For more information please contact Nicole Wahlberg, Director of Marketing and Public Relations,
Evergreen Aviation Museum, (503) 434-4006, or email nichole.wahlberg@sprucegoose.org

FOR RELEASE
February 2, 2004

Evergreen Aviation Museum Sees
Over A Half a Million Visitors

MCMINNVILLE, Ore.—The Evergreen Aviation Museum completed 2003 with its celebration of the 500,000^th visitor since its June 6, 2001 opening.  In just two and a half years, the museum has seen a record number of visitors and has continued its reputation as one of Oregon’s top visitor attractions.  

“We are constantly changing our display and developing new exhibits for our visitors.  We look forward to continuing to create a wonderful museum and tourist destination for travelers from all over the world,” said Gary Arnold, Museum Vice President Operations.

The recent surge in winter attendance is largely attributed to a variety of new additions at the end of 2003 – the Lancair 360, the Beech Starship 2000 and a collection of seven military helicopters.  

The Lancair 360, manufactured in Redmond, Ore., is capable of cruising at more than 200 miles-per-hour while burning less than 10 gallons of gas-per-hour and has a service ceiling of 23,000 feet.  The Lancair serves as an example of home-built kit that allows the user to utilize the most modern technologies available.

The Starship 2000 was donated by Raytheon Aircraft Company of Wichita, Ks.  It is the first certified business aircraft made entirely of composite materiel.  Since the Starship’s introduction, many other aircraft have been able to use composite materials, including the development of the use of plastic. 

The additional display of seven new military helicopters is a loan from Delford Smith and Evergreen Vintage Aircraft of McMinnville, Ore.  The collection is made up of early production military helicopters including a Bell Model 47 (this design was made famous by its use in the “MASH” television series).  The new collection also includes a HO3S (a helicopter developed in 1946) that saw a variety of service including commercial operation, combat in Korea for the US Navy and ice breaking duty for the US Coast Guard.

The public continues to enjoy the interior access of the “Spruce Goose” cargo deck, the supersonic SR-71 spy plane, and the rare historic aircraft collection.   The museum is in the process of creating an improved Spruce Goose Café and opening a new interactive center for children.  The West Coast Bank Interactivity Center will open to the public on Friday, February 27 and will include 3 new children’s exhibits: a pitch, yaw, roll demonstrator, a fluid flow tank, and a Bernoulli Machine. 

The Evergreen Aviation Museum is best known as the home of the world’s largest wooden airplane, the “Spruce Goose” and the SR-71 Blackbird.  In addition, there are more than 50 historic aircraft and exhibits on display, along with aviation artwork, traveling displays, the Spruce Goose Café and the museum store.  The Evergreen Aviation Museum’s summer hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and winter hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily except when it is closed for Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. An extensive museum store and friendly café add to the Museum experience. 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 http://www.sprucegoose.org/.