CONTACT:
Nicole Wahlberg, Director of
Marketing & PR, Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum
(503) 434-4006 or nicole.wahlberg@sprucegoose.org
Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum Celebrates
60th Anniversary of Spruce Goose Flight
McMINNVILLE, Ore. - Tues., Oct. 23, 2007 Ð The Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum is honoring the one and only flight of the world-famous ÒSpruce GooseÓ at the flying boatÕs home in Oregon. An entire day will be dedicated to the celebration in honor of the Nov. 2, 1947 flight. Activities will include speaker presentations, special exhibitions and a 1947 themed hangar dance.
In honor of the anniversary, the museum will be opening a new exhibit ÒWisconsin Flying TreesÓ and will feature a 10 a.m. presentation by Sara Witter Connor, titled ÒWisconsin Flying Trees: Wisconsin Plywood Industry's Contribution to WWIIÓ. Presentations will continue throughout the day and will include an 11 a.m. presentation titled ÒHoward Hughes: Crazy Like a FoxÓ by George Marrett, Hughes Test Pilot; a 12 p.m. presentation titled ÒFor the Love of the Flying BoatÓ by Mike Wright, Restoration Project Manager; a 1 p.m. presentation titled ÒSaving the Spruce Goose from the Dome at the Long Beach HarborÓ by George Larrazolo, American Riggers; 3:30 p.m. presentation titled ÒConnecting the Present to the PastÓ by Katherine Huit, Historian.
At 6 p.m. the doors will open to a 1947 Hangar Dance Presented by Pratt & Whitney. Guests will dress in 1940s Hollywood ÒGlamÓ attire. The event will include dinner, beverages, dancing and prizes for the best costume. Guests will walk the red carpet and be entertained by Howard HughesÕ look-alike Michael Parris Newman. Reservations are required for the hangar dance. To order tickets, please call 503-434-4068.
The centerpiece of the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum is the world-famous Hughes Flying Boat Spruce Goose. With a wingspan of nearly 320 feet, it dwarfs even the DC-3 that resides under its left wing. Originally created as a flying cargo and troop carrier, the Spruce Goose was designed by Howard Hughes and promoted by Henry Kaiser. It was created as a solution to the German U Boat threat during World War II.
On November 2, 1947, after two taxi tests, Howard Hughes lowered the flaps and the Hughes Flying Boat lifted off the water for the first and last time. After its flight, the Flying Boat was then placed in its custom built hangar and maintained in flight-ready condition for 33 years at a cost of one million dollars per year. In 1976, after Hughes' death, plans were made to disassemble the plane and send the parts to eight museums around the world for display. But before carrying out the plan, the Aero Club of Southern California partnered with the Wrather Corporation to display the plane intact in a custom dome next to the RMS Queen Mary at Long Beach.
In 1992, Evergreen International Aviation was awarded custody of the Hughes Flying Boat. It was disassembled and moved by barge, train and truck to Evergreen's headquarters in McMinnville, OR. Between 1992 and 2000, the massive parts underwent preservation and restoration at the hands of volunteers while plans were made for its new hangar.
The Spruce Goose is joined by over 80 historic aircraft and exhibits including the worldÕs fastest spy plane, the SR-71A Blackbird, the Bf-109 German Messerschmitt, the B-17 Flying Fortress, the Corsair, the P-38 Lightning, aerobatic planes, gliders, kites, art displays, childrenÕs exhibits, the Spruce Goose CafŽ and the Museum Store. The McMinnville, Ore. facility has been visited by over a million visitors. It also features OregonÕs largest IMAX¨ 3D Theater, a hands-on education area, visible restoration stations, opportunities to peer inside the cockpit of the SR-71, walk throughout the B-17 and step inside the Spruce Goose cargo deck. To complete the living history experience, docents are available on-site to share their own personal stories with the aircraft on display. The facility also plans to open a world-class space museum in Summer 2008.
The Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum collection represents the first, the fastest, and the largest aircraft ever built. It represents dreamers and realists, patriotism and recreation, hobbies and careers Ð it represents the dream to fly. The museum is where childrenÕs dreams are created and veteransÕ memories are preserved.
The Evergreen Aviation & Space MuseumÕs hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m, daily except when it is closed for Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New YearÕs Day and Easter. The Museum is located at 500 NE Captain Michael King Smith Way, across the highway from the McMinnville Airport and about three miles southeast of McMinnville, Ore., on Highway 18. Regular visitor admission is required. Call (503) 434-4180 for more information, and visit www.sprucegoose.org.
# # #
Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum Celebrates
60th Anniversary of the Flight of the Spruce Goose
Presented by Pratt & Whitney
WHAT: Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum Anniversary Celebration
WHEN: Friday, Nov. 2, 2007
SCHEDULE:
9 a.m.-5 p.m.: Wisconsin Flying Trees Exhibit Opens
10 a.m.: Wisconsin Flying Trees: Wisconsin Plywood Industry's Contribution to WWII : Sara Witter Connor
11 a.m.: Howard Hughes: Crazy Like a Fox : George Marrett, Hughes Test Pilot
12 p.m.: For the Love of the Flying Boat : Mike Wright, Former Restoration Project Manager
1 p.m.: Moving the ÒSpruce GooseÓ from Long Beach Harbor into the Dome : George Larrazolo, American Riggers
3:30 p.m.: Connecting the Present to the Past : Katherine Huit, Historian
6-9:30 p.m.: 1947 Hangar Dance Presented by Pratt & Whitney
COST: Regular admission required for daytime events: $13/adult, $12/seniors, $11/student
Hangar Dance Evening event: $45/members & $50/non-members
WHERE: Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum (Indoor)
3 miles SE of McMinnville on Highway 18
CONTACT: Nicole Wahlberg, Director of Marketing & PR, (503) 434-4006