Trade.Information

Company Name: airlinehistorymuseum.com

Company Type: The Museum

Company Profile

 Engine To Be Returned to the Overhaul Facility   ...  (8/21/06)
The number two engine on the Connie was overhauled following its internal failure, during a ground maintenance run, last year. After receiving the engine back from the overhaul facility, it was re-installed on the left wing in the number two position. Several minor adjustments were made and it seemed to be running fine during ground tests. On the first flight test, problems occurred when attempting to control the propeller / engine RPM. Both the propeller and its governor were replaced by other freshly overhauled units, and the same results were encountered on subsequent test flights. After the last flight, the oil screens were found to have metal particle contamination. The engine will be removed and returned to the overhaul facility, under warranty. We will keep our members informed of the progress made in getting our Connie back in the air as soon as possible.
Many New Items Added to the Internet Gift Shop ...  (2/11/05)
Two new categories of merchandise have just been added to the new AHM Internet Gift Shop; Jackets and Shirts. There are now seven categories; Hats, Jackets, Books, Models, Gifts, Shirts, and Videos. There are now a total of 108 gift items to choose from. Soon, even more categories and other popular gift selections will be added. The AHM plans to eventually offer all of the most popular and best selling items from our AHM Gift Shop. Click on the "NEW Gift Shop" link, at the left of your screen, to see the new Jacket and Shirt selections and begin your AHM Internet Gift Shop experience.  Museum "Connie" is now a movie star...  (2/3/05)
A motion picture, titled "The Aviator", opened in theaters in December, 2004. It is the story of the life of aviation pioneer Howard Hughes. The development of the Constellation was a major event in his aviation career. Filming the movie, with our AHM Constellation, took place in October, 2003 at the San Bernardino Airport, located just east of Los Angeles. The AHM Connie, complete with the original TWA paint scheme, created the perfect "set" for the movie makers.
A story about filming our Connie's part in the movie, complete with photos, has now been written and placed elsewhere on this site. To visit the "set" of the motion picture "The Aviator"   Click Here  
 Flight of Fancy - Click Here  (09/05/02)
Freelance writer Conger Beasley Jr. has given the Airline History Museum permission to reprint his article, "Flight of Fancy", that originally appeared in the Kansas City Star Magazine on August 18, 2002.  Take a flight with us aboard Kansas City's Connie as a writer takes the ride of his dreams.

About Company

An idea was born...
In 1985, in the Kansas City area, an idea was born.  A couple of aviation enthusiasts were reminiscing about the "good old days" of large, propeller-driven transport aircraft.  They wondered if one could be located, restored, and flown to Airshows and other gatherings where young people could see, first-hand, the power and grace of these great airplanes from our past.  They wanted folks to hear the sounds and see the sights of these mighty machines as they were actually flying rather than just sitting on display.  They wanted an operational Lockheed Super Constellation.  The idea caught on and today, N6937C, "Star of America", is flown to and displayed at numerous aviation functions all over North America, for the public to tour and enjoy. 
The "Connie's" owner and the parent corporation, Save A Connie, Inc., or SAC, was organized in 1986 for the purpose of "restoring, preserving, and exhibiting propeller-driven commercial aircraft".  Memberships were made available to the public.  It was, and now is, a volunteer organization made up primarily of aviation enthusiasts.  In 1990,  a Martin 4O4 was obtained and restoration was soon completed on this second SAC aircraft.  Later a Douglas DC-3 was obtained and its total restoration is currently underway.  In the year 2000, as the organization now had three aircraft, another more appropriate name was adopted.  In keeping with the original and ongoing goals of the parent corporation, SAC now is doing business as the "Airline History Museum", or AHM.
The AHM developed a museum, a gift shop, and a working maintenance operation, as well as aircraft displays, at their headquarters at the Kansas City Downtown Airport (MKC).  Existing space was soon outgrown and recently one of the largest hangar facilities on the airport was obtained to become the new AHM headquarters, hangar, and maintenance facility.  There are staff offices, shops, a large museum, a well stocked gift shop, artifact storage, and a heated hangar large enough for indoor storage and maintenance of all three AHM aircraft.  Museum and aircraft tours, as well as aircraft maintenance, can now be conducted in shirt-sleeve comfort regardless of the weather.
The AHM has hundreds of members from all over the world.  Operations are funded by donations and Airshow revenue.  Running an organization of this size requires experienced people from all walks of life.  Management, accounting, public relations, training, record keeping, aircraft maintenance and operations, and other necessary jobs are all handled by dedicated volunteers.