Beechcraft Museum at Tullahoma, TN

[GeeBee]

Had a great time yesterday in Tullahoma. Great airport, wonderful people, great facilities. You can taxi over to the museum but it is on grass and I was not to keen putting my long body on grass of unknown firmness or grading. So I borrowed the courtesy car, which they offered and were not concerned about it being out for 3 hours.

The museum is fabulous. They had a hangar full of Beech 18's which brought back memories of my freight dog days. I signed the "freight dog" poster since I flew freight in one in the past. The 1947 Bonanza and Staggering in the lobby are simply stunning. Of all the aircraft in there, there was only two I had not flown. The Army T-prop Queen Air and the T-34C. Everything else, I had at least one flight including, yes, the Starship.

Which brings up questions. Why is there no Mooney Museum? 10,000 aircraft out there. There is a big story there. What would it take to get one going? Where would one locate it? I would think the Lone Star state would rank high on list of locations.

[neilpilot]

If you do fly into KTHA and have time after the museum, consider the 15 minute drive to the Jack Daniel's Distillery in Lynchburg.  

Edited June 24, 2021 by neilpilot
fixed airport designator

[Raptor05121]

13 minutes ago, neilpilot said:

If you do fly into KTLH and have time after the museum, consider the 15 minute drive to the Jack Daniel's Distillery in Lynchburg.  

I'm sure you meant KTHA, as TLH is the Capital of Florida I know what you mean about the distillery. When I flew up, the entire area was IFR and the VOR approach into KTHA was out of service. All the Beech guys with their fancy panels shooting GPS approaches really sunk the point home lol. I asked for MVA and ATC popped me out of the cloud deck with the distillery in my windscreen. Very fun memories.

Very good recount, BeeGee. I've been there as well and the grass was quite stable for my light short body. The Starship is my favorite aircraft ever and it was my first time seeing one. We went during Beech Party and unfortunately, the guy with the two last Starships didn't make it out last year. I'm super jealous you got to fly one!

Edited June 24, 2021 by Raptor05121

[A64Pilot]

What is a T prop Queen Air? U-21?

[GeeBee]

Yep U-21. 

I actually got to fly the Starship factory demonstrator. Because it was the first, I thought it looked "rough" but looking at later production models, there  really was no difference in the production quality. It looks cool from a distance, but when you get up close, I did not think it represented the brand well. I also flew the Piaggio out of Genoa, Italy. I have to say their production quality was very good. The metal workers were real artisans. They build the airplane from the outside in, forming the skins first in plywood molds, then placing in the stringers and formers. 

Quite frankly though, for the money you're better off with a King Air 300 or 350, especially with the performance mods.

 

[MBDiagMan]

I’ve been to that museum.  It’s the best museum of civilian aircraft I've seen.  As far as a warbird museum, my biased opinion is that Mid America Flight Museum in Mount Pleasant, Tx is the best old warbird museum.  Everything is airworthy,  My bias comes from my volunteering there and my hangar next door to the museum.

[MooneyMitch]

On 6/24/2021 at 9:25 AM, GeeBee said:

Which brings up questions. Why is there no Mooney Museum? 10,000 aircraft out there. There is a big story there. What would it take to get one going? Where would one locate it? I would think the Lone Star state would rank high on list of locations.

A Mooney Museum project was put in place by Dr. Jerry Chen, CEO Mooney 2014.  In fact, the very first 2014 Mooney was sold via an auction [winner was awarded aircraft at AirVenture 2014] and all sale proceeds were to go to the creation of the Mooney Museum, which was to be built on site at the Kerrville factory.  Much of the equipment/machinery removed from the factory for upgrades was stored on site for placement in the future museum.

[MooneyMitch]

On 6/24/2021 at 9:25 AM, GeeBee said:

The museum is fabulous.

Did you happen to see the information in the museum for Ralph Harmon?  Ralph Harmon was the creator of the Beech Bonanza.  Also, Ralph Harmon was the person responsible for converting the Mooney to an all metal Mooney.  Ralph Harmon's family donated his historical information to the Beechcraft Museum where it should be easily accessed by visitors.

[GeeBee]

Yes I did. 

So where does the museum effort stand now and who is in charge?

 

[MooneyMitch]

1 hour ago, GeeBee said:

Yes I did. 

So where does the museum effort stand now and who is in charge?

 

I don’t know the status.  I do suspect the project is possibly dormant or no longer in the mix.

[carusoam]

How would you go about getting flight time in the two remaining Brand Bs..?

 

A pic of a LB in front of the B museum would be quaint…   

Best regards,

-a-

[GeeBee]

I guess I could find a civilian T-34C. I've flown a straight T-34 but the C. is a whole different animal. As for the U-21, I think that ship has sailed. I have a lot of time in a C-90 King Air and some time in a 65-B80 Queen Air so if I averaged the two, would it count as a U-21?