Museum of Flying Returning to SMO

The Museum of Flying in Santa Monica, which has been closed since July 28, 2002 is coming back and will have a new location.

Moreover, a spokesman for the museum announced last month the establishment and formation of the California Aviation Hall of Fame. It will be a subsidiary entity to the Museum of Flying and will operate under the auspices of the Museum's 501(c)(3) non-profit designation, a spokesman said.

"The California Aviation Hall of Fame was established in order to recognize and pay tribute to the aviation visionaries of California that have made significant contributions to the advancement and development of Aviation and Aerospace fields," the spokesman said. "A special section of the new Museum of Flying building will be dedicated to display the Hall of Fame inductees along with images, artifacts, and ephemera of those individuals."

The museum previously had been located on the north side of the ramp with a high dollar restaurant called the DC-3 above it, where the Donald Douglas Museum once was located. However, the restaurant had a decidedly non-aviation them and very high prices, keeping most pilots away.

Many movie and TV stars were spotted among its customers, where a cup of coffee was $5 and an order of fries $15. Ladies who lunch from Santa Monica met there frequently.

Many private soirees were held at the museum, such as movie premiers and city events, fund raisers and celebrity parties. For various reasons, however, the museum closed in 2002.

David Price, founder of American Golf Corporation in 1970, which manages more than 300 golf courses around the world, was the principal operator of the museum, along with some silent partners. He also had an interest in the DC-3 restaurant.

When problems arose, however, he sold off many of the rare warbirds, mostly to other museums and some at auctions.

Now, under the old name, the museum has executed a lease with the City for the location at 3100 Airport Avenue, on the south side of the field. A grand opening is tentatively set for the Spring or Summer of 2010.

The museum's plan calls for the remodeling and expansion of the existing building at 3100 Airport Avenue, increasing it in size by approximately 8,000 square feet. The addition will have a pre-manufactured steel building provided by General Steel of Colorado.

The addition will allow for the main building to be expanded and tied to the existing hangar row on the south side of the leasehold; creating a display and exhibit area of nearly 22,000 square feet, the spokesman said.

The new museum expansion and remodeling project is estimated to cost $2 million and the promoters are actively seeking individual contributions ranging from $125 to $5,000.

It wasn't stated what aircraft will be contained in the new museum.