I look forward to welcoming everyone to the Museum again this year on Saturday May 21, weather permitting. There is no rain date. We have added three aircraft since last year, including an FM-2 Wildcat WWII Fighter plane that saw action in the Pacific Theater, and then spent 45 years at the bottom of Lake Michigan before being located, raised and restored. I also hope to have our F/A-18 jet cockpit open for everyone to sit in and get some photos.
We had 35 cars last year and that's about the max to get everyone parked near a plane without cars blocking other cars. I ask people arrive by 9:30am, I will be there earlier. The museum opens at 10am and the less car movements, the better. I ask that folks stay until 2pm, but understand that is not possible with other commitments, but please do not move any cars without myself or museum volunteers controlling the movement.
The Flight Line Cafe at the airport terminal where we are located, has a great lunch menu with good prices, and there are plenty of tables in the terminal, plus three picnic tables outside and of course by your cars or the shade of our planes.
If anyone is coming on Friday, I-40 Exit 125 has a cluster of hotels with lots of parking: Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn, Courtyard, Crowne Plaza, Fairfield Inn and Suites, and Best Western. There is a Carrabas in the parking lot, Outback up the access road and many food choices within a 3-4 minute drive. For those more adventurous, there is a Red Roof Inn across the highway at the same exit!
From this exit, we are 7 miles away, I-40W, Hwy 321N, left at 4th light onto 9th Ave, follow for 1.5 miles to the airport on the left. Trailer parking immediately on left in the large parking lot. Drive down to far end of parking lot, around the terminal and wait at open gate until a Museum volunteer brings you in. It's very tight entering, so very slow! GPS address for Museum is 3101 9th Drive NW, Hickory.
Please RSVP to this thread or drop me an email at info@hickoryaviationmuseum.com for questions and include a photo of what you're bringing as I will advertise the event on the Museum's social media pages and website. I want to have Carolina's SAAC folks and their friends locked in, so RSVP as early as possible. I'm getting requests to attend from non Shelby owners and want to fill the field first with our cars. I will be inviting the Carolinas Cobra and Southeast Sunbeam Tiger folks as well for a great variety.
I would like to RSVP for the event. Had a great time last year.
Good Lord willin', we and 6S1467 will be there!
Regards, Stan & Peg
Hoping to have the 70 GT350 convertible there, still at the shop awaiting replacement dash harness items.
Bill
planning to be there with my Black 67 #3062.
I would like to RSVP Andy Killian 3 people 3 cars Thanks
I am planning to attend and bring my 67 gt350 no.159. Looking forward to seeing Shelby's. John from SC.
I should be there, 67GT350.
Rob
If you're attending, don't forget to send me photos of what you're bringing to info@hickoryaviationmuseum.com. Thanks!
I'll be there,had a great time last year 8)
Three weeks to go, still waiting on rsvp's and photos to info@hickoryaviationmuseum.com so I can use to publicize. Have one Sunbeam Tiger owner who has rsvp'd and it looks like the Carolina Cobra Club is coming in good numbers. Hopefully we'll have good weather.
I advised you I would be coming but I will be unable to attend.
One week to go, and the preliminary forecast is hot, hot hot! Calling for low to mid 90s and sunny, so plan accordingly with sunscreen, water, etc. Any questions, just ask.
Quote from: FlyNavy on May 15, 2022, 11:22:16 AM
One week to go, and the preliminary forecast is hot, hot hot! Calling for low to mid 90s and sunny, so plan accordingly with sunscreen, water, etc. Any questions, just ask.
So far, I've had quite a few folks RSVP that they will be coming, and they are bringing some awesome Shelby masterpieces. I can't wait to see all of you again., I'm really looking forward to it.
What an amazing show! Many thanks to Bill Baker and the rest of the staff at the Museum for so cordially hosting our event. We had a few less cars this year due to members having other commitments, health issues and other unforeseeable events in their lives, but I can assure that a good time was had by all. The spectators who did show up to see the marvelous planes and cars were treated to quite a spectacle.
I will be uploading my pics (40+), but here are a couple teasers. Was there ever a better backdrop to display Shelbys and Mustangs than this?
Thanks again for putting this together, had a great time putting faces to names, and seeing some cars I had not since the early 80's.
Bill
i put a bunch of photos including the drone shots on the museum Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/HickoryAviationMuseum , . We counted over 500 visitors on the aircraft ramp, so it was a busy day!
Here is a link to my Image Shack page:
https://imageshack.com/a/qKBW7/1
Thanks for your hard work and organizing. We had a great time and met some very nice people.
Looks like it was a good event and some very nice cars - thanks for posting.
Brian,
Thanks so much for the pictures! Couldn't make it this year, was out in CO visiting family.
That 65 GT350; what an EXCELLENT VIN, 5S427 !!!
Jim
Bill Baker really is the man who made this happen. That and many thanks to him and everyone else who so thanklessly served in our military. Your service is greatly appreciated!
We officially announced that we'll be building a new aviation museum. It will be located across the field from where we are now, hopefully we'll be breaking ground early next year and this will allow us to move most if not all of our aircraft inside, protected from birds and weather. Eventual plans will call for a restaurant/brewpub type establishment along with an outdoor observation area as this complex will face the runway and westward for a beautiful view of the mountains.
https://hickoryrecord.com/news/local/hickory-council-approves-design-contract-for-new-hickory-aviation-museum-cvcc-workforce-site/article_0a7321de-f242-11ec-bb3f-1752ac1b9e49.html?fbclid=IwAR0ETjM9mOhaCe56PzBpRHr7_zxCAUU7m1XZbf8thmHcTRh0Gz8AnYLWHkI
Fantastic new, can't wait to check it out.
Bill
Awesome news! Congratulations! Hope it moves forward quickly.
That is amazing news Bill. If you guys are accepting donations, post a link.
Quote from: BGlover67 on June 24, 2022, 01:16:53 PM
That is amazing news Bill. If you guys are accepting donations, post a link.
Until we get a dedicated way via the webpage, we're happy to accept checks made out to "Hickory Aviation Museum" and mailed to:
Hickory Aviation Museum
3101 9th Avenue Drive NW Box 22A
ATTN: Buford Barnett/Museum Construction Fund
Hickory, NC 28601
We are a 501C museum and all donations are tax deductible, just ask for a receipt to be mailed back.
Thank you!
We finally released the fundraising website for the museum and the video produced is a really good of the vision. We brought on the local community college as a partner, and all is explained. https://www.elevatehky.com/
Looks great Bill!