Exhibit Installation

Century Aviation works as consultants to museums, assisting them to install or move their exhibits. We thoroughly research the aircraft before each move or exhibit installation. When we are installing or hanging an aircraft we work with Donovan Rigging of Seattle, WA. They are one of the top rigging companies in the U.S. and we have found that they understand that these are not just hunks of metal and/or wood. Each aircraft is treated as the historical artifact that it is. With Donovan Rigging as a partner we are able to offer the most complete turnkey service. This partnership provides efficient, economical and, most important, the safest process available.

National Museum of the Marine Corps

National Museum of the Marine Corps
Quantico, VA

We have completed a series of inspections and load tests on the aircraft that will be hanging in the new National Museum of the Marine Corps. These aircraft range from a Curtiss JN-4 to an AV-8 Harrier. This Museum is slated to open in November of 2006.

Museum of Science and Industry

Museum of Science and Industry

We have recently completed an exciting project for the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, IL, moving the aircraft hanging in MSI to different positions within the Museum and performing conservation and restoration work on the aircraft while they were on the floor. The project started with a detailed inspection of all of the aircraft while they were in place to ascertain their current condition and to document what conservation work would need to be done to them before they were suspended in their new positions.

The aircraft involved were a 1917 Curtiss JN-4D "Jenny," a 1928 Boeing Model 40-B, the 1930 Travelair Model R Texaco Mystery Ship, a 1940 Supermarine Mark 1A Spitfire, a 1941Junkers JU-87B-2 "Stuka" and the Piccard Gondola and a 1965 Sikorsky HH-52A "Seaguard.""

The lowering and raising of these aircraft was performed in two parts to allow some of the aircraft to be worked on while they were on the ground.

September 2006

The 1917 Curtiss JN-4D "Jenny" was lowered from the ceiling and staged to await conservation work. Century Aviation disassembled the "Jenny" and it was shipped to Century Aviation in East Wenatchee, WA.

The 1928 Boeing Model 40-B was lowered from its position in the East (or Transportation) Gallery (avoiding the 727 on the balcony level and the steam locomotive on the floor) and disassembled so that it could be worked on by conservators doing repair and detail work.

The 1930 Travelair Model R Texaco Mystery Ship was lowered from the Transportation Gallery. Conservation teams cleaned the plane and repaired damage to the firewall and instrument panel. Minor corrosion was stopped and detail work done on the fabric and paint.

The 1965 Sikorsky HH-52A "Seaguard" was lowered from the South Gallery and was partially disassembled and removed through a door in the West Gallery.

The 1930 Travelair Model R Texaco Mystery Ship was then moved to the South Gallery and suspended on knife-edge, as though it was circling the coal tower.

The Piccard Gondola was lowered and moved to the East Gallery balcony so that it could be worked on by conservators who would be doing repair and detail work.

January 2007

The 1928 Boeing Model 40-B was reassembled and raised to it new position in the Transportation Gallery (again avoiding the 727 on the balcony and the steam locomotive on the floor).

The Curtiss "Jenny" was returned form East Wenatchee with its new fabric and paint and was lifted to the balcony of the Transportation Gallery. It was then reassembled upside down so that we could raise it up into its new inverted flight display location.

The 1940 Supermarine Mark 1A Spitfire and a 1941Junkers JU-87B-2 Junkers "Stuka" were lowered from their positions in the North Gallery (avoiding the escalator), moved to the rotunda and Transportation Gallery for repair and detail work. They were then suspended in the Transportation Gallery.

The last portion of the project was to move the Piccard Gondola from the balcony and suspend it in the Transportation Gallery.

Fighter Aces Collection

Museum of Flight,
Seattle, Washington

The Museum of Flight acquired the Doug Champlin/Fighter Aces Collection in Mesa Arizona. The collection consisted of 22 World War I and II aircraft. We worked with the museum on the design and implementation of hanging systems for eight of the WWI airplains. Working with Donovan Rigging of Seattle, Washington, we were responsible for hanging the following aircraft in the WWI gallery of the new Personal Courage Wing:
Fokker D VII
Fokker D VIII
Fokker E III Eindecker
Sopwith Camel
Sopwith Pup
Nieuport 27
Pfalz DXII
RumplerTaube (in the Museum's main lobby)

Stearman Exhibit

Von Maur
Glenview, Illinois

Von Maur, a family owned department store chain, has a reputation of giving each of their stores a little something special. Glenview, Illinois had been the home of an important WWII Naval Air Station. So for their new store in Glenview they decided to hang a Stearman in the atrium above the escalators. This entailed lifting the aircraft up to the second floor, into the building though a double door and re-assembling the aircraft there. It was then rolled out onto scaffolding that had been erected over the escalators. The Stearman was put into the approximate position for hanging and the scaffolding was built around it to let the riggers get to the ceiling attach points two floors above. The plane was then lifted to its correct height and adjusted to the preferences of the Von Maur family and their representatives.

Great Gallery Rehang

Museum of Flight,
Seattle, Washington

The Museum of Flight contracted with Century Aviation to assist in the planning and completion of the complete rearrangement of the aircraft on display at the Museum of Flight. This included rearranging 45 different aircraft into a chronological order within the confines of the museum. The planning stage was from September to Dececember of 1997 with the actual move taking seven weeks in January and February of 1998. Of the 45 aircraft, 20 were hanging from the ceiling. Our contract included moving the aircraft on the ground to make room for lowering and raising hanging aircraft as well as coordinating the positioning of aircraft to be raised. We also coordinated the moving and positioning of the aircraft on the ground. Forty-four of the 45 aircraft changed position in the Museum's Great Gallery.

National Air & Space Museum

National Air & Space Museum
Smithsonian Museum
Washington, DC

In 2001 we completed a three-year project at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D. C. The museum changed the exterior glass in many of their galleries and we were subcontracted to the General Contractor (Tompkins Builders) as Aviation Support Services. Our job was to completely or partially disassemble aircraft, models and satellites, as designated by NASM, to bring them to a size where they can be stored or protected in place.

Our Company has been evaluated and approved by the Smithsonian Institute for the disassembly and reassembly of aircraft and artifacts within their collection and for preservation and protection of artifacts and exhibits.