asked^ Mike^ about^ theirIpilots ‐ where^ do^ they^ come
from?^ Mike^ explains^ that^ the Museum^ has^ no^ need^ to
pilots.^ "The^ pilots^ findrecruitus,"^ stating^ that^ they^ get
two^ to^ three^ pilot^ requests per^ month.^ Most^ of^ their
theirpilots^ have^ owned^ volunteer^ own^ war^ birds^ and
havein^ thousands^ of^ hours^ "tail^ draggers."^ And^ many
are^ qualified^ to^ flypilotstwo^ to^ three^ different^ planes.
Thevery^ selection^ process^ is^ rigorous^ as^ the^ pilots^
be^ entrusted^ with^ planeswillworth^ upwards^ of^ $3^ million.
newest^ addition^ to^ thecontrolmuseum's^ grounds^ is^ a^ The
tower^ or^ what^ the^ British refer^ to^ as^ a^ "watch^
It^ was^ acquired^ fromtower."the^ Royal^ Air^ Force^ Base
Goxhill^ in^ North^ Lincolnshire, England,^ the^ first^ base
over^ to^ theturnedAmericans^ following^ Pearl^ Harbor.
Dismantled^ nine^ years^ ago, the^ tower^ was^ brought
rebuilt.brick^ by^ brick^ and^ over^ The^ exterior^ is^ 99%^ completewith^ plans^ to^ renovate the^ inside^ within^ the^
aboutfew^ years.^ Asking^ next^ the^ funding^ required^ to
runMike^ this^ huge^ operation,^ advises^ that^ the^ Mu‐
Mr.is^ funded^ primarily^ by^ seum^ Yagen^ and^ his^ wife,^ Elaine.Donations,and^ ticket^ sales^ renting^ the^ museum^
weddings^ and^ other^ eventsforonly^ pays^ for^ the^ lightsand^ salaries^ of^ their seven^ Museum^ employees.^ "It^
pay^ for^ a^ single^ squaredoesn'tfoot^ of^ land,^ a^ single^ brick
orYagen^ single^ airplane.^ Mr.^ writes^ a^ check^ every^
year,"^ states.^ Mike When^ Mike^ attended^ his^ first^ board^ meeting^ over^2years^ ago,^ the^ members were^ discussing^ what^ they
becometo^ do^ to^ needed^ a^ "sustainable,^ truly^ community
based^ organization,"^ independent‐of^ Mr.^ Yagen's^
financial^ support.^ Mikecontinualrecalls^ that^ he^ told
thethey^ Board^ that^ he^ hoped^ were^ able^ to^ do^ that
daybut^ advised^ them^ "the^ quickly^ you^ do^ that,^ you^ need
toselflessly^ replace^ me."^ Mike^ explained^ that^ he^ is^
businessman^ that^ knows^ planesabut^ does^ not^ know^ "beans"about^ running^ a^ museum. The^ Board^ has^ taken^
recommendation^ and^ hasMike'srecently^ hired^ a^ new
Museuma^ Director^ with^ museum^ background.^ Mike
return^ to^ his^ previouswillrole^ as^ a^ proudly‐passionate
volunteer.^
War^ Birds^ Over^ the^ Beach^ attendance^ expectedWithreach^ 5,000^ visitors^ thistoyear,^ Mike^ looks^ forward^ to
their^ three^ newlyshowcasingacquired^ "can't^ tell^ you
cause^ I'd^ have^ to^ kill you"^ airplanes^ at^ this^ October's
staringair^ show.^ Mike,^ WWI^ out^ his^ window,^ recalls
how^ just^ eight^ short^ years ago,^ this^ site^ consisted^ of
but^135 acres^ of^ grass,nothingtrees^ and^ a^ 2,500^ foot^
‐^ duster^ airstrip.^ "Now,"^ Mikecropgleams^ "it^ is^ a^ world‐
‐worldin a (^) collection class^ setting."^ class I encourage everyone to visit^ the^ Military^ Aviation^ Museum
(Open9am^ daily^ from^ ‐5pm,^ except^ Thanksgiving^
ofChristmas);^ attend^ one^ and^ their^ annual^ air^
leastevents;^ or^ at^ show^ check^ out^ their^ website
to^ view(MilitaryAviationMuseum.org)great^ pictures^ of
theirair^ war^ birds.^ I^ believe^ shows^ are^ of^ great^ value^
(^) present past, (^) theand^ future!^ to‐ (^97) Nakajima (^) B5N2 Type (^)