Welcome to the WNC Air Museum Historic Documents Archive, where you can explore the rich history of both the museum and the Hendersonville Airport.
The story of the WNC Air Museum is closely intertwined with that of the Hendersonville Airport. Throughout the airport’s history, many of the individuals who helped build, operate, and support the airport were also active members and supporters of the museum, and many Air Fairs organized by the museum were held at the airport. As a result, you’ll find numerous articles and historical documents that chronicle the development of both organizations and the people who shaped them.
Below is a timeline highlighting many of the major milestones in the history of the Hendersonville Airport and the WNC Air Museum.
1969
Oscar Meyer sells Flying Service and airport
In January of 1969, Oscar Meyer sells Flying Service and airport to Winkler Aviation Inc. Airport changes its name to Winkler Field.
1990
In the early 1990s, the WNCAM operated from Hangar 61 at Hendersonville Airport.
1992
Groundbreaking at the Western North Carolina Air Museum in 1992. Present are John Duncan, Oscar Meyer, Dennis Dunlap (WNCAM Vice President), Bill Schreier (WNCAM President), Don Michaillove (Mayor of Hendersonville), Ken Stubbs (Secretary), and Jerry Moore.
May 1993
The Western North Carolina Air Museum (WNCAM) opens to the public.
Hurricane Helene
Hurricane Helene left a lasting mark on the Western North Carolina Air Museum and Hendersonville Airport, bringing widespread flooding and damage to the airport and surrounding community. This gallery documents the storm’s impact and the resilience of the volunteers, pilots, and neighbors who worked to recover and rebuild.
Access the Archives
Explore an archive of newspaper and magazine clippings chronicling the history of the Western North Carolina Air Museum. From milestone moments and special events to stories about the aircraft and people who have shaped the museum, these articles offer a fascinating look at its impact on aviation and the Western North Carolina community.
The Western North Carolina Air Museum, “the First Air Museum in the ‘First in Flight’ State,” was founded in April 1989 by three members of the Western North Carolina aviation community, Dennis Dunlap, Bill Schreier, and Ken Stubbs.
The Air Museum was established “to preserve the Aviation heritage of North Carolina in general and of Western North Carolina in particular.” The Western North Carolina Air Museum was incorporated in North Carolina in August 1989 and was granted a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status by the Internal Revenue Service.
After the Air Museum was founded, the top priority project was the construction of a hangar in which the Air Museum’s aircraft could be displayed.
On May 11, 1992, a temporary home for the Air Museum’s aircraft was opened in hangar 61 at the Hendersonville Airport. Several of the Air Museum’s aircraft were on display in this temporary location until such time as the completion of a new Museum hangar.
A Stearman N2S-4, a North American SNJ-5/AT-6, and the 1928 Heath Parasol were available initially. A Stearman N2S-3 and a Fairchild PT-19 were also part of the Air Museum’s initial inventory, but all of those aircraft except the Heath Parasol have since been sold or are otherwise unavailable for display in the Air Museum. The Oshkosh Champion Stearman N2S-4 was sold in March 1997, and the SNJ-5/AT-6 was unfortunately crashed and totaled; it too is no longer here at the museum.
Land was acquired from Mr. Leland Johnson on “Johnson’s Airfield,” which is adjacent to the Hendersonville Airport, for the building site. Soon after, plans for the museum were approved, and building began.
Construction of the hangar, which is now the permanent home of the Western North Carolina Air Museum, was completed on schedule in January 1993. The grand opening of the Air Museum took place on Saturday, May 22 of that year. An addition to the Museum hangar was later constructed, and it was opened to the public early in 2008.
As the museum continued to grow, the decision was made to expand our facilities. In the spring of 2000, construction began on a lower hangar that would be used as rental hangars for members’ aircraft and as a source of future income for the museum. Part of the agreement with the members who would rent these hangars was and still is that any aircraft housed in these hangars would be open to viewing by museum visitors. Construction of these hangars was completed in September of 2001, and the hangars began receiving their first renters shortly thereafter.
From our humble beginning in a single hangar at the Hendersonville, North Carolina Airport (0A7) to where the Western North Carolina Air Museum is today, we have held steadfast in our mission to Preserve and Promote Western North Carolina’s Aviation Heritage.
The museum continues to grow. As we acquire more of the aircraft that are a vital part of aviation history, and institute youth education programs. We find ourselves again needing to expand our facilities.
In April 2014, the museum enters it’s 25 year of providing a place where young and old are able to see, touch, and learn about the planes and people that lifted a generation into the age of flight. Come visit us today!
President George W. Bush visited the Western North Carolina Air Museum during his campaign for reelection swing to see the Oshkosh Champion Stearman N2S-4 on September 5, 1992. After being greeted by Retired Lt. Colonel Bill Schreier, the then-President of the museum, and his wife Caroline, the President spent about 15 minutes looking over the Museum’s Stearman. Ignoring the heavy rain falling at the Museum, he took the time to admire the type of aircraft in which the President and Lt. Colonel Schreier (plus many other pilots) learned to fly during World War II. The President was most gracious and very appreciative that the Stearman was made available for him to inspect in such bad weather.