Airways Magazine June 2024 | Page 66

AIRWAYS HISTORY
ALASKA AIRLINES / HORIZON AIR ( SEATTLE , WASHINGTON )
The Museum of Flight in Seattle is in the process of cataloging , digitizing , and processing the Alaska Airlines collection .
Please see their entry for more information . Inquiries can be made to curator @ museumofflight . org .
Requests for information about possible donations of material to the Alaska Air Group Historical Archives can be sent with photos to AAG . Archives @ alaskaair . com
AMERICAN AIRLINES C . R . SMITH MUSEUM ( DFW AIRPORT AREA , TEXAS ) 4601 Highway 360 Fort Worth , TX 76155 www . crsmithmuseum . org ( 682 ) 278-9085
WHAT ARE YOUR HOLDINGS ? DO YOU OPERATE A MUSEUM ? DO YOU MAINTAIN AN ARCHIVE ? The CR Smith Museum is named for the innovative aviation pioneer and former President of American Airlines Cyrus Rowlett Smith ( 1899-1990 ). The museum opened on July 3 , 1993 , as the culmination of a two-and-a-half-year fundraising and building effort led by American Airlines team members .
The signature piece of the museum is a retired 1940 Douglas DC-3 , the aircraft developed from CR Smith ’ s input that revolutionized commercial air travel . The Flagship Knoxville was purchased by The Grey Eagles , an American Airlines retired Pilots ’ group , and restored by retired and active American Airlines team members before being presented to the museum . In 1999 , a custom hangar was added to the museum to house the DC-3 and protect it from the elements . The DC-3 Hangar was made possible by the fundraising efforts of the DC-3 Coalition , a volunteer group headed by former AA Senior Vice President of Field
66 AIRWAYS MAGAZINE JUNE 2024 www . airwaysmag . com