100 Years of Aviation Commemorated in Oklahoma
10.03.2003
OKLAHOMA CITY - Local Oklahoma City firms, C. H. Guernsey & Company and W.S. Bowlware Construction, Inc., are assisting Aerospace America International Air Shows, Inc. with the reconstruction of the Curtiss-Wright/Wiley Post hangar. As a part of Aerospace America, the reconstruction site for this aviation landmark will be dedicated at 10 a.m., Sat., Oct. 4 at Wiley Post Airport.
The hangar, which was originally built in 1928, has been out of commission for the past decade. This year, Aerospace America International Air Shows, Inc., was able to secure ownership of the structure and begin the process of reconstruction.
As a part of the process, GUERNSEY used historic photographs and the dimensions of the structural steel to develop a floor plan, elevations and renderings. This helped convey to donors how the historic, art-deco hangar will appear once reconstructed. According to Bob Kemper, chairman of the hangar reconstruction committee, these visual tools were necessary to build support for the project.
"I'm delighted by the public and corporate response to the hangar project. It shows that people are aware of the importance of general aviation to the continued economic development of Oklahoma," said Kemper. "The Oklahoma connection is further strengthened through the work of GUERNSEY and W. S. Bowlware Construction; two firms with a deep appreciation and understanding of aviation."
GUERNSEY will also provide the architectural and engineering services for the reconstruction and W.S. Bowlware Construction will reconstruct the hangar at its new location on the west side of Wiley Post Airport.
GUERNSEY Project Manager, Kevin Decker, says involvement in this project holds special importance for the company.
"This is a great opportunity to work on a major piece of Oklahoma's aviation history at a time when GUERNSEY is celebrating its 75th anniversary. The Curtiss-Wright/Wiley Post hangar was originally constructed the same year that Curt Guernsey, Sr., founded our firm," said Decker.
The reconstructed hangar will have a diner, executive office for Aerospace America and the hangar bay will be used for convention space. The diner will face the east and overlook a landscaped courtyard and the grass runway.
"The Curtiss-Wright/Wiley Post hangar is a fitting tribute as the state's permanent marker for all Oklahomans to commemorate the 100th anniversary of controlled powered flight. I don't think that there is another aviation structure in Oklahoma that embodies the spirit of flight as does this beautiful hangar," said Kemper.
The hangar originally served as a design and maintenance hangar for Glenn Curtiss and Orville Wright. It was frequented by many aviation greats such as Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart and Will Rogers. It also served as the base for Wiley Post's most famous airplane, the Winnie Mae. Since the airport's closure in 1955, the hangar has served multiple purposes and existed under varying ownership.
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EDITORS NOTES:
C. H. Guernsey & Company Background Information:
C. H. Guernsey & Company, celebrating its 75th year of business, offers the highest quality engineering, architectural and consulting solutions to clients in the United States and abroad. GUERNSEY has its headquarters in Oklahoma City with offices in Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois and Texas.
For more information about the Curtiss-Wright/Wiley Post hangar restoration project visit http://www.taxi-strip.com/WileyPostHangar.html
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