New Location Will Allow Expansion Of Aviation Collection

After a three year search, Erie Municipal Airport (KEIK) has been chosen as the future home of Colorado's Spirit of Flight Center. Several groups, including Air Assets International and Warbird Recovery, plan to make the move with the Spirit of Flight Center.

Located minutes north of Denver, KEIK will provide the Spirit of Flight Center a grass-roots location to create a new world class aviation facility, according to museum officials. The first phase of the building will be over 12,000 square feet in size, and the site gives Spirit of Flight the ability to double in size in the future.

Over 500 artifacts are currently on display to the general public at a small 2500 sq. ft. location. The new Spirit of Flight Center facility will house hundreds of other artifacts, as well as aircraft including a Messerschmitt Bf-109, P-51 Mustang and several vintage jets.

"We are thrilled to have finally found a location that fits our vision of providing a facility that allows us to honor veterans, as well as educate the general public on aviation and aviation history," said Gordon Page, Managing Member of the Spirit of Flight Center. "Erie is where I learned to fly, so it is a bit of a homecoming. But this move is also a commitment on our part to General Aviation and supporting smaller, local airports," added Page.

Along with daily tours, the new Spirit of Flight Center location will offer meeting rooms, presentation areas, a gift shop and a place to host larger events among aviation treasures.

The Spirit of Flight Center has created several programs for individuals and corporations to help support the facility. One of the programs will help to build out the interior of the center and will also create several dramatic displays. Donors to the Spirit of Flight Center will be recognized by having their name placed on a 74" tall Convair 260 propeller that will be permanently displayed in the lobby of the new facility.

For George Meshko, a Denver resident who flew 25 missions as a gunner in an Army B-17 Bomber during World War II, the center is important for history to carry forward. The 81-year-old has donated several items to the Spirit of Flight Center.

"I was thinking, "If I don't do something with it, it might end up in the trash," said Meshko, who spent 50 years flying military and commercial airplanes. He said the Spirit of Flight Center is on track to inspire the next generations of pilots.

Officials with Spirit of Flight hope to be in the new location in the summer of 2008.

FMI: www.spiritofflight.com