Tillamook Air Museum

**Ashrunner** · #1 08-05-2013, 12:27 PM

I heard some interesting news the other day. The Tillamook Air Museum, which currently resides in a portion of an old airship hanger on the coast, will be moving to Madras, Oregon. Madras is 30 miles north of me and the airport there hosts the annual Airshow of the Cascades.

The reason for the move is the aircraft. The ocean air at the current location is doing harm to many of the aircraft, especially the fabric covered surface of some of the aircraft. Madras is at the northern edge of the high lava desert and the environment there is much better for the aircraft.

Current plans are to build the museum on the airport grounds and have the move completed by the end of 2015. The fate of the huge, wooden structure which currently houses the collection, is unknown at this time. However, it does require repairs which could cost upwards of $15 million.

I have only been to the museum once, as it is about a six hour drive to get there from here and I have no car. After the move, it will be a 40 minute drive any time I want to visit and there is bus service to Madras from here.

The Tillamook Air Museum has a number of flying aircraft. The website for the museum is here.

Information about the move is located here.

**hawkman67** · #2 08-05-2013, 01:08 PM

Ash,
Another major reason for the relocation is that the hangar it self has some serious issues, and will take a lot of money to repair, the "roof" and doors. I called them last week to check on the rumors. Sad that they can't get the needed funds to fix the place up, But the desert air will do the birds good. The Mini-Guppy is looking terrible, with rust, algae, and other corrosion..
Jeff

**whulsey** · #3 08-05-2013, 01:12 PM

Will be really out of the way for most other things, especially since there doesn't seem to be much of a direct route there. Here's a few photos from there and a link from when I was there a couple of years ago: 2010-07-21 Tillamook Air Museum Oregon - Wayne Hulsey (whulsey)'s Photos

**MrB17** · #4 08-05-2013, 04:19 PM

I hope that between now and then, nothing falls down on the aircraft. I also visit Tillamook frequently. I must admit, even though I am an aircraft buff I actually look forward to the Tillamook Dairy a bit more, mmmmm Cheese.....mmmmmm Ice Cream

I also visit Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville OR. Which I highly recommend if you haven't seen it. If you hang around under the Spruce Goose, you can see all the people looking up with their Jaws hanging down. And it's made of wood! I have to say Oregon is one of the most diverse States in terms of landscape and beautiful scenery. My wife and I always take our September holiday in Oregon. There is also the Boeing Museum of Flight in Seattle, and the Flying Heritage Museum at Paine Field in Everett WA. So if you have a couple of weeks, you can really get your fill of incredible Aircraft and Scenery. No Washington and Oregon State are not paying me for this advertisement. LOL!

Regards,
Jeff

**willygoat** · #5 08-05-2013, 07:52 PM

Sounds good for the planes, but a not so good thing for the Tilamook community. That's a lot of lost tourism bucks.

I'm guessing they will have to truck most of the planes to the new site. if so, it might break the world record for the longest/largest overland movement of an aircraft collection. Currently, the museum I work at holds the record.

**MrB17** · #6 08-05-2013, 11:06 PM

Tillamook is not far from Astoria, which happens to have the great Columbia River Maritime Museum and a lot of other things to do. The Maritime Museum has a great display of all things nautical, and a lot of really nice period model ships. Astoria column is a very nice place to stop. You can climb the 165 steps to the top and get a breathtaking view of the area. There's also a small souvenir shop that sells cheap balsa gliders to throw from the top of the tower, great fun. Canon Beach is a must for beach combers and if you are into antiques, there are a lot in the area. The gift shops in Canon Beach are the kind that make you feel young again, fun for everyone. I hope for the local people this will only be a minor setback. I think anyone who has paid a visit to the Tillamook Dairy won't be deterred from going there. Tillamook Dairy in addition to tours, also has a large cafeteria with a varied menu and lots of flavours of ice cream. Also a gift shop for "cheese hounds". Five weeks and I'll be there!

Regards,
Jeff

**charleswlkr54** · #7 08-06-2013, 10:14 AM

Yes, that salt ocean air will corrode things rather badly I'm told. Used to live not too far from the Castle Air Museum at the former Castle AFB, regret I never got up there, gotta get to the Pim Air and Space museum one of these days, just wish they had bus service out there!

**whulsey** · #8 08-06-2013, 11:47 AM

Just went to the Castle Air Museum on my vacation (will be awhile before I get the photos posted).
Jeff: Tillamook is a great little town, beautiful area, and being a cheese freak love the Dairy tour. Thanks for the tip on the Columbia River Maritime Museum, didn't know about it. Will have to put it on the list.

**Ashrunner** · #9 08-06-2013, 12:41 PM

The move of the museum will hurt the immediate area of Tillamook, but the area is strong enough to bounce back in a short period of time...even in this economy.

The move to Madras, Oregon, makes sense not only for the aircraft, but also for the local economy of central Oregon. Madras is in Jefferson county and has one of the highest unemployment rates in the state. Although the museum being in Madras won't make much of a dent to the unemployment situation, collateral jobs will help.

And then there is the tourism. Bend, Oregon does very good with tourism. My town, Redmond, has a destination resort which helps, but tourism is only passer-thru to Bend area and beyond south of here, or parts north...few of which are in Oregon (casinos).

The museum will mean an increase of tourism for the Madras area which in turn will help the people there. The Madras area has had a number of aviation related things happen. Several years ago, Butler Aviation which until recently, operated the DC-6 and DC-7 Fire Bombers, moved their maintenance operation to the Madras Airport. For almost a decade, organizers have been hosting the Air Show of the Cascades at the airport. So aviation isn't anything new to the area.

By the way, Butler Aviation's fire suppression unit was recently sold to Erickson Aero which is now flying fire suppression out of the Redmond Tanker Base.

As for the Madras area being out of the way, it is in a way. Highway 97 runs from the Washington to California border and through Madras. There are numerous passes through the mountains which go through some gorgeous scenery. So travelling to the museum from the I-5 corridor won't be a major hindrance.