Fred Austin sent us an update about the Port Townsend, Washington, Aero Museum's Opening Celebration on August 3rd, 2008:
I attended the pre-opening celebration at the Port Townsend Aero Museum this evening. If you like old airplanes you don't want to miss this museum. It is the culmination of years of hard work by retired United Captain Jerry Thuotte and his lovely wife Peggy and a whole bunch of youngsters, and I mean youngsters, starting in their early teens. This is a great story and here's a really short version. Jerry and Peggy have been training young people for years in the art or aircraft repair and restoration, teaching them to fly, helping them get their A & P and pilot licenses then find jobs in the industry when they were ready. Jerry will tell you the whole story if you can corner him when you drop by the museum. He'll tell you the kids built the museum, not him, and he means it.
Besides the aircraft exhibits there is a reference library and some wonderful paintings, prints, and photographs on all the walls. If you haven't been to the Port Townsend Airport they have a good restaurant where you can grab breakfast or a burger. It's about 100 yards from the museum and there are plenty of tie downs.
