ready to fly before the summer airshow season. Special thanks goes out to volunteer Mark Albert for shepherding this project along for the past few years.

Also nearing completion is the very rare 1927 Boeing FB-5 fighter aircraft. Again, progress has been slowed by the pandemic, but at this time the fuselage is virtually complete and has been covered. The rudder, horizontal stabilizers and lower wings have also been covered. The 40-foot upper wing has been completed and is awaiting only a fabric covering. Once control surface cables have been installed, the aircraft will be ready for final finishing which will be Navy themed.

Our downtown project, the Hughes “Racer,” is moving ahead slowly but steadily. This extremely complex build from scratch project has recently required the efforts of our volunteer fabricators and our CAD/CAM expert to tackle the complexities of the cockpit interior. While the Museum’s machine shop volunteers have recreated many parts, we have, and will continue to employ, the 3D printer to manufacture the smallest parts. Work also continues on the large all-wood wing of the Racer, with trial fits to the fuselage expected in the near future.

We look forward to putting the pandemic in the rear view mirror and, as things return to normal, we urge any of our newsletter readers to join our volunteer program and experience the satisfaction derived from promoting our worthy restoration projects.

Terry Brennan, Museum Curator and Restoration Director.