Current Issue - Mid America Museum of Aviation and Transportation

NEWS LETTER
Happy Spring from The Mid America Museum of Aviation
and Transportation!
We had a busy year here at the museum and will continue
to have another busy year. 2015 was full of great times
from Fall Fest, virtual tours, volunteer activities and more.
We would like to thank you for all of your dedication and
support to the museum and of aviation.
Connect with us online:
Inside this issue
02
1971 Camaro Z28
03
Museum Displays
04
Virtual Tour
05
Meet the Interns
06
Members on Board
07
Veterans Day/
Fedex Display
08
Fall Fest
09
Grants
10
Volunteer
Activites
11
Message from the
President
2600 Expedition Ct.
P.O. Box 3525
Sioux City, IA 51102
(712) 252-5300
http://www.MidAmericaAirMuseum.org
PAGE 02
1971 CAMARO Z28
1971
Camaro
Z28
The 1971 Camaro Z28 on display at the museum has quite an interesting story behind it. It all
started when Richard and Rosemary Alter spent $3,337.75 on a brand new 1971 Camaro Z28.
This car was considered to be the “ Best All-Around” car of its time. The Z28 Camaro was no
ordinary muscle car. It came with an impressive 350 cubic inch, V8 engine that produced 275
hp.
A few years after the purchase of the car was made, Rick was stationed in Italy for the Air Force.
He brought his family and his baby with him. In 1975 Rick and the rest of his family decided to
pack into the Camaro and road trip around the European Continent. The journey started in Italy
and led the family through Switzerland, Germany, and Austria.
This Camaro has seen good times, but it has also seen some bad times. Although Rick calls the
Z28 an omen of bad luck since the very first day he had it. The first day that he purchased the
vehicle, it suffered an accident as someone ran into it while driving it around Omaha. The
Camaro sustained some damage but was able to be restored. Then in 1998, another vehicle ran
a red light and crashed into the Camaro. The vehicle was totalled. Hoping that would be the last
time something bad happened to his car, Rick spent the money and fixed it once again. After it
was fixed he would keep it in his garage for safekeeping but that did not stop the local neighborhood kids from getting to it. They lit his garage on fire with the car still in there. Rick did not give
up hope on his car just yet and decided to repair it once again. In September 2014, there was a
100+ mph windstorm that did major damage to the car. With the expert help from John Harbeck,
the 1971 Camaro has been restored to better than new condition in only four months time. The
Camaro was up and running by the following March.
We are honored to have the Camero Z28 here at the Mid America Museum of Aviation & Transportation. The vehicle is in immaculate condition and we encourage you to stop by and take a
look.
All vehicles are privately owned and on loan to the museum. If you have or know of a vehicle that
would be a good display - let us know.
PAGE 03
MUSEUM DISPLAYS
1983 DeLorean
David Kaplan’s 1983 DeLorean was the center
of attention this past October due to the
Hollywood blockbuster Back to the Future II. In
the movie, Doc and Marty travel forward in time
to October 21, 2015 in a DeLorean. Reporters
from around the area came down to the
museum to get a story for what is now known
as “Back to the Future Day.”
TIT
Honda CB500T
A Honda CB500T motorcycle was purchased by Rick and Rosemary Alter brand
new in 1976. Rick said this motorcycle has
a powerful 498cc engine with a 5-speed
transmission made for going fast. Instead
of focusing on different aspects of the bike,
Cycle World Magazine in 1975 wrote, “It is
long enough to carry a briefcase or a
passenger without crowding the rider. And
the padding is soft enough for comfort.
Believe us, without this seat you couldn't
ride a 500T very far and get off smiling.”
Over the years, the CB500T accumulated
minor wear and tear. Rick had the gas tank
and the covers painted. He also had the
seat cover redone to finish the bike’s
restoration.
1950 Mercury
Convertible
Patrick and Kimberly Sealey own a beautiful
1950 Mercury Convertible. The car was one of
8,341 produced in 1950. For the original sale
price of $3,400, the Mercury Convertible
came with a V-8 110 horsepower engine. The
vehicle also came with power windows and
seats. Their Mercury was not always in such
excellent condition. The restoration process
took Ronald Sealey, from Sealey Body Shop,
four years to do a complete frame off
restoration.
PAGE 04
VIRTUAL TOUR
Virtual Tour
Thanks to April Tidwell at Leadership Siouxland for her initiative in developing a new QR code
virtual tour at the Mid America Museum of Aviation & Transportation. This new QR code virtual
tour enhances the visitors’ experience by giving them more insight on the particular exhibit as
they tour the museum. The virtual tour works by using the QR code reader app on a smart
device and scanning the codes attached to many exhibits located around the museum. It will
then take you to a link which provides addition information about the exhibit.
Thank you to Electronic Innovations for donating six tablets. Also thank you to Mary Honomichl
(Siouxland Community Health),Robert Gries (Per Mar Security), Eric Hoak (United Real-Estate
Solutions), Karen Hodges (Electronic Innovations) and April Tidwell (Sioux City Community
Schools).
Close up of the QR pages.
April Tidwell and Larry Finley review the
project.
PAGE 05
MEET THE INTERNS
Allie Sweeney
Where are you from? Sioux City, Iowa
What is your major? Advertising major with a minor in
Photography and Graphic Design.
What is your favorite display? My favorite display is
the Flight 232 display.
Why did you become an intern? I wanted to gain work
experience as an intern. Plus I enjoy going to museums
so it seemed like the perfect fit!
Jennifer, Eduie, Channing
Jennifer Theisen
Where are you from? Le Mars, Iowa
What is your major? Mass Communication major
What is your favorite display? Flight 232 display
Why did you become an intern? I had never
heard of the museum before and since I enjoyed
history, I thought it would be an interesting experience.
Eduie Curiel
Brett Kies
Where are you from? Kansas City, Missouri
What is your major? My major is Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing.
What is your favorite display? My favorite display is
the Flight 232 area because it gives the area some
pride in what they accomplished.
Why did you become an intern? I became an intern
because I wanted to get started in marketing and really
enjoy history.
Where are you from? Sioux City, Iowa
What is your major? Business Administration
major
What is your favorite display? 1950 Mercury
Convertible
Why did you become an intern? I wanted to gain
work experience as an intern, and I love old cars so
working around them is a plus.
Channing Pick
Where are you from? Le Mars, Iowa
What is your major? Corporate Communication
What is your favorite display? I really do not have a
favorite display, I love all of the different artifacts the
museum has. They offer visitors so much knowledge
and that's what I love about MAMAT
Why did you become an intern? I became an intern
because I felt that it was going to be a great learning
experience, which it has.
2016 Interns
Alex Janssen
Where are you from? Crofton, Nebraska
What is your major? I am a Business Accounting
Major/Agribusiness Minor.
What is your favorite display? My favorite display is
the UH-1M Iroquois Helicopter from the Vietnam War.
Why did you become an intern? I became an intern to
grown in my understanding of the operations of a
business and to aid the museum in grant requesting.
Allie Sweeney
Brett Kies
ALex Janssen
2015 Interns
Jennifer Theisen
Eduie Curiel
Channing Pick
PAGE 06
NEW MEMBERS ON BOARD
New Members on Board
Doyle Turner
Where are you from: Moville, Iowa
What do you do for a living? I used to be a banker but now I dedicate my time to
farming.
How long you’ve been on the board? Since November of 2015
Why were you interested on being on the Mid America Museum of Aviation &
Transportation board? I’ve been working with developing aviation educational
programs with both airplanes and drones. That all started about 8 years ago when I
started taking my then 10 year old son to ground school to get his private pilot's
licence. I enjoy helping kids of all ages gain access to aviation and I feel that our
museum does an incredible job of displaying Siouxland’s long history of flight.
Tom Fredricksen
Where are you from? Sioux City
What do you do for a living? I am a project manager at Sabre Industries. I also do
many things at the Martin Airfield. I am the aerial applicator there. I teach a couple
classes as well. Those are the instrument private ground school and the drone
ground school. Aside from that I also run the testing center at Martin Airfield and am
the FAA flight safety representative.
How long have you been on the board? Since November of 2015
Why were you interested on being on the Mid America Museum of Aviation &
Transportation board? To help promote general aviation and transportation. I am
also an advocate for history of airplanes, cars, and motorcycles. My whole goal is to
promote safety and aviation awareness.
Robert Grimm
Where are you from? Sioux City, Iowa
What do you do for a living? I got my pilots license in 1976 and have been in corporate
aviation since 1981, starting out in aircraft maintenance as a mechanic and eventually
working my way into the cockpit. I currently fly the Legacy for a large local manufacturing
company.
How long have you been on the board? Since April of 2016
Why were you interested on being on the Mid America Museum of Aviation & Transportation board? I want to give back a little to the community by way of joining the board
so that hopefully I can add to the work that is being done by the truly dedicated folks on
the board now. I welcome the opportunity to help keep this museum one of the coolest
attractions around!
PAGE 07
VETERANS DAY & FEDEX DISPLAY
Veterans Day
In November, the Veterans Day celebration took place at the Mid America Museum of Aviation and
Transportation.The day was organized by 2nd Lt. Trisha Theisen started with coffee and donuts and
a brief walk around the museum. Veterans were able to socialize and share war stories with one
another as they awaited the arrival of the Freedom Riders. Once they arrived, the Color Guard from
the 185th presented the colors. The honorary guests were then introduced, and Sgt. Kyle Fisher from
the 185th gave his speech. Carey Anderson also played Taps in the Veterans Day celebration.
Fedex Display Update
The Boeing 727 Fedex airplane is an ongoing renovation project. The most recent activities is the
installation of the electric system the museum is currently waiting Sioux City inspectors to approve the
next phase of work. The plane will be converted into an educational display that will allow visitors to
come into the aircraft and experience what it's like in a commercial plane.
PAGE 08
FALL FEST
Tommy Martin Fly In
Tommy Martin was born in 1899, and started the airfield in So. Sioux City, currently run by his son Gene
Martin. Rick Alter, President of the local EAA Chapter 291 said, “the chapter is pleased to honor Martin
and welcomes all Siouxland residents to come and experience a day of aviation fun.” The Young Eagles
program encourages students ages 8 – 17 to learn about aviation. The free Young Eagles flight allows
students to see what real pilots do on the ground and in the air. Since 1992, more than 1.9 million Young
Eagles have enjoyed a flight from EAA’s network of volunteer pilots. In early June, the local EAA Chapter
291 volunteer pilots took over 200 young people on flights. For many, it will be the start of their journey to
becoming a pilot, aircraft mechanic, air traffic controller, or many other career possibilities. Fall Fest
The Mid America Museum of Aviation & Transportation hosted Fall Fest and its activities that had the
whole family enjoying themselves. Fall Fest is organized each year by Anne Westra, Marketing Director
& Economic Developer of the City of Sioux City. The museum's main event was the kid’s quest scavenger hunt. The first twenty-five kids that finished the hunt got to take home a prize. Other activities included watching the Disney movie Planes in a first class seating theatre, interactive exhibits, a photo booth,
dress up gear, paper crafts, and hands on display. Overall it was a great way to kick off the fall season
and have fun at the Mid America Museum of Aviation and Transportation.
PAGE 09
GRANTS
Grants
The Junior League of Sioux City grant was written to build a partnership between Morningside
Elementary and the museum. STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) programming
and the Mid America Air Museum. It will also offer unique educational opportunities to the teachers in
relation to their STEM programming. Junior League members will be trained as volunteers at the
museum as pay of the program.
The Gilchrist Foundation, which is administered by Security National Bank-Sioux City, awarded Mid
America Museum of Aviation & Transportation a $71,000 grant for museum taxiway repair and security
gate update. As our members and friends may know, Mid America Museum of Aviation & Transportation has a security gate access to the Sioux Gateway Airport runways which allow us to bring aircraft
to the museum.
Lately, the condition of the taxiway has deteriorated on our side and on the municipal airport side of
the gate to the point of non-use. The grant received will allow MAMAT to mill blacktop overcoat on our
side of the gate and start the resurfacing project as well as filling open cracks in the concrete panels.
Plus, we will replace the current 30 foot wide gate to a 100 foot gate to facilitate easier aircraft access.
The north-south parking lot in front of the museum building is 76 year old concrete poured as one of
two runways for the 'new' Sioux City Airport in 1939. Also, Runway 22, which was part of the airport
expansion in early 1942, when the Sioux City Army Air Base was built for World War II, will receive
some updating. The continuing expansion and updates at Sioux Gateway Airport will facilitate
improvements of the taxiways on the city portion of the project. The Mid America Museum is truly
grateful to the Gilchrist Foundation for the start of this project. Additional funds will be required to
complete the estimated $140,000.00 milling, resurfacing, crack sealing and and gate replacement.
2010
4472
5 Year Attendence
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
3713
4015
5332
9981
5076
PAGE 10
VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES
Volunteer
Activities
Carla Edgington & Kay Crowl
Are painting and updating displays throughout
the museum
Morningside College for Into the Streets They
cleaned windows and cabinets. They also pulled
weeds from around the museum.
JJ Marlow, Mike Freeman,
Jonathan Blum, Gene
Ambroson, Shiran Nathaniel
and Trace Taylor.
Carla Edington and Kay
Crowl.
The Zink family which include Mary, Jeff, and
their children Hazel, Julian, Annika, and Freya
Maintained the lawn surrounding the museum last
spring and early in the summer.
John and Pat Bartholomew
They work every weekend as front desk voluteers
and they also perform B17 research.
Rick Alter, Garry Grasma and Jim Loftus.
Darlene Spears
Helps run the museum during the week days.
Terry Hudson
Does the painting around the museum.
Rick Alter, Gary Grasma and Jim Loftus
Parade Plane
Verna Shockey
How long have you been there? It is
going to be 4 years on April 18th.
What do you value most about your
position? I am able to get the opportunity to learn a lot of different things
about the exhibits and the history of
the museum.
Zink family helping to maintain
the lawn surrounding the
museum.
Jon and Pat (not
pictured) Bartholomew
at the front desk.
Darlene Spears
What is your favorite display? Model
A, the Mercury Convertible, and the
1941 Cadillac.
Where are you from? Sioux City, Iowa
PAGE 11
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
The timing of this issue is interesting. What started as a winter issue is now a spring issue – just after a
record-breaking snowfall followed by 80 degree days.
The 232 Exhibit continues to be the most popular item of new visitors, returning visitors enjoy seeing
new vehicles and remodeled areas.
Interns from Morningside College have been a blessing – providing needed marketing, inventory, and
grant support.
Thank you to former board members for their services: John O’Dell, Kelsey Martin, Jim Fisk and Adam
Fullerton.
Our board members are working to adjust to a year without any war birds because of the deteriorating
taxi way.
Priority for 2016
As always, the board has many things to discuss and plan. All of the items we work on are mission
driven. This year’s priorities are to:
1. Fully fund the gate and taxiway project. This incudes the restoration of Flt. 232 touch down spot
on Runway 22.
2. Finish the FedEx project (Phase I interior remodel)
3. Build attendance and revenue through tours, events
and educational programming
--Bus tours, Special open house
--Big Band Dance, Parts Swap Meet, Hops and
Props Tasting event
--STEM lessons, Virtual Tour, KidWind project,
Tennis Shoes on the Tarmac,Teachers on the Tarmac
4. Evaluate a storage building, research center, and
future staffing needs and volunteers.
5. Continue to recover from the Labor Day, 2014 storm
damage to the building and the grounds.
Nice to work with a former student Doyle Turner at
last fall’s Into the Streets day of service.
If you have any interest in helping with these projects, please give one of the board members or Larry
Finley a call. We’d love to put you and your gifts to work!
Yours truly,
Pamela L. Mickelson
[email protected]
http://www.MidAmericaAirMuseum.org
2600 Expedition Ct.
P.O. Box 3525
Sioux City, IA 51111
(712) 252-5300