Quonset Air Museum to loose Hangar

[Warbird Kid]

Saw this from the museum's most recent newsletter (Fall 2014)
http://www.quonsetairmuseum.com/index.php?page=newsletter-archive

Although part of the Quonset Air Museum’s mission is to restore
artifacts from Rhode Island’s rich aviation history, sometimes
those artifacts are just too far gone. Unfortunately, the very
building that houses our museum, Hangar #488, built in 1945, is
just one of those artifacts that is beyond saving.
After a visit from the local and state fire marshals, in advance
of a Big Sisters event we were scheduled to host in September, it
was determined that the hangar is unsafe for occupancy. After a
series of meetings with the Rhode Island Airport Corporation, it
was determined that repairing the hangar was not economically
feasible. Ultimately, the building will be torn down, despite being
one of the last in the country of its kind.
However, the QAM’s members and volunteers are a hearty
bunch and never back down from a challenge. While the old
hangar may be going away, there’s a good chance we will be
able to build a new sctructure in its place. There are a number
of factors that need to take place for this to happen, but we will
keep you posted along the way.
In the mean time, we will continue along as usual, except that
this year, we are temporarily closing for the winter months and
re-opening on March 1, 2015.
Something new to focus on for now though is the launching
of a new way to raise funds – with PayPal and ‘crowdfunding’
(see cover story). Judging from the constant state of aircraft
restoration, in all kinds of weather, we have the muscle. As for
the money, we need your help in spreading the word.
To kick things off, we have added a PayPal Donation button
to our website, which will allow visitors to donate whatever
they can to help fund various restoration projects and, when the
time comes, the new building, which is expected to be a 15,000
sq. ft. facility, with a cost of approximately $750,000. While this
cost may seem daunting, QAM has already gotten $60,000 in
committed donations, and will add $22,500 to that figure from
the General Fund, contingent upon the property owners agreeing
to both the construction of a new building and a substantial
lease extension. Provided we clear those hurdles, we’ve already
raised more than 10 percent of the total cost of the new hangar!
We believe that with a concerted effort by our members,
volunteers and visitors, that we will have no problem raising the
funds needed to continue our successful museum. So tell your
friends, tell your neighbors, we’ve got some money to raise!
Regards,
Dave Stecker
President

[Pat Carry]

Bummer. I hope they are able to raise the necessary funds.

[Warbird Kid]

I just can't believe they don't think refurbishing the existing hangar AND updating it would be a better end-result then demolishing it. I understand they are probably looking at the bottom line, and that it would be more expensive to overhaul the hangar vs. starting from scratch BUT ultimately that is the better route. To preserve the original historic hangar your in as well as update it. Maybe even remove the south side doors and add a large glass greenhouse style facade to increase overall display space. Similar to that of the Red Bull hangars in Austria. Thats what I would suggest anyway.

Something like this:

Last edited by Warbird Kid on Thu Feb 19, 2015 3:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Cindy]

This issue existed when I still lived in RI and I left in 2007. It truly was a matter of time until they were forced down this path. It's a great little museum and I was proud to be a part of it while I lived there. I will definitely be making a donation!

Cindy

[sandiego89]

It truly was a matter of time until they were forced down this path. It's a great little museum...

Agree, a great Museum. I love the "charm" of the old hanger, but I did notice it was looking pretty rough when visting a few years back, and a rehab will likely only kick things down the road a few years.

Maybe it is just me, but I'll take an old, musty hangar and a great boneyard over a shiny display museum any day- it just adds to the feel of it. Mrs. Sandiego89 may not agree, as I seem to recall a visit to a few very hot, very old hanger where she did not seem to appreciate the charm.....and she said the planes all look all the same...siggghhh

Best of luck for a new building here.

[CAPFlyer]

The problem with "rehab" of a structure is that most places require that that structure also be brought up to current building code as part of that rehab as it's deemed a "major modification" of the structure and thus invalidating any "grandfather" rights that may exist for it. Many airports are dealing with this issue today because much of their infrastructure is getting to the age it needs to be updated and it cannot be updated "like for like" because of the requirement to meet modern building, fire & safety, and aviation regulations. Meacham airport here locally just saw the effect of this when the Bass family thru their FBO American Aero "renovated" the old American Airways hangar. 95% of the hangar was removed and replaced with new material that meets current building standards. While the exterior looks substantially the same, internally it is a new structure. Only because of the Bass family and the fact the hangar is designated a historic landmark did it remain as is. I would hate to have been a museum attempting to do the same work.

[Warbirdnerd]

Save Air Museum
To the Editor:

We are the proud home of the Quonset Air Museum. Over the years, there has been a lot of work done there to restore the planes and display them so that people of all ages can go there and enjoy them. Many people have gone there to enjoy seeing these planes and also other artifacts that are housed there. The planes are not only beautiful to look at, but a reminder of the many battles fought and those veterans who have lost their lives for the freedom we hold today.

During this past winter, the roof was damaged by the snow. Now, the state wants to move them out so the building an be completely removed. I think we need to repair the building, so it will remain for many years to come to be the heart of events such as the annual air show and also the heart of what Quonset is.

We all know Quonset was a big part of Rhode Island up until 1973, when the Naval Air Station closed. Many others and I worked on that base for many yea4rs and know the rich history that the museum holds. Let’s give our visitors the chance to visit our air museum and other tourist attractions around Rhode Island and keep the museum open!

Robert Andrews

& Ray Gardiner

Warwick

Found it here:
http://patch.com/rhode-island/northking ... air-museum
Online Petition Here:
http://pac.petitions.moveon.org/sign/sa ... by=7093210