Museum officials said Laney is known for his dynamic leadership skills, effective execution of projects, and work with nonprofit organizations. 

“Scot assuming the role of CEO is like winning the lottery for the museum,” said Gary Mortensen, vice president of the museum’s board of directors and president of the Stoller Wine Group. “Having served as board director alongside Scot this past year, I know his leadership style will invigorate our museum with renewed energy and vision. He is the perfect person to assume the role.”

• READ MORE: Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum Accepts Rare Bird

The Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, which houses an eclectic collection of 150 aircraft and spacecraft, opened its doors in 2001. The McMinnville, Oregon, facility is the home of the Hughes Flying Boat, the Spruce Goose, as well as an SR-71 Blackbird, an F-117 and a Titan II Space Launch Vehicle. 

The EASM is a Smithsonian Affiliate and hosts more than 150,000 visitors annually. The facility displays aircraft indoors and outdoors. There are two main buildings—one home to the Flying Boat and terrestrial aviation, the other  geared toward the space program, including a replica of a 1960s-era missile launch facility.

The wide-ranging collection enables the museum to share the history of aviation and aerospace and inspire future generations with practical applications of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, aviation, and math). The museum boasts strategic partnerships with organizations like the McMinnville School District and provides access to aerospace summer camps for kids.

• READ MORE: Inside the ‘Spruce Goose’

“Stepping into the CEO role for this remarkable museum is both humbling and thrilling,” Laney said. “As a historian, I have immersed myself in untold stories and unique perspectives, seeking to connect the past with the present. Now, as I journey into this new chapter, I am filled with a deep appreciation for the incredible legacy of this institution and the visionary pioneers who have shaped it.”

EASM is located  33 nm southwest of Portland, across the street from the McMinnville Municipal Airport (KMMV), making it a popular stop for pilots.

The post Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum Names New CEO appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Known as the “first stealth fighter,” the aircraft with its distinctive angular lines is one of 10 displayed in a museum. The official welcome party will beNovember 11 in honor of Veterans Day.

Tickets for the event were sold out by Wednesday, noted Alissa Kobe, museum marketing manager, demonstrating just how much people like this aircraft.

“Everyone is excited about this,” said Kobe.

The airplane, also dubbed  as “The Lone Wolf,” will take its place in the museum’s space wing next to a Lockheed SR-71.

“Few individuals have been lucky enough to see this aircraft in person, and we have the unique privilege of being the only museum in the Pacific Northwest to provide this experience to our guests,” said museum CEO Tyson Weinert. “Sharing the Lone Wolf’s restoration journey from this first moment adds a new dimension to our community engagement.”

The keynote speaker at the welcome event will be Major General Gregory A. Feest, the Air Force chief of safety, at  U.S. Air Force headquarters in Washington, D.C., and commander, Air Force safety center at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. He is a command pilot with more than 5,600 flying hours, including several in combat flying the F-117.

About the F-117

The design for the F-117 began to take shape in the 1970s during the Cold War. It was a top secret project, as classified as it gets. Much of the early design and testing was done in “secret places in the desert,” and it flew for the first time in 1985. When the aircraft was finally unveiled to the public, it looked so unusual that there were some who swore it was alien technology. The faceted design was ostensibly created to give the aircraft a lower radar profile.

• READ MORE: National Museum of the U.S. Air Force – Stealth Aircraft

The Nighthawk was used extensively during the first Gulf War. According to Kobe, the museum’s F-117, serial number 85-0816, was credited as dropping the first bomb in Desert Storm and went  on to fly 39 missions during that conflict and another eight during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The aircraft was retired on October 12, 2007, and put into storage in Nevada. It had to be dismantled to be moved to Oregon.

“We had to do fundraising to move it here from Tonopah, Nevada, and now we are fundraising in order to begin the restoration of the aircraft,” said Kobe, adding that the pace of restoration is being driven by the amount of donations the museum gets from the community.

When aircraft like this are delivered to museums, they often arrive in shifts like a giant puzzle.
The day FLYING spoke with Kobe, the wings of the aircraft and a box of smaller parts arrived at the museum. Kobe stressed that the aircraft will be viewed from the outside only at this time and that all the “top secret bells and whistles” were removed from the airplane prior to its shipment. Although the F-117 was officially retired from its Air Force combat role in 2009, a few are still flying, and their technology is still classified.

The restoration process will be a long one, according to Kobe, but the museum plans to make the most of the educational opportunity by reaching out to schools that have 3D printers and asking for their help in making parts. The museum will have the assistance of those who were part of the development of the aircraft, and it will also be able to reach out to Lockheed for consultation.

The museum is encouraging donations to facilitate the restoration project.

“The faster we get the money, the faster the project can be completed,” said Kobe.

For more information visit evergreenmuseum.org.

The post Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum Accepts Rare Bird appeared first on FLYING Magazine.