Aircraft

HANGAR / HANGAR RENOVATION PROJECT

Interior of MAPS Hangar, April 2007 • photo © Gary Haught

Exterior of MAPS Hangar • model built by John Silinsky • photo © Rick Tenan

The MAPS Air Museum hangar was donated to MAPS by the Akron Canton Airport in August 2001. Originally built to support an Ohio Air Guard base established in 1952, the hangar has been home to P-51 Mustangs, T-6 Texans, C-119 and C-47 aircraft during its years of military service. It served until the early 1960s, when the aircraft were moved to Clinton County, Ohio. The hangar was then transferred to the Ohio National Guard, where it housed the UH-1 Huey, AH-1S Cobra and OH-58A Kiowa helicopters. The hangar was turned over to the Akron Canton Airport in the late 1980s when the Ohio National Guard built their new facility on West Airport Drive. Until its transfer to MAPS, the hangar was used as a repair facility by Indiana-based Chatauqua Airlines.

new MAPS logo is applied to the Gift Shop / Entrance floor Photo © Steve Satchell

Interior of MAPS Hangar • model built by John Silinsky • photo © Rick Tenan

New museum room after a fresh coat of paint

New gift shop taking shape • photo © Brian Miller

The fact that the entire exterior of the hangar has windows causes several problems. First and foremost, the old windows used asbestos caulking, a huge financial and environmental issue if they were to be left intact. The other problem is that historical artifacts don't like direct sunlight. To solve both of these problems the decision was made to remove portions of the lower windows and brick the walls off. This solves the asbestos abatement problem, protects the artifacts, and increases security for the museum.

Latest Photos September 2005 New Glass Door Installed

Another issue is heating the hangar as efficiently as possible. To solve these the ceiling of the hangar was painted to improve appearances, and rolled insulation was hung.