1929 Curtiss-Wright Hangars in St. Louis: A Current Survey

By Carmelo Turdo

1929 Curtiss-Wright hangars were once scattered about the U.S. at most major airports where Curtiss-Wright did business. With time and aviation industry consolidation taking their toll on nearly all of these facilities, only a few remain in any condition.  We in the St. Louis area are very fortunate to have TWO of these magnificent historic landmarks not only still standing, but occupied by viable entities at St. Louis Downtown Airport. The Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum is located in Hangar 2. Two other Curtiss-Wright hangars exist, one in South Carolina that has been converted into a bar and restaurant and another in "storage" in Oklahoma, planned for rebuilding at Wiley Post Airport at a later date. Restorations of these hangars will cost millions of dollars, and the time is coming when they will no longer be serviceable without full restoration. Curtiss-Wright Hangars 1 and 2 are pictured below.

 

Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum Adds Exhibits In Historic Hangar at St. Louis Downtown Airport

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By Carmelo Turdo

e Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum continues to grow at its current location in historic 1929 Curtiss-Wright Hangar 2 at St. Louis Downtown Airport in nearby Cahokia, IL.  The museum, established in 1982 as the St. Louis Aviation Museum by McDonnell Douglas employees and retirees at Spirit of St. Louis Airport in Chesterfield, MO, currently maintains a collection of exhibits and aircraft that well represent the contributions of St. Louis aviation and aerospace since the 1920s.  Rare items on display include Mercury and Gemini space suits, two working Link Trainers from the 1940s-50s, a Lockheed Jetstar executive jet once owned by Howard Hughes and a Meyers OTW trainer (number 50 out of 102 made).  Several aircraft restoration projects are planned, and the museum is in search of more docents and a sponsor for the future restoration of the historic hangar.

Here is a look at just some of the current exhibits from the gallery and hangar full of aircraft, engines and related items. The museum is open Friday-Sunday, 10am-4pm.