Monday, May 13, 2013
An extended fence line at DVHAA's Wings of Freedom Museum allows greater access to aircraft, recreational space.
Even if you've been to The Wings of Freedom Museum 100 times and think you've seen it all, there's surely at least one sight you have not seen. The view beyond the fence. Until recently, the planes–and picnic area–outside of that metal fence at the rear of the Delaware Valley Historical Aircraft Association's volunteer-run aviation museum on Route 611 in Horsham was off limits for visitors. DVHAA last summer sought approval from the federal government to move the fence line to allow for greater public access. The federal government owns the property currently in use by DVHAA. The Navy has a lease with the Horsham Land Redevelopment Authority, which, in turn has a sublease with DVHAA. As part of the 862-acre redevelopment plan approved …
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The Wings of Freedom Museum
1155 Easton Rd, Horsham, PA
/articles/air-museum-extends-fence-adds-picnic-space
867927
/locations/9353317
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Mike Posey of the Posey Brothers Inc., a rare aircraft restoration company based in Robbinsville, N.J., tells what it was like restoring one of two remaining PA-8 Mailwings. The circa 1931 aircraft is housed at the Wings of Freedom Museum.
Cars nearly drove off the road at the sight. A black-and-yellow streak heading from Robbinsville, N.J. to its final destination: Horsham. A crew from Posey Brothers Inc., shared with glee the reaction of motorists at seeing the body of a circa 1931 PA-8 Mailwing fastened to the back of a flatbed truck as it was hauled to the Harold F. Pitcairn Wings of Freedom Museum on Aug. 20. Aviation enthusiasts had hoped the rare aircraft - one of two left in the world - could be flown in to land on the runway at the shuttered Willow Grove air base, adjacent to the Delaware Valley Historical Aircraft Association's museum, but the federal government quashed that hope before it ever took off. So, brothers Mike and Larry Posey, along with crew from …
40.201335
-75.139163
The Wings of Freedom Museum
1155 Easton Rd, Horsham, PA
/articles/video-see-the-pitcairn-mailwing-arrive
867927
/locations/7935384
Thursday, September 27, 2012
The Harold F. Pitcairn Wings of Freedom Museum in Horsham will unveil an 81-year-old piece of locally-made aircraft Saturday.
Looking for some (mostly) indoor ideas for this weekend’s forecasted rainy weather? Here are some options: HORSHAM HISTORY MAKES FINAL FLIGHT Where/when: The Harold F. Pitcairn Wings of Freedom Museum, 1155 Easton Road, Horsham, Saturday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Why go: The Delaware Valley Historical Aircraft Association will unveil its latest artifact – one of two remaining circa 1931 PA-8 Mailwings that were built adjacent to the museum prior to the land being owned by the federal government. Cost: Free BINGO! Where/when: Pennypack Elementary School, 130 Spring Ave., Hatboro, Friday from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Why go: Play games, win prizes and enjoy food sold by Pennypack fifth-graders. Cost: $2 per player UNLOAD UNUSED DRUGS Where/when: …
Carl Gunther, whose father was a pilot for Harold F. Pitcairn, shares his first flying experience, as well as his thoughts on the significance of one of two remaining PA-8 Mailwings being displayed at the place of its origin in Horsham.
Carl Gunther had just gotten out of the hospital at age 6 or 7, but had other things on his mind. Like getting back to Pitcairn field - what would later become Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base - in Horsham, to watch the planes fly overhead. "We were here on a Sunday afternoon watching the aircraft fly and one of the autogyros came down and landed at arm's length," Gunther, now 85, recalled during an August visit to the Delaware Valley Historical Aircraft Association's Harold F. Pitcairn Wings of Freedom Museum in Horsham. Gunther, grinning from ear-to-ear, shared with the excitement of a child what it was like taking to the sky in Pitcairn's PA-18 Autogyro nearly 80 years ago. The son of a pilot for Pitcairn, Gunther, like the …
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Delaware Valley Historical Aircraft Association hopes to obtain hangar 175 at shuttered Willow Grove air base in Horsham to spread its wings in restoring planes. An official overseeing the site's redevelopment said, 'It's not going to happen.'
As the long-term redevelopment of Willow Grove air base unfolds, the Delaware Valley Historical Aircraft Association is looking for more space: More room to restore planes and more area for public access to artifacts. In particular, the operators of the Wings of Freedom Museum on Route 611 in Horsham want to obtain hangar 175, described by DVHAA volunteer Mark Hurwitz, as the “biggest hangar and in the best shape” of all remaining at the now-shuttered base. “It’s close to where we are,” Hurwitz said of the nonprofit group’s existing space, which is still owned by the federal government. “It’s a big area and you could do a lot with that.” “Could” is the operative word. The Horsham Land Reuse Authority – the entity tasked with locally …
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Flight enthusiasts were hoping to get approval from the federal government to allow a rare airplane to fly into the shuttered Willow Grove air base for display at the adjacent Wings of Freedom Museum.
One of two remaining circa 1931 PA-8 Mailwings will be disassembled and driven “home” to Horsham and reassembled soon after. The hope, according to Mark Hurwitz of Delaware Valley Historical Aircraft Association, was for the lightweight plane to fly from the Trenton-Robbinsville Airport and land – for its final flight – on the runway of the shuttered Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove before being stowed at the neighboring Wings of Freedom Museum. But, the federal government, still the owners of the 1,100-acre former military base, quashed that idea by denying use of the runway. “We’re disappointed, but we’re not faulting them,” Hurwitz said. Instead, the rare plane will be taken apart by brothers Mike and Larry Posey of …
40.201335
-75.139163
The Wings of Freedom Museum
1155 Easton Rd, Horsham, PA
/articles/feds-ground-pitcairn-plane
867927
/locations/7612178
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
A look back at Hatboro and Horsham, 85 years ago this week.
From the Public Spirit, Week of July 21-27, 1927 Hatboro council considers sewer system - The building of a sewer system, which will cost the residents of Hatboro an estimated $200,000 but which will be the most beneficial improvement the borough could have, is being contemplated at the present time by the town council. This question, which has been unofficially discussed for several years, was formally opened in the meeting of Hatboro Borough Council held in the town hall Tuesday night. An idea of the expense of a sewage system for Hatboro was gleaned from a communication from the borough of Quakertown which has a similar system installed, giving the approximate cost of their plant and mains, and the mileage of pipe laid. Although Hatboro…
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
The Delaware Valley Historical Aircraft Association added an A-10 Thunderbolt to its display and hopes to expand its public viewing space.
Flying enthusiasts now have the chance to get an up-close look at a 29,000-pound piece of vital wartime aircraft. An A-10 Thunderbolt has landed at the outdoor viewing area of the Delaware Valley Historical Aircraft Association’s Wings of Freedom Museum, joining about two dozen other aircraft currently on display. The low-flying 3,900-round-per-minute fighter plane, which has the ability to withstand “direct hits from armor-piercing and high explosive projectiles” is making its home at the Easton Road museum, according to DVHAA volunteer Mark Hurwitz. The plane is a remnant from the in-flight missions of the 111th Fighter Wing for the Pennsylvania Air National Guard, the unit stationed at the adjacent Horsham Air Guard Station. “While …
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
A look back at Hatboro and Horsham, 85 years ago this week.
From the Public Spirit, Week of Aug. 3-9, 1926 Hallowe'en Carnival to be revived - Arrangements for the revival of Hatboro's Hallowe'en Carnival are progressing nicely. Under the auspices of the Hatboro Board of Trade, which organization will supplant the former Hatboro Carnival Association, the affair, in years past an annual one, shows promise of being the largest and most successful ever held in this town. At the meeting of the Executive committee of the Board of Trade held a week ago, Penrose Robinson, president of the Board, was elected general chairman of the carnival. Mr. Robinson was one of the leaders in the old Hallowe'en occasions, and he has appointed on his committees many of the town's prominent citizens who were connected …
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Aviation museum will remain in place while HLRA determines fate of Willow Grove air base.
It had been discussed as being imminent, but now it's official: All the I's have been dotted and T's crossed in an agreement to allow an aviation museum to stay in flight. In a press release issued Monday, the Delaware Valley Historical Aircraft Association announced that it had signed a lease with the Horsham Land Reuse Authority which would allow the nonprofit group to continue operating its Wings of Freedom Museum as the HLRA decides the fate of the 892 acres available once the military ceases operations at the Willow Grove Naval Air Station. The lease is a long time coming and a necessity for DVHAA's future. The land that houses the museum is owned by the military. As a contingency to remain on the property beyond June 30, the date of…
Liberty 1
11:42 am on Tuesday, May 14, 2013
This museum is a real gem for this area. The vet's that were working there were fun to chat with and a great education for the kids. I hope that more people support it, they will be plesantly surprised. more ›