Tillamook Air Museum Tillamook, Oregon July 2024

When you visit Tillamook Air Museum, firstly you have to be impressed by the huge hangar that houses the modest collection of aircraft mostly contained within. The former US Navy hangar built for non-rigid airships towers over the only aircraft stored outside, a Aero Spacelines Mini Guppy. Construction of two hangars (A and B) were started in 1943 at Naval Air Station (NAS) Tillamook, which was soon closed in 1948. Hangar A was destroyed by fire in 1994. Jack Erickson moved his collection of aircraft at Madras, Oregon to Tillamook in 2013. The northern end hangar doors were originally opened using a motorised pully system. The power was cut in the 1970s so today they use an aircraft tug to open and close the six 120 feet (37 meters) high doors each weighing 30 tons, rolling on railroad tracks set in concrete. Sadly, I fear for the Museum in its current home. The wooden construction of the hangar has suffered over the previous 80 years. Leaking very badly toxic polluted water rains down on to the aircraft below. The repairs to the vast roof will take amount of money far beyond the Museum itself is able to fund. Many of the valuable exhibits are now housed within the hangar under a white tarpaulin type tent.

Aero Spacelines Model 377MG Mini Guppy (N1037V later registered N422AU) is the only example and was converted from a Boeing 377-10-26 in 1967 and was immediately displayed at the bi-annual Paris Air Show. In 1969 it ferried parts to repair a Boeing 707 that had been damaged in a hijacking in Damascus. Three years alter it was used to transport Pioneer 10 to Cape Canaveral and the Goodyear GZ-20 Europa blimp from Akron Municipal Airport, Ohio to Cardington airfield in the UK. American Jet Industries acquired the aircraft in 1974 and operated it as N422AU before selling it to Aero Union in 1980. In 1988 Erickson acquired the Mini Guppy and later retired it the Museum in 1995.

Left to right: Nord 1101 Noralpha (N2758 c/n 175 previously F-BCAS and F-BLQK) constructed as a Nord 1002 by SNCAN at Meulte and Les Mureaux, it is on loan from the National Museum of Naval Aviation Pensacola, Florida.

Left to right: Alenia Aermacchi C-27A Spartan (91-0107 'HW' registered N2286Z). Douglas A-4B Skyhawk (142922 'AF-500') VA-76 USS Intrepid. PZL-Mielec Lim-6 (319 registered N2503N) ex Polish Air Force (Polskie Sily Powietrzne).

Left to right: North American CT-39A Sabreliner (03481).

Left to right: Vought A-7E Corsair II (158819 'AC-401').

Inside the canvas tent that is in the museum hangar.

Left to right: Douglas A-26B Invader (44-35708 registered NX3222T) Oregon ANG. Fairchild GK-1 (N3779C).

Left to right: Bellanca 14-13 Cruisair Senior (N74325). PZL-Mielec Lim-5 (1426 registered N1426D).

Left to right: Kaman HTK-1 / Kaman TH-43E Huskie (129313).

Left to right: Hunting Jet Provost T.3A (XM357 registered N27357). Boeing PT-17 Stearman Kaydet (41-25796 registered N59295).

Left to right: Ryan PT-22 Recruit (N49049 '136' registered N48778). Bell TH-57C Sea Ranger (162028).

Left to right: Grumman F-14A Tomcat (159848 'AJ-201') ex Strike Fighter Squadron 14 (VFA-14) 'Tophatters' USS John F Kennedy. This F-14A appeared in the film ‘Top Gun'. It burst a tyre when flown in landing on a short runway at Tillamook.

Left to right: Grumman F-14A Tomcat Front seat and back seat.