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  • Golden Wings Museum at ANE-Separate Photos Category.

Golden Wings Museum at Anoka County Airport ANE , the airport where I learned to fly 45 years ago has a most unusual collection of rare and historic aircraft of the Golden Age of Flight. These include six different makes of tri-motor aircraft, the World's first diesel-powered aircraft, some sole examples of aircraft remaining and unique aircraft. Amazingly, all are in registration and are kept airworthy, except one example which I will leave it to you to find.

Museum founder Greg Herrick deserves praise for collecting, restoring and preserving these historic aircraft for display. He also organized the 2003 Centennial of Flight National Air Tour commemorating the Wright Brothers first flight of Man that 25 old aircraft participated in. The Tour departed from Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina near where the historic 1903 Wright Flyer flights took place

I visited the museum last month for the second time, and this time I was able with permission of the Museum Manager to photograph anything and everything in the spotless and beautifully-maintained museum. The photos are uploaded here, and just today I decided to rearrange them all in a unified grouping, easier for you to seek and find. I have set up 17 folders with 72 photos of aircraft in alphabetical order under the heading Golden Wings Museum, near the top of my organized photos. I did not include modern aircraft in the museum such as Aviat Husky amphibians, a Piper amphibian and late modern Cessna aircraft. (These are arranged in the usual way but identified as being in the museum). So, Greg Herrick has some modern and utilitarian rides also. The museum at ANE is adjacent to the old former flight facilities where I learned to fly, but in a modern huge steel hangar well illuminated with a white epoxy floor. Do arrange a visit if you are in the Minneapolis/St. Paul, Metropolitan area. I was also able to get together again with A-D member Timothy Aanerud during the trip, so that was a welcome bonus.

I have to agree with Doug here, I've been to Golden Wings twice, both during their open house at Blaine Aviation Weekend and it is amazing what they have in there. The history of those planes is just awesome. Definitely a must see place for anyone interested in early aviation.

Hello Doug.

I much enjoyed your images from the Golden Wings Museum. An excellent means for those of us far far away to enjoy such fine aviation locations.

I also took the opportunity to browse your 'Unknowns' and believe the Grumman F-14D to be

http://www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Navy/Grumman-F-14D-Tomcat/1171067/&sid=671f8d3874b8826cb54509b8ada6a45e

from Airliners.net.

Hope this helps.

Malcolm.

Hello Kreg and Malcolm,

Thank you both for visiting my pages and your nice comments-they are appreciated. Malcolm, I agree about F-14D Vandy One, the call sign and welcome the link to it's BuNo. I shall fix that unknown. I worked at Point Mugu for 29 years, and VX-4 was the Air Test and Evaluation Squadron FOUR based there at the time-1966-1995, and Vandy was their call sign also. For thirteen of those years, I worked in Flight Test Division of the Naval Missile Center and the Pacific Missile Test Center.

Doug

You're very welcome Doug.

A fascinating career - my entire career was spent designing domestic appliances, but then I guess someone had to do it!

Malcolm.

These include six different makes of tri-motor aircraft, ... except one example which I will leave it to you to find.

The sixth trimotor N7684 isn't at ANE but is being restored back to airworthy condition. A set of Ford Trimotor wings has been stored in the south west corner of museum hangar. I don't know if these belong to N7684 or not. Another "missing" aircraft from the collection is N65F. I don't know its current status. The museum also has a Frankfort TG-1A glider that is not on display. This photo contains a clue to the missing aircraft that I think Doug is referring to.

I was also able to get together again with A-D member Timothy Aanerud during the trip, so that was a welcome bonus.

Doug was in town for his high school class reunion and still has connections in the Minneapolis area. I was able to meet him for dinner one night after work. It was good to put a face and voice together again with A-D contributor. Doug was quite busy during his trip. He managed to visit most of the general aviation airport in the Minneapolis/Saint Paul area. Thanks again for dinner!

Timothy,

The data card photo for a Ford Tri-motor that is separate from the aircraft photos was among the Ford Tri-motors' un-restored wings in another photo against the back wall. I counted that as one of the six tri-motors (not all Fords, of course) the museum has. These wings belong to the Ford Tri-motor fuselage being restored in Michigan.

As to the aircraft de-registered, I was referring to the Interstate Cadet. That was the only whole aircraft I found there that was not airworthy. A few had Experimental registrations, and these were in registration.

it was great to see you again. We must have been in Doolittle's for what? -well over three hours, enough to get a shift change of waitresses. I only missed visiting your field, Crystal Airport MIC and Lake Elmo Airport 21D in the Twin Cities area, airports that I had flown in and out of years ago.

Doug