Hixson, TN — The Hixson Museum of Flight is considering moving to the Cleveland Regional Jetport.
The aircraft display and aviation history museum has outgrown its space at the Dallas Bay Skypark in Hixson.
Andreas Montgomery of the museum made a preliminary presentation to the Cleveland Municipal Airport Authority during a meeting Friday.
“One of our missions for the museum is to enrich the knowledge of the community of aircraft (and) their history,” Montgomery said. He said the types of the aircraft in the museum are too large to take off and land on the runway at the small airport where the museum is now located.
The museum was formed four years ago and owns nine aircraft, a few of which have been restoration projects for the organization. The airport authority asked for a written plan of what the museum would like to do before further discussion was made.
Montgomery said the museum has a four-year plan with budgets that he would be glad to show them. Montgomery said he had been in discussion with director of operations Mark Fidler and Taylor Newman of Crystal Air about the possible move.
“I truly support what you are trying to do. The preservation of history is very important for the young people to come and see things, touch them and hear a radial engine is important,” member Steve Wright said. “For me, I would love to see you in Cleveland.”
Chairman Lou Patten asked if the museum would be storing any planes outside the hangar, if it moved to Cleveland. Montgomery said the plan was to have two planes on display outside the hangar to draw attention to the museum. He said most of the aircraft will be kept in the hangar, because outside conditions can be harsh on restored aircraft.
Montgomery said moving and expanding the museum will have to take place over time as the funding is available.
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