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