Sad Graveyard
20250822-SDIM7521 by
Travis Butler, on Flickr
Sigma fp, Hexanon 28/3.5
The Airline History Museum in Kansas City is another aviation museum I have a long history with; I think the first time I went there was at least 20 if not 25 years ago. They were originally founded as "Save-a-Connie" after the Lockheed Constellation that formed the heart of their collection:
20150221-P2212175.jpg by
Travis Butler, on Flickr
Although they also had a Martin 4-0-4, a DC-3, the TWA Moonliner from the roof of the old TWA Headquarters in downtown Kansas City, and many other airline artifacts.
20150221-P2212219.jpg by
Travis Butler, on Flickr
But they've had a bit of a rocky history for as long as I've known them - projects like restoring the DC-3, and returning the Connie to flight status, always seemed to drag on for years; I'd visit and see the same DC-3 parts in practically the same position as my last visit six months ago.
And then one day, I swung by for a visit, and the gates were padlocked.
And stayed padlocked. For going on three years now.
After a while of trying to figure out what happened, a news item appeared on their website: the museum was in a rent dispute with the company running the airport under contract to Kansas City, and the management company had locked them out. I've seen dribs and drabs of information, but this is probably
the most complete summary I've read.
At this point, I'm not sure where to assign blame; there certainly seems to be a huge muddle. But what is obvious is that the collection is in trouble.
20250822-SDIM7526 by
Travis Butler, on Flickr
See the bits of airplane just sitting abandoned out in the open?
The latest update on
the museum's website claims that some people are fraudulently claiming to be associated with the museum:
The Board of Directors, and all of them are listed right here on this site, want the CITIZENS OF THE GREAT CITY OF KANSAS CITY TO KNOW, as keepers of all the historical items entrusted to us, there are individuals who are parading around claiming to be the museum. They have been identified. Make no mistake about it, the AHM Board of Directors, are the only ones authorized to speak on behalf of the Museum or take any actions on property and assets.
I can't speak to the truth of it myself, but I
did see the doors open and someone examining the plane:
20250822-SDIM7530 by
Travis Butler, on Flickr
If the museum is still being locked out, who are these people looking at the Connie?
(As a side note, the Connie has apparently been sold to John Travolta. I can't help feeling saddened, even betrayed by this, given it was the centerpiece of their collection.)