Museum
SAN DIEGO AIR & SPACE MUSEUM
Rare Staggerwing Joins The Collection
Barron Hilton
The San Diego Air & Space Museum recently unveiled the latest addition to its impressive collection at its Annex at Gillespie Field in El Cajon , a rare plane that had long been owned by hotel mogul Barron Hilton .
The plane is a Beech Aircraft
“ Staggerwing ” built in 1943 . The plane is famous among aviation fans worldwide , and many famous pilots have flown in the plane . When it was unveiled in the 1930s , the Staggerwing was considered one of the few high-end recreational and business planes of its time .
“ As a former Navy fighter pilot , there is nothing more exciting than being around aircraft . It is cooler than cool . It takes you back to being a little kid ,” Jim Kidrick , President & CEO of the Museum shared with GB Magazine . Kidrick added that he hopes the Staggerwing and the other planes in the collection will continue to inspire children to seek out future careers in aviation .
“ This is a hotbed in the United States and San Diego has always been a leader . In the next 30 years , we are going places , and this is a great inspiration to those young people who want to go places .”
58 GBSAN . COM | AUGUST 2021