Soft opening, landing for planes in new Heritage Airpark

Valley Press ^ | January 18, 2004. | BOB WILSON

[BenLurkin]

Beginning this weekend, aircraft buffs will be able to stroll up to and touch about half dozen historic aircraft at the city's newest public facility, the Heritage Airpark. The airpark, at 25th Street East and Avenue P, is a memorial to the aircraft designed, built and tested at U.S. Air Force Plant 42 since the facility was established in 1951.

The airpark is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays beginning Jan. 17.

A formal ceremony marking the opening of the facility will be held in March, noted Mayor Jim Ledford. Meanwhile, volunteers will continue to prepare the planes at the park after its "soft" opening on the weekend, Ledford said.

The airpark's initial weekend hours will coincide with those of the neighboring Blackbird Airpark, operated by the Flight Test Historical Foundation of Edwards Air Force Base.

The Blackbird Airpark features previously top-secret aircraft, including an SR-71 Blackbird, an A-12 Blackbird prototype and a U-2 spy plane.

Next door, the city's Heritage Airpark features a North American Aviation F-86 Sabre, a North American Aviation F-100 Super Sabre, a Lockheed F-104 Starfighter, a Republic Aviation F-105 Thunderchief, a Douglas A-4C Skyhawk, a McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom, a Vought A-7 Corsair, and a Northrop T-38 Talon, a trainer related to Northrop F-5 fighter.

Visitors will be able to make use of a new parking lot, sidewalks and walking paths to view the aircraft, which are illuminated at night when the airpark is closed.

"It looks pretty nice' when the lights are on," Ledford said. "The whole project is pretty exciting."

When completed, the airpark is intended to feature 42 aircraft designed, built or tested at Plant 42.

"This is the first phase of more to come," Ledford added.

[cmsgop]

Cool, Up here in Seattle we have an A-12 with a Drone.