Champlin Fighter Museum

Kirk · 6 October 2009, 09:54 AM

Did this museum in Mesa, AZ close? I visited it a few times a number of years ago and have seen various things on the 'net indicating it may have closed. If so, what a pity. It was a great place to see WWI era (albeit replica) aircraft.

airknocker · 6 October 2009, 10:01 AM

The Champlin collection of aircraft and artifacts was outstanding. Most of the aircraft were purchased for the Museun of Flight in Seattle.
All Aircraft | The Museum of Flight

Galloway · 6 October 2009, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirk

Did this museum in Mesa, AZ close? I visited it a few times a number of years ago and have seen various things on the 'net indicating it may have closed. If so, what a pity. It was a great place to see WWI era (albeit replica) aircraft.

Kirk,

The WWI replicas were great, but two of those WWI era aircraft were the real deal (The Aviatik Berg D.I & Pfalz D.XII)

Ken

ONEALM · 6 October 2009, 01:29 PM

The Museum of Flight in Seatlle has the Champlain Collection as airknocker pointed out.

I was at the Museum last year and they've done an outstanding job of displaying the collection. If you are ever anywhere near Seattle, the museum is well worth a visit. Their website is nice, but it hardly does the exhibits justice.

Tim West · 6 October 2009, 01:54 PM

The Museum of Flight is one of the best on the west coast. Besides the warbirds...real and replica...there are so many neat artifacts through out the museum. Lots of commercial aviation stuff too. The Big Red Barn is outstanding as well.

Definitely worth a visit. If you plan around our Sea Fair, then the Blues are based at Boeing Field...which is where the museum is, so you can see them there and in the sky over that weekend.

Not too many fly in type things but every now and again some heavies come in...which are always a treat to see.

All in all, it's pretty rad!

Tim West · 7 October 2009, 01:37 AM

lol...someone was banned due to this thread?

wow.

hehe..sorry I missed it if they were talkin S'...t

Kirk · 7 October 2009, 05:01 AM

It's too bad to hear Champlin is gone. Still, as long as the planes are on display somewhere at least folks can still enjoy them.

I'll never forget in 1995 when I was told my job was moving to Huntsville, Alabama. I was excited because the Frank Ryder museum in Guntersville would be a stones throw away. Then his accident happens and the museum closes before I get down here. I assume all those aircraft and artifacts have been dispersed to collectors and museums all over the world as well.

Kaiser Bill · 7 October 2009, 07:04 AM

I lived in Scottsdale Az from '92 to '96. It was there I met Galloway (Ken) and joined the Over the Front group that met at Champlain every month. I spent many happy hours walking through the museum (for free no less) and studying the planes from WW1 through Viet Nam. I was sorry to hear it was sold after I left Az. Perhaps one day I will visit my old home in Seattle and see the Champlain planes again. Strange how that worked out.

Kaiser Bill

Tim West · 7 October 2009, 07:47 AM

The acquisition of the collection by the Museum of Flight was a GREAT thing for us here in the North West

I had read about the sale and patiently waited a number of years for the new wing of the museum to open.

You guys can at least be happy that the collection is well loved up here too