Massachusetts Air and Space Museum

May 2008 MASM Steering Committee News

The May meeting covered a number of issues.  The revised by-laws were reviewed by the committee and were adopted for the association.  John Garabedian presented the final version of the MASM brochure which will be available at the June meeting.  It was decided that there will be two advisory groups for the Museum; a corporate advisory group and an aviation advisory group.  In order to help the consultants meet with representatives of the Museum's partnering organizations, the Committee approved having a reception for the representatives to enable the consultants to interview as many as possible in one evening.  The accounting firm of Nardella & Taylor, LLP has agreed to provide pro bono accounting services.  Finally it was announced to the Committee that the Museum has secured one of the F-15s that the Massachusetts Air National Guard launched on 9/11 and it is now safely in storage until the Museum can place it on display.

April 2008 MASM Steering Committee News

The monthly meeting of the Steering Committee was devoted entirely to a presentation by representatives of the Arts Consulting Group who outlined and discussed the work they will be performing for the MASM over the next twelve months. This will encompass compiling the statistical data, preliminary design work, and financial requirements. Additionally, they will be holding discussions with those companies and institutions, as well as aviation organizations that have indicated support for the Museum. The primary purpose of these meetings is to elicit input for the wish of the participants with regard to the overall concept of the Museum and in particular the nature of each participant’s role and display of artifacts and material.

Another aspect of the consultants work will be discussions with representatives of local communities to obtain their input into the Museum and discuss the educational as well as other benefits to the communities and their citizens.

A presentation of the plans for the Museum was made to the General Electric Old Timers Association, which is composed of retired G.E. executives and managers, people who can provide considerable knowledge and assistance for the G.E. input to the Museum. In the way of garnering further experienced help with the project, a meeting was held with Mr. John Ott the recently retired Curator of the well regarded Lexington [MA] Heritage Museum. After a thorough discussion and review of our project, Mr. Ott has agreed to lend his assistance as a consultant to the MASM.

The MASM is very pleased to announce that it is the recipient of a grant from the Alfred L. and Constance C. WOLF AVIATION FUND of Lindrith, New Mexico. We are most appreciative of their faith in our endeavor as this grant will be of great assistance in meeting our start up costs.

March 2008 MASM Steering Committee News

An initial meeting was held with Raytheon Company to discuss their potential participation in the Museum project. This will be pursued in subsequent meetings. On another front, contact was established with a representative of the local chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen to arrange for discussions about their participation in the Museum.

A meeting was held with the law firm of Sherin and Lodgen, LLP which has agreed to provide certain legal services on a pro bono basis. This meeting also afforded the opportunity to have that firm review the legal documents and required reports for compliance with both state and federal regulations. Beyond a few administrative changes planned for the by-laws, only a few other changes were subsequently recommended.

Member Tim Muldoon will contact those individuals who have volunteered their help to the Museum to assist him on a sub-committee to compile a data base of artifacts which are either now, or will become available to the Museum in the future. A significant amount of historical military artifacts, including several static display aircraft, now exist for  Museum use through the Massachusetts Air National Guard Historical Association. Several other sources have also identified material and equipment that would be available for loan or donation to the Museum.

February 2008 MASM Steering Committee News

Dr. Ruth F. Liebowitz, retired Historian of Hanscom Air Force Base  presented a history of the base from its founding as the Boston Auxiliary Airport to its present role in the high technology mission of the U.S. Air Force. Dr. Liebowitz will be working with the Steering Committee in developing and integrating the role of the base and its mission into the Museum.

A report was made on the first meeting with Draper Laboratory and the prospects of their participation in honoring Dr. Draper and his accomplishments. Member Bill Deane presented a preliminary view of the power point show that will be used in an upcoming talk before the Greater Boston EAA Chapter, as well as the North shore Pilots' Association.

Member Bob Segal provided some preliminary designs of a potential MASSPORT display area for inclusion in the Museum. Coincident to this, the Committee reviewed the statement by the MASSPORT  Senior Project Manager/Senior Planner  identifying an approximate 10-12 acre site as an appropriate site for an aviation museum, which confirms the verbal commitment made to the project.

Final approval was granted to commit to the agreement with the consulting firm, Arts Consulting Group which should be accomplished by the end of the month.

January 2008 MASM Steering Committee News

Committee Member David Scott advised that the power point collection is coming together nicely and that parts it can be used as a source of  displays on the blog site. It is planned to have the power point ready for a demonstration to the Committee at the February meeting.

As an adjunct to another meeting with the Massachusetts Development Commission, we will also seek a meeting with the Massachusetts Cultural Council which should have a natural interest in our Museum project. Pursuant to the submission of a grant request by Member Bob Segal last month, he and Member Dan McDuffie will serve as a "Grant" sub-committee to organize this activity. Grant writing personnel from the MIT Museum have agreed to meet with them to assist in formulating procedures for this activity. Further assistance will be available from the consulting firm once it has been retained.

Following further discussions with the consulting firm, modifications to the Consulting Agreement were reviewed which provide more flexibility relevant to our fund raising success on an ongoing basis. In addition to the commitment from all Steering Committee members, as of this date, we have received four additional donations/commitments from outside sources. Additionally a procedure is being established with a reputable financial firm to provide for donor contributions of financial instruments such as stock or bonds.

The year-end report which had been previously distributed was reviewed with regard to the progress made in the first year of the Museum’s existence as well those goals yet to be achieved.

December 2007 MASM Steering Committee News

We have arranged for the Museum's annual federal and state filings to be done on a pro bono basis but the search is still on for a firm to provide audit and review services on a pro bono basis. This is of considerable importance since the organization be subject to an IRS review after three years of operation. All members of the Steering Committee have now made a commitment to the PATHFINDER FUND which will raise the necessary “seed” money to retain the consulting firm. This provides an excellent start for the fund but as with all fund raising the effort must be ongoing to achieve our goal.

The design of a power point presentation has been agreed upon so that it will enable us to tailor it for different audiences as well as provide a source of material for brochures of varying designs. This will prove a valuable communications aid as we are beginning to receive requests for presentations about the Museum from various aviation oriented organizations.

A preliminary meeting with the Massachusetts Development Commission elicited considerable enthusiasm for the concept of the Museum and a future meeting is planned to further explore how we might be able to coordinate our future plans with mission of the Commission.

Massachusetts and the US manned space program

Beginning with Robert H. Goddard’s launch of the first liquid-fueled rocket on March 16, 1926 in Auburn, Massachusetts, our state's companies and people have a rich legacy in space exploration.

In particular, Massachusetts has played an important role in the US manned space program with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) producing more astronauts than any other private university, with over 30 MIT graduates logging more than 15,000 hours in space. Four of the 12 astronauts who walked on the moon during the Apollo program were MIT alumni and they spent a total of 51 hours exploring the lunar surface from 1969 through 1972.

Massachusetts companies were important contractors in America’s pioneering space efforts. Draper Laboratory in Cambridge, MA was the first contractor awarded a major part of the Apollo program in 1961 when the Lab was chosen to develop the Apollo Guidance System.

Another Massachusetts company, Raytheon, then built the hardware for the Apollo Guidance Computer in Waltham and later Sudbury, MA. Avco Corporation developed the critical Apollo command module heatshields (which protected the astronauts upon return to the earth’s atmosphere) and bonded them to the spacecraft in Lowell, MA. Itek in Lexington built the cameras that were used on Lunar Orbiter, Surveyor, Viking and the Apollo SIMbay programs. And the David Clark Company in Worcester pioneered air and space crew protective equipment design, development and manufacture since 1941, with products ranging from anti-G suits to space suits that have been used in programs including the X-15, Gemini, Apollo (worn on all the lunar missions) and the Shuttle.

Massachusetts Aviation Heritage

At the end of the nineteenth century Massachusetts was one of the world centers of  experimentation with gliders, balloons, kites and aeronautical flight models and aerial devices. By 1908, experimenters from Boston to Worcester, to Springfield and in Waltham, Lynn, Milton, Marblehead, Ashburnham and Amherst had built and were testing full scale aircraft of all types, and flew them on frozen lakes, ocean beaches, and from hilltops, pastures and marshland.

The twentieth century brought Massachusetts’ leading educational institutions into the scientific testing of aircraft designs. The Blue Hill Observatory expanded its study of the weather and atmosphere in which aircraft operated. Harvard, MIT,WPI and other colleges and universities accelerated scientific study of aeronautical theory and in their laboratories and wind tunnels they developed practical solutions to the problems of flight. These capabilities grew and evolved to make Massachusetts a leader in United States and world aeronautical research and development.

November 2007 MASM Steering Committee News

The Steering Committee has submitted an application for a grant from the Wolf Family Aviation Foundation.  A sub-committee will be appointed and will be responsible for researching and applying for such grants as the MASM might be eligible to receive. Several state commissions and agencies award grants each year that might be applicable to the MASM.

The Committee also completed a final review of the amended proposal submitted by the ACG consulting firm and will make a decision as to retaining this firm in the immediate future.  Among other things, the firm will assist in forming the organizational structure of the MASM, developing business and marketing plans, seeking and assisting in applying for grant funds, and formulating a capital fund raising plan and strategy.

Attendant to this issue, the Committee reviewed and approved a plan to raise the "seed" money to enable us to hire the aforementioned firm. This will be known as the Pathfinder fund, the assets of which will be used to retain the consultants and cover other start up expenses as we move the project into gear. Those contributors to this fund will be given due recognition in a public place in the Museum. Details of this fund and the method of contributing may be obtained through the contact numbers on this site.

Letters of endorsement continue to be received indicating the broad based support for this project. In addition we have numerous requests for speakers from various groups wishing to learn more of the MASM and these are being fulfilled as quickly as time permits.

October 2007 MASM Steering Committee News

A special meeting of the Steering Committee was held on September 15, 2007 to afford all members an opportunity to hear a presentation by the Arts Consulting Group which has submitted a proposal to assist in the founding of the MASM. The proposal was explored in considerable detail and evoked a number of questions which resulted in some changes to the proposal in order to have it more closely match our concepts and tentative schedule of events. Once the proposal has been revised, it will be reviewed again prior to any commitment to retain the firm. The timing of this decision will also be dependent upon our ability to raise the necessary funds

The discussions on obtaining the site for the Museum are ongoing and continue to appear favorable. This will be of considerable benefit in our fund raising efforts. Somewhat in this context, we have submitted a letter to the Massachusetts Historical Commission that describes our proposed project and the ground laying events to date. It is anticipated that we will have a fair amount of interface with the Commission as the project moves forward.

September 2007 MASM Steering Committee News

The MASM Board of Directors and Steering Committee did not meet as a full committee during August but members have completed assignments to obtain MASM stationary, telephone, fax and answering services, and a mailing address and a web presence.

We have received modest but important contributions from interested individuals, aviation organizations and Steering Committee members. We are using this seed money to support the costs associated with the necessary startup operating expenses that focus on communications and the key due diligence projects on museum exhibit and design concepts, the business plan, and a finding the right location for a successful museum.

We are currently preparing a PowerPoint presentation for a series of planned meetings to government officials, with Massport, and with our constituent MA aviation groups. Following that update we will be meeting with those communities in the areas we are considering for the  location of the museum. 

We will also be presenting the new museum plan to aviation organizations across the state, to military and naval aviation groups. Steering Committee members are currently interviewing and reviewing museum consulting firms and the full Board and Steering Committee will be evaluating their proposals for the successful future establishment of the first Air and Space Museum here in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

August 2007 MASM Steering Committee News

The MASM Board of Directors and Steering Committee during July has continued to work on project assignments matters, fund raising plans, site reviews and the final concept design of the MA Air & Space Museum.

Site reviews have now been completed, as is the preliminary building layout for the museum. Steering Committee members are meeting with institutions and companies to brief them on our plans and progress and asking for their support for the first Air and Space Museum here in Massachusetts.

A MASM blog is under construction and will be available in late September-early October to present the case for the museum. The MASM blog will give the public at large the opportunity to join with us, to get involved, to support the establishment of an Air & Space Museum, and fully participate in this its formative stage of development. The online and print media and interested aviation, space enthusiasts, educators and historians along with the public will also have an opportunity to get to know us, comment on this museum concept, provide input, ask questions about, suggest exhibit ideas and identify sources for museum aerospace artifacts and archives.                                                   

July 2007 MASM Steering Committee News

The MASM Board of Directors during June has been working on election of officers, Steering Committee project assignments, site reviews and the conceptual design of the MA Air & Space Museum.

Site reviews at Hanscom have been completed and a preliminary building design for the museum is near completion. The Board is meeting with institutions and companies to brief them on our plans and progress and asking for their support for an Air and Space Museum here in Massachusetts.                                                                                     

June 2007 MASM Steering Committee News

The newly formed MASM Board of Directors has been working on organization matters, site reviews and the conceptual design of the MA Air & Space Museum.

Non-profit-tax-exempt 501(c3) corporate status from the Commonwealth is now in place, three site reviews at Hanscom have been completed and a fourth is underway and a preliminary building design for the museum is near completion.

A lot accomplished in a few months on an aerospace museum project long overdue in Massachusetts.                                                                                                   

May 2007 MASM Steering Committee News

Preliminary museum design work is underway to insure that there will be adequate space to present all aspects of aerospace and just as importantly, showcase all of the heritage regions of  Massachusetts’ aerospace history. Site reviews are continuing-- the Committee has looked at three potential locations at Hanscom and another site there is under current review.

A museum briefing kit is being prepared that will include a MA A&S Museum mission statement,  reaching out to all Massachusetts Aviation and Space organizations to join in this effort and provide through their representatives a voice on an advisory council for recommendations on potential exhibit and archive materials.  This comprehensive museum prospectus will include timelines, a space plan, an exhibit layout, and a working concept of a destination that would encompass  a full range of aircraft and spacecraft displays, a presentation of aerospace technology using digital imagery / simulation and an ongoing educational program for schools, colleges and the general public that is focused on science and technology.                                                                                          

April 2007 MASM Steering Committee News

The Museum Steering Committee chaired by Al Mundo and including three other MA Aviation Historical Society members – David M. Scott, David Graham and Bill Deane, has submitted the necessary legal documents to the Commonwealth and to the IRS to obtain non-profit (501c3) tax exempt corporation status.

Committee meetings are scheduled every month on the first Wednesday at 7:00 pm at the Hanscom Field Civil Air Terminal, Bedford, MA. Among the items on the current agenda are: three site reviews at Hanscom Field, i.e. a review of two hangar complexes and a buildable site option.                                                                                    

January 2007 MASM Steering Committee News

The newly formed Steering Committee of the MASM  formed on December 15, 2006 is working with interested parties including Bay State aviation organizations, owners of individual aircraft collections and individual aviation and space enthusiasts to plan for a air & space museum for Massachusetts.

There is a project team in place to organize a "not for profit 501(c) (3) corporation", and to define, plan, site and fund the establishment of a state of the art aerospace museum. A place of our own where all the organizations can come together to contribute, celebrate and present the rich heritage of aerospace in Massachusetts. Focusing on the aeronauts and experimenters of the 19th Century, the designers, scientists, engineers, aircraft builders, the aviators and the development of the aerospace technologies and businesses of the 20th Century.                                                                                                            

Welcome to the Massachusetts Air and Space Museum blog

The board of the Massachusetts Air and Space Museum will use this blog to keep our constituents informed as we create our exciting new museum.

Building the Massachusetts Air and Space Museum will require the efforts of many people and organizations. We hope you will join us as we create a premier destination for people in Massachusetts to explore our space and aviation history.