Yanks Air Museum Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat "White 19" ...

[OD/NG]

They have been discussing a facility to Greenfield, California for the last 10 years.
It will have a 5000 ft runway so aircraft can operate from it.
It has been delayed a couple of times, but doing a internet search, the city is still looking forward to it.
Some work apparently has been done.

They've been discussing the move to Greenfield for at least 30 to 35 years. I first visited Yanks in the early 80's and they were talking about a move back then. Last I heard, Greenfield hasn't and won't give them the zoning permits to build a Museum and runway on the land that they own. I believe the Greenfield city council only gave permission for them to build an RV park/campground or something similar. I've heard there is a lot of politics and back story in play and animosity between Nichols and the City of Greenfield. Yanks used to have the full story on their website, but now there are no mentions of it there, as it's been deleted. To my knowledge, the project has been scrapped and there is very little hope of them getting the approval to build up there. If I remember correctly, a lot of the City Council and/or local citizens didn't want their little "sleepy vineyards" to become a major tourist destination to be disrupted by "loud airplanes" and destroy their "small town persona". All of this is from memory from about 8 to 10 years ago. If anyone has any more details or I recalled incorrectly, please post on this thread. Unless something has changed in the recent past, I believe Yanks will never move from Chino unless the airport shuts down.

[JohnH]

The Yanks RV Park was allowed to be built in Greenfield and has been there since May, 2013. There are dirt lots next to it where presumably they wanted to put the museum.

[JohnB]

If you look at the city website, there seems to be official approval and enthusiasm for the plan. They stress the jobs and tax base that the museum would bring.

So, as OD/NG states, it seems to be stalemated by local politics.

[bdk]

Any idea if Yanks is still throwing around the idea of moving out of Chino? Last I heard the Museum was considering moving to Central California. And with possibly the complete move of POF to Santa Maria, that could place both groups somewhat closer together again.

Well, if the County of San Bernardino doesn't renew the POF lease, they will pack up and move everything to Santa Maria. Same for Yanks. Don't know when their lease expires but they could be in the same position. Yanks is on a different part of the airport however so the county master plan may allow for Yanks to stay longer, or not.

The county master plan assumes certain things, like the growth of corporate aviation. If that trend collapses or reverses, things could change for both museums. It isn't over until it's over, but IMHO Chino Airport is getting crappier for general aviation by the year.

[C VEICH]

You have a good memory. In 2006 at Chino the Pond, Friedkin, and CAF Hellcats were all present. Quite a while ago. I don't know if 3 have been together since then.

August

I now believe there were four (4) F6F Hellcats at that show. The older Yanks F6F that was static at the time was outside on display as well if I recall.

Indeed the Yanks' Hellcat was pulled outside of the museum for folks to view as they were herded from parking to the show area. I was blown away that there were 3 Hellcats participating in the show as this was right after the loss of the PoF machine and I was not expecting to see any Hellcats!

I really hope the loss of the Yanks' Lockheed does not put a stop to their flying activities.

[k5083]

Huh. Must have been after I walked by. In those days, I used to sneak through the gates around dawn, have my way with the airplanes with a few other early rising enthusiasts, and go back for my wristband hours later when the gates opened. I didn't pass by Yanks again until dusk, when I suppose they must have had the cat put to bed. Too bad! (In later years, they clamped down and monetized early access.)

August

[marine air]

Many years ago my father had a conference at Chino and I attended with him. Guessing it was either 20 or thirty years ago. Planes of Fame had their F6F-5 and Yanks had the F6F-5 since sold to Fagen and the F6F-3 they still own. Also, outside there were some hulks including P-39s, a CG-4 glider and a couple of N3N fuselages. There was also an F6F that had been retrieved from shallow water off the coast of Hawaii somewhere, It was unrecognizable as the corrosion was extensive. So, that makes four Hellcats at the airport based there at the time.

[JohnB]

When I went there the first time, now 35 years ago, Yanks had several N3N hulks outside.
A recent photo shows they're still there...but they looked to be more complete. Likely the world's largest collection of the type.
Probably ex-dusters from central California.

The museum website shows three on display...one on wheels, the other on its central float, also one assembled but uncovered and showing off its unusual (for a biplane trainer) all metal structure.
The website says four are on display and have two dozen unrestored examples. They want to recreate the Naval Aircraft Factory assembly line.

Last edited by JohnB on Thu Jun 27, 2024 7:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[JohnB]

From their website:

Yanks Air Museum would like to thank everyone for all the kind thoughts and prayers during this time. The museum will re-open Thursday, June 27th, 2024.

[k5083]

I poked around their boneyard a couple of years ago and got as many N-numbers off the N3Ns as I could make out.

In the late 80s besides POFs and Yanks' two planes, Yanks also had N100TF which it was fixing up for TFC. That was gone around 1990 but then Champlin's bird came in to be refurbished for Friedkin. So it was usually possible to see at least 3, often 4 Hellcats on the field on any random day. Type of thing that has always made Chino special.

August

[k5083]

Double post.

[Chris Brame]

I took these about twenty years ago:

[Vagabond]

I was at POF in 2006 for the airshow and saw all three Hellcats - so thrilling! First Warbird airshow I ever attended.

















I didn’t see the Yanks F6F as I was not near their campus and remember that the POF F6F had gone down not long before the show.

I’m so, so glad that I was able to attend the POF show back then - the assortment of airframes blew my mind!

Gallery link:

https://www.vgbimages.com/AirShows/2006-POF-Airshow

[Vagabond]

I have videos posted to the galleries as well.

Enjoy the great memories y’all!