Michael Payne, Executive Director of the Port Townsend Aero Museum, shows off some of the antique and historic air planes on display at the museum located at the Jefferson County International Airport in Port Townsend. The museum is expanding, in the area behind the blue tarp in the background, to increase the museum’s display area by about a third. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)

Michael Payne, Executive Director of the Port Townsend Aero Museum, shows off some of the antique and historic air planes on display at the museum located at the Jefferson County International Airport in Port Townsend. The museum is expanding, in the area behind the blue tarp in the background, to increase the museum’s display area by about a third. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)

Aero museum expanding by one-third

Historic aircraft on display

PORT TOWNSEND — The Port Townsend Aero Museum is expanding its display space.

A $1.5 million grant from the North Cascades Vintage Aircraft Museum Foundation has funded an expansion from 13,000 square feet to 19,000 square feet, said Michael Payne, manager of the aircraft museum at 105 Airport Road near Port Townsend.

The expansion is expected to be finished by the end of the summer, Payne said.

The nonprofit museum has some 25 historic airplanes on display.

It has stored some 56 planes that include projects that will be renovated or restored.

Visitors see prewar planes, both tube and fabric.

“They are mostly general aviation aircraft with a few military trainers,” Payne said.

The museum remains open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday while the renovation continues.

A big blue tarp is hanging from the ceiling to separate the viewing area from the ongoing construction, Payne said.

“We had to take some of the existing display out of the building,” during the work, he said.

“Externally, it appears finished. We’re now finishing the interior, which includes the mezzanine.”

The Port Townsend Aero Museum was established in 2001 by Jerry and Peggy Thuotte as a publicly-owned 501(c) (3).

Payne joined the staff in 2002. In 2016, the Thuottes retired and turned over the directorship to Payne.

Jerry died about a year and half ago, Payne said, but Peggy stops by occasionally.

When the North Cascades Vintage Aircraft Museum in Concrete went out of business in 2018, it bequeathed about eight aircraft — in various stages of restoration — to the Port Townsend museum.

“That immediately presented us with a space problem,” Payne said. “We did not have enough space to display the airplanes.”

So the family of the founder of the North Cascades museum, Harold Hanson — who had died in 2010 — offered a grant to expand display space.

Part of the reason for the support is the museum’s youth program, Payne said.

The program serves 17 teens annually, providing mentorship and flight training in exchange for volunteer work.

“We have a waiting list of 15-16 kids,” Payne said.

For more information, see ptareomuseum.com or call 360-379-5244.

________

Executive Editor Leah Leach can be reached at 360-417-3530 or at lleach@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Kelly and Dan Freeman of Port Ludlow examine a 1958 Edsel on display during Friday evening’s 29th annual Ruddell Cruise-In at Ruddell Auto in Port Angeles. The event featured hundreds of antique and vintage automobiles from across the region as well as food, music and other activities. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Classic show

Kelly and Dan Freeman of Port Ludlow examine a 1958 Edsel on… Continue reading

Sequim School District officials report it could take upwards of 2 1/2 years to break ground on a new elementary school. Voters approved a $146 million, 20-year construction bond in a Feb. 11 special election that includes a new elementary school, renovated high school and more. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Sequim schools eye bond timeline

Bigger projects may be 2 years away

Sequim volunteer Emily Westcott has led the flower basket program along Washington Street since 1996. This year she’s retired to focus on other endeavors, and the city of Sequim and the Sequim School District will continue the partnership. Westcott is still seeking donations for downtown Sequim Christmas decorations through the Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Sequim flower basket program shifts to city, school partnership

Westcott retires, plans to keep decorating downtown for Christmas

Clallam first in state to implement jail healthcare program

County eligible to apply for Medicare reimbursement for services

Writers to converge in Port Townsend to work on craft

Free readings open to the public next week

Firefighters extinguish blaze in fifth-floor hotel room

Firefighters from East Jefferson Fire Rescue and Navy Region… Continue reading

Mowing operation scheduled along Lake Crescent on Tuesday

Work crews from the state Department of Transportation will… Continue reading

EYE ON THE PENINSULA: County commissioners set to meet next week

Meetings across the North Olympic Peninsula

Peninsula Behavioral Health head discusses the fallout from federal bill

Anticipated cuts to Medicaid could devastate rural communities like Clallam County, leading… Continue reading

Tool library to open in Port Townsend

Drills, saws and more available to borrow

Fire restriction implemented on federal lands

Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park have restricted campfires… Continue reading