Like many things in Galveston, the flight museum was very badly damaged by hurricane Ike. Most of the flyable airplanes were flown out before the storm and critical museum records were saved, but the buildings and many of the tools, supplies, artifacts, and pieces of equipment were badly damaged or destroyed.
The museum is doing its best to recover, but as a non-profit organization it faces a very tough challenge and needs all the help it can get. Monetary donations are invaluable, as are donations of replacement equipment and tools, particularly specialized tools for maintaining older airplanes. What is needed most of all though is volunteer labor. The museum has a small professional staff, but even under normal circumstances must augment this with a large volunteer corps. Due to the huge amount of work necessary to rebuild the museum, volunteers are in even greater demand now. It is rewarding and educational work of benefit to the local community and the nation as well as a lot of fun.
Recovery efforts are ongoing 8 - 5, Monday through Saturday (except this weekend) and no particular skill or training is needed to get started. Just show up at the museum if you want to help.
Here are some links to pictures that I have taken of the recovery effort over the past few weeks:
Some of the airplanes that were evacuated will be coming home for the Wings Over Houston air show this weekend. If you are interested, it would be another great opportunity to meet folks from the museum and find out how you can help.
(Of course, I will be glad to help you get involved as well.)
thanks,
Jeff Hagen
