Northwest Aerospace News August | September Issue No. 10 | Page 65
HFF plans to display aircraft from its collec-
tion and examples from other collectors and
museums with which it shares assets. Currently
airworthy examples include a Travel Air 4000,
L-4, Waco UPF-7, and Beechcraft Staggerwing,
de Havilland Beaver, T-6, P-51 B Mustang,
Supermarine Mk.IXe Spitfire, Grumman F8F
Bearcat, Grumman TBM Avenger, Canadair
T-33, North American B-25 Mitchell and Doug-
las DC-3. Initially, curated displays will feature
key aviation events from 1927 to 1957 and the
history of Felts Field beginning in 1910.
Architecturally, Felts Field features a beautiful
art deco terminal building, home of the famous
Skyway Café. Many of the design themes have
been incorporated into HFF’s new 22,000-
square-foot facility. Inside, a mezzanine level
allows patrons to view the collection from
an elevated perch. The mezzanine has some
enclosed offices and a library, but openness
and flexibility drive the design. Seminars and
meetings of large groups can be conducted there
without affecting the museum floor. The ground
level includes reception, aircraft display, a gift/
retail area, administrative work spaces and shop
facilities. Maintenance and restoration will
continue during display hours. Significantly,
the door span to the air side allows concurrent
display and maintenance of both the DC-3 and
B-25 aircraft.
Continuation of construction has not curtailed a
busy summer for HFF pilots and aircraft. In ad-
dition to an ambitious air show schedule, HFF’s
C-47/DC-3 has crossed the Atlantic to partici-
pate in the 75th anniversary of D-Day and the
70th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift, the latter
representing perhaps the greatest humanitarian
act in aviation history. The DC-3 will contin-
ue its tour of Europe with a solo performance
at Duxford, England in the Flying Legends
Airshow, considered one of the top warbird
presentations in the world.
HFF Spokane will open with a gala event on
October 17th. Construction of the building will
be completed by late July, allowing two months
to install casework, systems and displays.
Public hours will begin on October 18th. HFF invites completion of a volunteer application in anticipation of training early
in the autumn. Further information and volunteer applications are available through [email protected] or
425.348.3200. To explore sponsorship opportunities for the opening gala, please contact Ager Consulting at 509.990.1645.
Northwest Readers
SHARE A STORY
Have a story to share with our readers?
Get in touch with us:
[email protected]
John T. Sessions, Chairman HFF
John Sessions’ passion for aviation began with a spontaneous
visit in 1983 to a flying club at Boeing Field. He got interested,
started flying small Cessna’s, graduated to bush planes, and then
added floats. After “about twenty trips to Alaska at a hundred
knots,” John moved to corporate jets and received his Airline
Transport Pilot license with a single-pilot rating in the CJ series.
Several thousand hours later, the call of fast stick-and-rudder
pulled him into the world of classic Warbirds.
AUGUST| SEPTEMBER 2019 ISSUE NO. 10
65