About The Shannon Air Museum
©Shannon Air Museum
In 1950, Sidney Shannon Jr. founded Shannon Airport. Shannon was an aviation enthusiast with a business background. He inherited his love for aviation from his father, Sid Shannon Sr., who co-founded Eastern Airlines with WWI Ace, Eddie Rickenbacker.
Shannon Airport was a landmark general aviation airport where regular events, airshows, and fly-ins were held. People from all over the community and beyond would attend.
In the mid 70s, Shannon Jr. opened the Shannon Air Museum, which housed one of the rarest collections of aircraft in the world at that time, each aircraft dating back to the golden age of flight.
After the death of Sid Shannon Jr., the airport fell into hard times. The Shannon collection was moved to the Virginia Aviation Museum in Richmond, VA.
Thankfully, the airport was saved by an aviation enthusiast, Billie Toombs, and her partner, Robert Stanley. Billie worked for Sid Jr. from the time she was a teenager. Had the pair not bought the airport, developers would have bought the land for commercial real estate.
In 2014, the airport was bought by Luke Curtas, and his wife Kim, local entrepreneurs who saw a future for the airport. Several years later, Luke began entertaining the idea of getting a few of the planes from Shannon’s collection back at the airport. He mentioned this desire to several people in the aviation community.
With the help of the Shannon Air Wing, our volunteer aircraft maintenance team, we were able to get the whole collection moved back. The Shannon Air Museum held a grand reopening in 2017 to celebrate.
We’ve been evolving ever since, and we hope to continue to evolve into an interactive museum with a special focus on youth.
Our mission is to be good stewards of God’s creation, using our creative ability within the blessing of flight. With this mission in mind, we want to share aviation history while encouraging future generations of aviation pioneers. At the Shannon Air Museum, you can enjoy and possibly become a part of aviation history. You’ll see one of the rarest collections of aircraft and aviation artifacts in the world, discover famous aviators, and learn about the founding of one of the first major airlines. Fly-in, drive, or walk to experience all that the Shannon Air Museum has to offer!
-Luke Curtas, Executive Director
Tour Information
Tours are operated on a first come, first serve basis unless you make an appointment (please see our online booking option below). There’s a limit of 10 guests per tour for walk-ins.
Groups of 10 or more, please email info@shannonairmuseum.com to schedule your visit. Discounts and group rates available.
Check out our website or come by to take a tour of our rare aircraft & exhibits including a Vultee V-1AD Special, the only known surviving in the world. https://shannonairmuseum.com/
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Story credit: https://shannonairmuseum.com/