Visited the Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville OR while on a layover this week. It was absolutely incredible, and I spent 6 hours between the two buildings (air & space) and still didn’t read everything or visit the third building (theater).
I did not try to capture a good photo of the H-4 Hercules (Spruce Goose) because there was no way I could get a picture that did justice for the sense of massive scale. I did take a few more standing in front of it, but they were selfies with my fellow pilot and I didn’t ask for his permission to post them online.
Just know that it dwarfs everything including the building it’s in; it’s like standing under a C5 Galaxy, just awe inspiring. The lines are incredibly clean and aerodynamic-looking, especially considering when it was designed and how it was built. The condition of the aircraft is pristine despite its age and hourly tours every day; it’s evident it’s being very well taken care of there. The cockpit surprised me by proving very ergonomic, and obviously the work of a complete ego-maniac: it’s apparently designed for single-pilot operations, and the co-pilot seat has virtually none of the controls or duties the left seater has.
You’ll note the photo of the SR-71 demonstrating how its wing tips are foldable for aircraft carrier operations, something I had never heard about until I made it up here.
Also shown (in the foreground of the Kaman SH-2 Seasprite) is the only surviving de Lackner HZ-1 Aerocycle. US Army Captain Selmer Sundby was awarded the DFC for his role in flight testing the aircraft, and I can intuitively understand why.
Lastly, outside they have a number of aircraft on display, including the world’s ugliest helicopter, two former Evergreen 747-200’s including one on top of the separate aviation-themed waterpark complete with water slides going through it, and a Beechcraft Starship. An amazing collection, wonderfully curated and presented; I would highly recommend anyone visiting Portland to make a day trip down to McMinnville.