Wednesday, September 19, 2012
The newly established Horsham Land Redevelopment Authority approved a resolution to solicit proposals for completion of a business plan and pro forma.
In the space of 45 minutes, the 7-year-old Horsham Land Reuse Authority was dissolved, the newly chosen Horsham Land Redevelopment Authority was dubbed sole authority and wheels were put in motion to begin the next redevelopment phase for Willow Grove air base. During a pair of meetings Wednesday afternoon, both HLRAs approved the transfer of assets and obligations - including $340,000 in debt - to the new board, which will oversee the implementation of the reuse plan that the original HLRA adopted in March. The first board’s dissolution stemmed from the Office of Economic Adjustment’s recent designation of the Horsham Land Redevelopment Authority as the implementation authority. “OEA recognized this authority as the single voice," said …
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
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The Wings of Freedom Museum
1155 Easton Rd, Horsham, PA
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Wednesday, July 18, 2012
The Delaware Valley Historical Aircraft Association is hoping to make improvements that would allow greater public access.
An extended fence line, additional space for its book collection, the establishment of a veterans memorial, relocation of an immobile plane. The nonprofit Delaware Valley Historical Aircraft Association which operates the Wings of Freedom Museum in Horsham, is hoping to get the ok from the federal government to implement four proposals which they hope will make it easier for the public to view the roughly two dozen aircraft and other aviation-related artifacts on display. The Horsham Land Reuse Authority, during its meeting Wednesday afternoon, directed HLRA staff to submit DVHAA’s proposals to the Navy Base Realignment and Closure Program Management Office for review and consideration. HLRA Executive Director Mike McGee said he expects …
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
The family of aviator Harold F. Pitcairn are donating one of his rare aircraft to the Delaware Valley Historical Aircraft Association.
Actor Steve McQueen was known almost as readily for his roles as he was his love of cars, motorcycles and airplanes - including a rare model set to make Horsham its final destination. In photos of the late actor in 1979, McQueen is seen sitting in the cockpit of his PA-8 Mailwing, which was one of only six built by aviator Harold F. Pitcairn’s company, Pitcairn Aviation in 1931 at the former Pitcairn Field. Prior to World War II, Pitcairn had owned much of the acreage known today as the shuttered Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove. The plane’s local roots makes its Horsham homecoming even more significant for the Delaware Valley Historical Aircraft Association, the nonprofit entity that’s been gifted a PA-8 Mailwing similar …
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 …
Thursday, July 7, 2011
A Sunday afternoon visit to the Wings of Freedom Aviation Museum in Horsham.
Monday, April 18, 2011
The public is invited to Horsham Land Reuse Authority meeting Wednesday night, but air base's future, including an airport possibility, is still up in the air.
Although the community and local elected officials have been discussing the possibility – and opposition – to an airport at the Willow Grove air base, an actual decision is “months away.” In fact, Horsham Land Reuse Authority Executive Director Mike McGee said it would be sometime this summer before tentative redevelopment plans are drafted – and until the airport vs. no airport argument is settled, at least locally. The federal government will weigh in once a finalized redevelopment plan is submitted in December. During Wednesday’s meeting, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Horsham Township community center, the HLRA’s consultant, RKG Associates, Inc. will provide results from the Feb. 7 survey completed by more than 200 people – the …
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
The Delaware Valley Historical Aircraft Association has until May 31 to finalize a lease agreement
The Delaware Valley Historical Aircraft Association can breathe a bit easier now that the Navy has agreed to extend a lease deadline. DVHAA Executive Director John Rehfuss said Wednesday that the volunteer group that operates the Wings of Freedom Museum on Route 611 received official lease extension paperwork this week from the Navy. Now, instead of having to vacate the property by Thursday, Rehfuss said the nonprofit organization has until May 31 to either finalize a sublease with the Horsham Land Reuse Authority, or leave the Navy-owned property. "There are some open switches and questions that need to be answered," Rehfuss said. HLRA Executive Director Mike McGee said earlier this week that liability issues still need to be addressed …
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Delaware Valley Historical Aircraft Association is in talks with Franklin Institute, but its lease with the Navy expires Thursday, making future uncertain.
For more than 25 years, the Delaware Valley Historical Aircraft Association (DVHAA) has worked to preserve pieces of aviation history at its Wings of Freedom Museum. Now, the nonprofit, volunteer-run group is trying to preserve its own future flight. DVHAA leases land for plane restoration, as well as for museum space from the Navy. As part of the military's plans to vacate the base, that lease expires on Thursday, and it is not clear if the Navy will extend the lease, or force DVHAA to vacate the property. “After the 31st, the best that anyone will tell us is that we can be evicted at any moment without notice,” DVHAA board member Fred Hagen said. “We’re being backed into a very precarious position.” The Navy has been working for …
KWRUB
9:10 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
I double that??? Why is it when a group wants to do good for the community they seem to be knocked so many times? Is it just me? more ›