Castle Air Museum
 | |
  Location within California | |
| Established | 20 June 1981 |
|---|---|
| Location | 5050 Santa Fe Drive Atwater, California 95301 |
| Coordinates | 37°21′53″N 120°34′41″W / 37.36475°N 120.577944°W |
| Type | Military aviation museum |
| Founder | Gen. James P. McCarthy[1] |
| Website | www |
Castle Air Museum is a military aviation museum located in Atwater, California, United States adjacent to Castle Airport, a former United States Air Force Strategic Air Command base which was closed in 1995, after the end of the Cold War. It is one of the largest aerospace museums displaying vintage aircraft in the western United States.
History and information[]
The museum opened with 12 aircraft on 20 June 1981 as a branch of the United States Air Force Museum system.[2] When Castle Air Force Base was closed in April 1995 and became Castle Airport, the museum similarly became private.[3] The loss of federal funding eventually caused financial problems for the museum.[4]
It currently displays over 60 restored World War II, Korean War, Cold War, and modern era aircraft. The outdoor museum covers 11 acres (45,000 m2), and among the exhibit highlights are a Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird (one of only 19 surviving), a Boeing B-52D Stratofortress, and the massive, ten-engined Convair RB-36H Peacemaker, one of only four surviving and the largest mass-produced piston aircraft in history. An indoor museum features artifacts, photographs, uniforms, war memorabilia, aircraft engines, and a restored B-52 Stratofortress flight deck. A crew of volunteers restores and maintains the aircraft on display.[5] The museum also hosts a periodic Open House in which visitors can view the interiors of certain planes.
In May 2008, the museum reached its 50th displayed aircraft milestone with the addition of a Douglas A-4L Skyhawk. The aircraft was shipped to the museum in August 2006, and restored at a cost of $12,000.[5]
In October 2013, the Museum received a retired VC-9C aircraft that had previously served during several administrations as an alternate Air Force One and Air Force Two aircraft when use of the primary VC-137 or VC-25 was impractical.[6] Vice presidents such as Al Gore and Dick Cheney, and First Ladies such as Nancy Reagan, Barbara Bush, and Hillary Clinton, as well as presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, were among the individuals who used the plane.[6]
Alleged paranormal occurrences[]
The B-29A Superfortress exhibit is reported to be haunted by a spirit named "Arthur."[7] Museum management has reported that visitors, including paranormal investigators, have heard knocking and footsteps from inside the plane. In addition, lights in the aircraft have been known to turn on and off, and the propellers are known to turn even though they are locked in place. An apparition has allegedly been photographed on several occasions, and paranormal researchers claim to have detected anomalous readings on their equipment.[8] The paranormal occurrences have been featured on an episode of UPN's Real Ghosts (1995).
Collection[]
| Name | Type |
|---|---|
| AGM-28 Hound Dog | Cruise Missile |
| GAM-63 Rascal | Nuclear Air-to-Surface Missile |
| MB-1C | B-58 Nuclear Weapons Pod |
| MK. 17 | Thermonuclear Bomb |
| NASA "Hyperglider" | Experimental Vehicle |
| Norden Mk. XV | Declassified Bombsight |
Hidden aircraft collection[]
Castle Air Museum has several aircraft that cannot be displayed outdoors, as their fabric coverings do not hold up in the San Joaquin Valley weather. The museum is working to raise funds for a suitable building to display these and other items that they do not currently have indoor space to display.[10]
Restoration efforts[]
The museum has recently received several aircraft which are currently under restoration before they will be displayed on the museum grounds:[11]
References[]
- Castle Air Museum Visitor's Guide
- City of Atwater – Approved Annexations
Footnotes[]
- ^ Yawger, Doane (26 November 2011). "Man instrumental in Castle's success has a homecoming". Merced Sun-Star. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
- ^ "World War II Air Force Memories Will Abound at Castle Museum". West Side Index. 18 June 1981. p. 11.
- ^ "Face Lift on Tap for Air Museum's 'Movie Stars'". The Sun. McClatchy. 3 January 1995. p. B6.
- ^ "Castle Air Museum Struggling to Stay Open". Visalia Times-Delta. 30 November 2002. p. 2C.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Keeler, Guy (2008-04-08). "A safe landing". Fresno Bee. Archived from the original on 2013-01-29. Retrieved 2009-09-10.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Yawger, Doane (16 October 2013). "Former Air Force One lands at Castle in Atwater". Merced Sun-Star. Archived from the original on 29 January 2015. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
- ^ "There's Something Inside Museum's Restored B-29". Salinas Californian. 2 October 1981. p. 19.
- ^ Ghost Trackers article on the allegedly haunted B29 at Castle Air Museum Archived 2007-08-12 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Castle Air Museum Aircraft Collection". Castle Air Museum. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
- ^ Castle Air Museum – Hidden Aircraft Collection Archived 2010-01-29 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Current Projects". Castle Air Museum. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
External links[]
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Castle Air Museum. |
Coordinates: 37°21′53.1″N 120°34′40.6″W / 37.364750°N 120.577944°W
- Aerospace museums in California
- Museums in Merced County, California
- Military and war museums in California
- Museums established in 1981
- 1981 establishments in California