Chico Air Museum Annual Report 2017 Page 1

CHICO AIR MUSEUM ANNUAL REPORT 2017

Submitted to City of Chico Airport Commission

January 15, 2018

As required by the lease dated and signed July 30, 2013, this report covers the activities related to the

Chico Air Museum (501c3 Corporation) for the year 2017.

1) Museum Overview

a). The Museum hosted over 7,514 visitors during normal business hours last year, representing

a 12% increase over 2016. A review of the visitor sign-in sheet reveals people visiting from all over the

World. Groups Visits and Special Events also continued to increase during 2017.

b). The Museum retained its hard-won qualifications for government surplus acquisitions. CAM

qualifies for Federal and State Surplus, Air Force, and NASA surplus inventories.

c). The Chico Air Museum is managed and staffed solely by volunteers. There are no paid

positions within the organization, with its structure defined within the Articles of Incorporation and

Organizational Chart. The 8-member Board is appointed whose terms are 2 years.

d). Free Admission will continue to be the goal of CAM. Thanks to local support through the

Museum Partners Program, CAM Memberships, Gift Shop Sales and visitor donations, we are able to

meet our operating expenses without charging admission.

2) Staff, Contributors and Supporters

a). Staff. There are currently 25 docents actively staffing the CAM. Among other positions on the

Restoration Team, Facility Team, Exhibit/Artifact Team, there are an additional 25 active volunteers.

Noteworthy this year, was the continued success of the Airman Docent program. This program

encourages young people under age 18 to become Museum volunteers. The amount of aviation

knowledge found in these young volunteers is a thing to behold.

b). Contributors. CAM continues to enjoy a strong willingness within the community to provide

contributions in the form of historic artifacts, pictures, memorabilia, artwork, etc. Artifact Donations are

curated by dedicated volunteers Joyce and John Forberg. Our collection of historic artifacts and photos

continues to grow and is incredible.

c). Support. Once again, 2017 saw the benevolence of many individuals who graciously

contributed monetarily to CAM. In addition to the support of our loyal Members, the “Museum

Partners” Program provides an opportunity for individuals or companies to support the direct operating

expenses of CAM (i.e. insurance, water, utilities, security monitoring etc.). Their important contributions

are renewed yearly and allow CAM to focus fundraising efforts needed for facility improvements or

aircraft acquisitions outside of the operating expenses.

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3) Group Visits and Events

a). School Field Trips. There were over 25 school field trips conducted by CAM staff in 2017.

Local schools including Bidwell Jr, MacManus, Hooker Oak, Chico Adventist, Ponderosa, Parkview,

Sherwood Montessori, Nord Country Day, Smart Start, Butte College and CSUC to name a few have

visited the Museum this year. Field Trips coordinated by CAM often included concurrent visits with Cal-

Fire, Schooler Flying Service and AirSpray USA, making it a very memorable and educational experience.

There were 6 schools with Special Needs or Disabled students who also visited.

b). Retirement and Assisted Living Facilities. CAM continued to be a popular destination for local

retirement and assisted living facilities, among them, The Oakmont, Twin Oaks Rehab, Lighthouse, and

Pacific Senior. Our ease of access and unique venue makes a visit to CAM a special day for many of our

senior citizens.

c). Special Events. A number of special events were held at CAM including: F-86 Saber Jet

Dedication Ceremony to combat pilot Lee Koenig, First Annual Model Airplane Competition and RC Swap

Meet, Chico Rotary luncheons, NVAA Membership Dinner, “The Building of an Air Tanker” speaker

presentation by Ravi Saip of AirSpray, CAM Volunteer Appreciation and Awards Banquet, and the CSUC

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South Korea Club visit. There were also 3 “Celebration of Life” gatherings at CAM this year. Notably, the

year finished out with Santa flying into CAM to the delight of over 140 children.

d). Offsite Events. CAM participated in many off-site events including: Pioneer Day parade with a

unique float entry. “The Incredible Aviation History of the North Valley” presentations were made to

many local service groups including Chico/Durham Rotary and Exchange Clubs. CAM also participated in

the Concourse De Elegance, Chico Cemetery Veterans Day Ceremony overflight and The Chico Heat

Military Appreciation Day National Anthem overflight with the WWII BT-13 and PT-26 warbirds in

formation flight.

4) Facility Improvements 2017

a) Butler Building Roof and Rain Gutter. A major and difficult improvement to the Butler

Building (attached the main hangar) was undertaken at significant expense for materials and labor. CAM

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Volunteers and Golden State Rain Gutter replaced corroded roof panels and rain gutter in order to stop

rain intrusion.

b) Mini-Hangar. The design and construction of our new mini-hangar for pedal plane storage

was expertly undertaken and completed by volunteer Jim Murphy.

c) Window Maintenance. There are over 840 pane glass windows in the Main Hangar. Installed

in December 1940, these windows have seen 77 years of Chico Aviation History. Due to the age of the

window sealing material, the capability to keep out windblown rainwater is compromised. This

formidable job will be an ongoing and necessary project due to water intrusion.

d) Miscellaneous improvements. Countless minor facility improvements were made in 2017

including: expensive replacement of front door, repair of roll-up doors, removal of corroded swamp

coolers and ducting, and installation of a diaper changing station.

5) Exhibit Improvements 2017

a). Design of Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Display. With the acquisition an original ASW

sonobouy and high quality models of ASW aircraft, CAM volunteers constructed an educational new

exhibit. This exhibit compliments the Lockheed P2V Neptune ASW aircraft we have at CAM.

b). Opening of Ed Golay Space Room. Thanks to many hours of work by CAM Volunteers lead by

Mark Koch, the Ed Golay Space Room is now open to the public. Final assembly of the International

Space Station mockup is still underway, but this exhibit and small theater is incredible and highly

educational. CAM has maintained its qualification to acquire NASA surplus items, and will continue to

add to our collection of NASA artifacts.

6) Aircraft Acquisitions 2017

a). Piasecki H-21 Helicopter. 2017 saw the acquisition of a large tandem rotor helicopter known

as the H-21 Shawnee. Used by the Army and Air Force in Korea and Vietnam, this unique rotorcraft was

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acquired from the Travis Air Museum in Fairfield. In the heat of the summer, it was disassembled,

transported and re-assembled by CAM volunteers Ed Holohan, Gene Herndon. The large rotorcraft is

now on display in the outdoor display area. Cosmetic restoration efforts are currently underway by our

dedicated Restoration Team lead by Bob Gonsalves.

b). 1940 Culver Cadet. In October, CAM was the recipient of a rare aircraft known as the Culver

Cadet This aircraft was generously donated and flown to CAM by owner, Stan Lawrence from

Sacramento. This amazing aircraft was capable of 140 mph top speed on 75 horsepower due to its clean

design and retractable landing gear. This aircraft is will be on display by months’ end.

7) Status of Lease requirements set forth by the City.

Of the 25 original improvements required in the City of Chico Lease, there are only three

remaining improvements to be carried out.

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a). New Entrance Construction. CAM successfully concluded its Matching Fund fundraising effort

in 2017 for the new Museum Entrance Project exceeding the goal of $50,000 dedicated towards the

project. CAM was honored to be chosen as one of three beneficiaries of the extraordinary Chico

Cioppino Feed and Auction Fundraising Event to be held February 23rd 2018. Since this event is

historically very successful, we are confident that CAM will reach its final fundraising goal necessary to

construct this impressive new entrance this year.

CAM is proud to be working with the Chico Rotary Club and Howard Slater of Slater and Son

Construction to finalize plans and hopefully begin construction this year.

b). Memorial Walk of Honor. Preliminary design of the Memorial Walk of Honor has been

completed. Even though formidable, this project will be less demanding to complete compared to the

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Entrance Project. Construction is planned to begin early in 2019.

c). Landscaping of outside area. With the site-work requirements of the New Entrance and Walk

of Honor, it was deemed the landscaping of the outside area would be best performed after the

completion of those projects.

8) Planned Improvements not required by City.

a). Planning is underway for the addition of an exhibit dedicated to WASP Pilot Cornelia Fort.

Ms. Fort was a civilian flight instructor in Hawaii on Dec 7, 1941 and was the first U.S. pilot to encounter

the Japanese on their way to Pearl Harbor attack. She became the second member of the WAFS

(Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron), and was working as a ferry pilot in a Vultee BT-13 when she

became the first female pilot in American history to perish while on active duty.

b). CAM is working with CSUC Construction Management Department to design and construct a

solar panel array and shade structure in the outside display area to help mitigate our utilities expenses.

c). CAM hopes to retrofit of windows, ceiling and floor in the Butler building to create a public

viewing area of the Cal-Fire operations ramp. The installation of historic glass windows from the original

WWII control tower has been contemplated. The final decision on installation of historic glass, or

modern double pane glass is pending review.

9) In Conclusion

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On behalf of the Museum board members, volunteers, contributors and supporters, I’d like to extend

our sincere thanks to the Chico Airport Commission, Chico Municipal Airport Manager, Chico City

Council, and City Staff who have supported development of the Chico Air Museum. We look forward to

working with you in 2018 in our ongoing efforts to establish CAM as a Regional Educational Attraction.

Happy New Year!

Brian Baldridge

Board President

Chico Air Museum