Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum Adds Four Engines, Rare Wind Tunnel Model to Collection for Future Display

By Carmelo Turdo

The Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum accepted a number of new exhibit items in December on long-term loan from Gateway STEM High School Aviation Engineering program.  The museum has built a relationship with Gateway STEM High School through its association with the St. Louis Community College Aerospace Institute workforce development programs.  The well-equipped Gateway STEM High School Aviation Engineering facility uses modern equipment to teach airframe and powerplant mechanics, and management was ready to pass along some of the more "historic" equipment to the museum for staff training and educational exhibition beginning this spring.  That surplus equipment took the form of four 1950s-era engines and a rare wind-tunnel model used in the development of an early McDonnell Aircraft jet, the Model 119. 

Several deliveries were made within the last ten days to complete the relocation of the items.  On December 13, four engines were delivered with the donated help from our friends at Bollmeier Construction Company, Inc.  Included in the loan were two General Electric J33-A-35 jet engines manufactured by the Allison Division of General Motors in Indianapolis - 2 of over 15,000 manufactured for aircraft including the Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star jet trainer; a General Electric J47-GE-11 jet engine (cutaway) - a popular engine used to power the F-86 Sabre and the Boeing B-47 Stratojet medium bomber among others; and a Pratt & Whitney R2800 Double Wasp radial engine (cutaway) - used to power most fighters and medium bombers of the World War II era.  The engines can be seen in the museum's hangar, though they will not be set up for exhibit until the coming spring.

On December 19, a team of museum members returned to Gateway STEM High School to pick up another loaned artifact that may be the only one of its kind - a 13% scale, low-speed wind tunnel model of the McDonnell Aircraft Model 119.  Museum members were astonished to see it stored in the rafters of the Gateway STEM High School facility during a visit earlier this year, and the museum is grateful to receive it for repair and display along with the high-speed wind tunnel model and a large display model of the aircraft already in the collection.  The model was dirty and contained some paint chips, but it was in remarkably good condition for a 50+ year old artifact.  There was only one actual McDonnell Model 119 (later Model 220) manufactured, and after failing to receive military or civilian orders, it was sold to private owners and now resides in El Paso, TX in non-flying condition.  The museum hopes to put the aircraft on display if a sponsor can be found to assist in acquiring it.  

Special thanks to Museum President (and The Aero Experience Contributor) Mark Nankivil for pursuing the loan of these items.  Also, thanks to Gateway STEM High School Instructor Paul Voorhees, Ray Bollmeier of Bollmeier Construction Company, Inc., Museum Curator Mike Burke, Museum Curator Emeritus Jack Abercrombie, and other museum volunteers who helped with the move and in the operation of the museum.

St. Louis Aerospace Institute Open House Attracts Aircraft Builders

Program Manager Becky Epps

By Carmelo Turdo

The St. Louis Aerospace Institute, a collaborative effort between St. Louis Community College, industry partners and the Department of Labor, recently hosted an open house at its Florissant Valley Center for Workforce Innovation. Several staff members - Paul Voorhees, Robert Weaver and Jack Beetz - along with Program Manager Becky Epps, provided an informative display and a tour of the facility.  Groups of visitors, many actual or potential experimental aircraft builders, took great interest in the aviation workshops that will begin in March.  These workshops, held in the state-of-the-art laboratory, will cover measurement and layout, blueprint reading, composite fabrication and assembly, sheet metal assembly, electrical wiring and mechanical-hydraulic line installation.  These workshops are condensed versions of the technical training courses offered through the St. Louis Aerospace Institute.

Initially planned as a training program for prospective Boeing Company assembly workers, the program has gained additional partners and has blossomed into an aerospace production training center featuring these current hands-on courses: Mechanical Blueprint Reading, Basic Aerospace SMAR Training, Intermediate Aerospace SMAR Training, Aerospace Assembly: Electrical, Mechanical and Composites. A Certificate of Specialization in Skilled Trades Industrial Occupations Technology is available upon completion of required curriculum. Current industry partners include The Boeing Company, Essex Industries, GKN Aerospace, St. Louis Business Aviation Association, Kemco Aerospace Manufacturing, LMI Aerospace, Jet Aviation, Sabreliner Corporation, Pattonville High School, St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment, St. Louis County Workforce Investment Board, St. Louis Public School District, and Ritenour High School.  For more information about the St. Louis Aerospace Institute, please visit http://aerospace.stlcc.edu/.

Display containing sample projects 

Instructor Robert Weaver discusses an electrical project

Instructor Paul Voorhees explains construction techniques

Composites fabrication projects

Torque project

Students complete their projects

Instructor Jack Beetz in the composites laboratory

Instructor Jack Beetz demonstrates the dust vacuum

Instructor Jack Beetz at the composites vacuum work bench 

 

Guest Post: Paul Voorhees, President of EAA Chapter 64 and St. Louis Aerospace Institute Faculty Member

By Paul Voorhees

My name is Paul Voorhees. In 1986, I started my career as a Phantom Phixer in the last active-duty squadron of RF-4B Phantom II jets in the Marine Corps, VMFP-3. Since then, I earned my A&P/IA and Private Pilot Certificates.  I have lived in eight different states, from coast to coast, but have put my roots here in St. Louis. I was recently given the honor of being elected President of EAA Chapter 64 based at St. Louis Downtown Airport (http://eaa64.org/).

It is my goal  to reach out to the various groups of aviation enthusiasts in the St. Louis metro area this year, and I plan to attend as many meetings of the other EAA chapters and any other aviation group in the area that will have me.  I am also an instructor at the St. Louis Aerospace Institute, teaching aircraft metal structures, precision measurement and blue print reading. Initially planned as a training program for prospective Boeing Company assembly workers, the program has gained additional partners and has blossomed into an aerospace production training center featuring these current hands-on courses: Mechanical Blueprint Reading, Basic Aerospace SMAR Training, Intermediate Aerospace SMAR Training, Aerospace Assembly: Electrical, Mechanical and Composites. A Certificate of Specialization in Skilled Trades Industrial Occupations Technology is available upon completion of required curriculum.  I also teach at Gateway S.T.E.M. School in their A&P program.  For more information about the St. Louis Aerospace Institute, please visit http://workforcesolutions.stlcc.edu/aerospace-institute/.  

I would like to take this opportunity to get the word out about the exciting new workshops we are developing at the College. They are for anyone interested in building an airplane. They will cover blue print reading, fastener layout, aviation fastener installation, electrical and mechanical installations, safety wire techniques, and composite lay up and repairs. For more information on these workshops, please contact me at pvoorhees@stlcc.edu.

St. Louis is a great aviation town with a rich history. I have not found a better group of "plane/wing nuts" then can be found here.  I feel that there are a vast amount of activities missed because the word didn't get out, which is why I am very thankful to The Aero Experience team for their efforts to promote Midwest aviation.  I like to joke that I can't afford a nice camera, so I have to take Carmelo with me. The truth is, I like Carmelo and what The Aero Experience does for the aviation community. 

I hope to see you all at an aviation event soon!

Be sure to visit the St. Louis Aerospace Institute Open House today from 1-4pm!