Air Museum Extends Fence, Adds Picnic Space

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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DVHAA Restructures to Build New Air Museum

With a focus on fundraising for its multi-million dollar aviation museum, the Delaware Valley Historical Aircraft Association changed the structure of the organization recently.

Members of the volunteer-run Delaware Valley Historical Aircraft Association have their work cut out for them.  In order to "build the museum we want to have" in Horsham, President John Rehfuss estimated that the group would need to raise between $20 million to $25 million in the next three to four years. How will DVHAA do that? For starters, DVHAA is in the process of establishing a board of trustees with former president Retired Major General Ron Nelson at the helm as chairman. "General Nelson is well-known around here," Rehfuss said. "(As president) he didn't have enough time to leverage the people he knows, aviation enthusiasts ... It's kind of hard to run (the organization) and fundraise." DVHAA reworked its bylaws late last year to …

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Horsham Air Museum Blends History, Education

The volunteer-run Harold F. Pitcairn Wings of Freedom Aviation Museum in Horsham is working to boost its educational offerings to the public.

Once the fence around the sprawling 1,100-acre former Willow Grove air base come down to make way for homes, a school, a town center and more, future generations may not know its history as a military base, or an airfield. “Fifty years from now, no one’s going to know that Willow Grove base existed,” said Heather Salazar, curator of the volunteer-run Harold F. Pitcairn Wings of Freedom Aviation Museum. That is unless Salazar and the dozens of other volunteers at DVHAA's museum have a say. Salazar, of Willow Grove, who holds a master's degree in military history, joined the museum last July.  Since then, she has strived to help “make sure history stays alive in the public’s eye.” Salazar, along with DVHAA, is working on several fronts to …

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Federal Government OKs Plane Repair, Move

Horsham-based Delaware Valley Historical Aircraft Association received approval to fix and relocate a P-3.

It took six months of red tape, but the Delaware Valley Historical Aircraft Association finally got the go-ahead to access its P-3 for repairs and relocation. Since the space the volunteer-run, Horsham-based group's Harold F. Pitcairn Wings of Freedom Museum is situated on is federally owned, DVHAA has had to make requests to the federal government to carry out seemingly simple tasks like extending its fence line and fixing a plane.  During the Horsham Land Redevelopment Authority's meeting this month, officials shared an executed license agreement between the Navy and DVHAA, which would allow DVHAA representatives to access the 142,000-pound plane to repair it and relocate it. HLRA Executive Director Mike McGee joked that the group has "…

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DVHAA Unveils Pitcairn Addition

More than 100 people turned out to see the tarp removed from Harold F. Pitcairn's black-and-yellow PA-8 Mailwing.

When Charles Kirkner took in the sight of the black-and-yellow winged beauty in front of him it was like seeing "an old friend" again.  Kirkner, 97, of Warminster, one of more than 100 people in attendance Saturday for the official unveiling of the Delaware Valley Historical Aircraft Association's newest addition - a circa 1931 PA-8 Mailwing - recalled his first meeting with the 81-year-old rarity. "I've seen it fly," said Kirkner, a North Carolina native and World War II veteran of the Army. "This plane flew over delivering the mail. I used to look forward to seeing it every night." On Saturday, once the orange-and-white tarp was pulled away, Kirkner could once again see the aircraft, one of two like it remaining in the world.  The PA-8 …

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DVHAA President Talks Importance of Rare Plane

Major General Ron Nelson of the Delaware Valley Historical Aircraft Association shares with Patch how the Harold F. Pitcairn Wings of Freedom Museum's acquisition of a circa 1931 Mailwing puts the Horsham museum on the "map."

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Weekend Planner: See Rare Plane, Play Bingo

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: …

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