As most aviation people know, the Kansas City area has a very rich aviation heritage. Aircraft such as American Eagle, Rearwin, Porterfield, the Luscombe Phantom, Inland Sport, the Butler Blackhawk, the Howard racers, and others were all built in Kansas City in the 1920's and 1930's, and during World War II, B-25 bombers rolled out of the North American factory where the GM Fairfax Assembly plant now resides. Many WACO troop-carrying gliders were also produced in Kansas City. Unfortunately there are no local museums dedicated to preserving this legacy.
One of our loftiest goals is to construct a hangar to house not only our chapter facilities, but a museum dedicated to the area aviation legacy. This museum is proposed to be located at Gardner Municipal Airport (K34), and will house aircraft as well as reference materials and chapter meeting rooms. This goal will require numerous fund raising efforts, and labor from our membership, as well a donations from the aviation public at large, but I believe the goal is worth the effort.
The Chapter has already received a donated 1946 Ercoupe 415-C project and more donations are in the works. We hope to have the hangar constructed over the course of the next few years, and then set out to find flying examples of aircraft built here during Kansas City's golden aviation period. If you would like to join our group, or if you can help out in any way, please contact us.
Our Mission
VAA Chapter 16
"Flatland Flyers"
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1925 Kansas City
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Strang Line Airpark in Overland Park, KS, circa-1915. One of the first airports in Kansas.
"Dedicated to the Preservation and Maintenance of Vintage Aircraft"
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