Creve Coeur, MO.
Creve Couer airport in general and its airport museum in particular is a must, must see for any aviation enthusiast!
The website linked below is out of date and merely hints at what you will discover among the various aircraft on display. Creve Coeur airport is located
very close to Lambert St. Louis International Airport so when flying in, you must pay particular attention to avoid the Class B airspace. Basically, if you stay well below 1700' MSL and remain west of Creve Couer lake at all times, you'll be fine. Choose to land on a long smooth ribbon of concrete or a well maintained length of turf.
http://www.historicaircraftrestorationmuseum.org/display_aircraft.htm
With its close proximity to tony suburbs, many interesting and obviously upscale aircraft owners are in residence at 1H0 and proudly trick out personally owned and highly individualized hangars. A number of desirable aircraft including rare warbirds call 1H0 home. But that is just the beginning. Yesterday, during a refueling stop ($4.23 per gallon) and hot coffee break between tail-wheel transition training sessions in my friend Roger's Citabria, I had a chance encounter with airport owner Al Stix. Known to one another for many years, Roger introduced us. Although the museum collection housed in three large hangars was closed, Al invited me to join him for a one-on-one walk-through tour while Roger remained in the pilot's lounge enjoying his coffee. So unassuming was Al's demeanor as we walked and talked, I had no hint of what I was about to experience. As Al unlocked and opened the first of three large hangars, I was simply dumbfounded by what I saw inside. All three hangars are absolutely stuffed so full of vintage and many one-of-a kind historic aircraft that you literally have to thread your way around the aircraft via narrow walkways carved out of the remaining floor space. Almost everything on display is airworthy. Turns out, Al knew legendary Hollywood pilot Frank Talman. An airplane used in the 1964 movie "The Carpetbaggers" was parked inside the first hangar he opened. Al then told me his favorite airplane movie of all time is "The Great Waldo Pepper." As I responded by mimicking Waldo's toothy "Hello good people!" greeting, Al pointed me toward the Curtiss Jenny Robert Redford actually "flew" in the film. Al pointed out technical details such as the locations of the hardware points the on-board film cameras were bolted to. As an experienced Jenny pilot, Al admitted it took exceptional talent for the actual movie pilot to keep the aircraft stable during the dramatic wing walking sequences. All three hangars are filled with priceless treasure. Included in the collection is an open cockpit monoplane, a design that Charles Lindberg's famous "Spirit of St. Louis" was largely based upon and one look at it makes it very clear how Ryan was able to produce its most famous airplane in about 90 days. I spied a huge Antonov AN-2 the world's largest single engine bi-plane residing in one corner of one hangar. A DeHavilland D.H.89 Dragon Rapide also shares hangar space. Now I ask you...is that Rapide an exotic airplane or what? I could go on and on and on......
As I thanked Al for the impromptu and very impressive personal tour, my visit took yet another unexpected turn. Some of you may remember the late Ken Kotik. A well known aviation artist, his work often appeared in aviation publications and his varied accomplishments include a remarkable and award winning L-4 restoration honored at AirVenture 2003. Overhearing my conversation with Al, Dorothy Kotik, Ken's wife of 38 years happened to be sitting in the pilot's lounge and she graciously invited Roger and I to tour the hangar space she and Ken created together. One was immediately struck by the "homey" feeling of their hangar right down to the tasteful paver brick treatment completely covering the concrete floor. The hangar includes an elevated all weather apartment and separate office/shop workspaces. Much of Ken's stunning original art work cover the hangar walls. The beloved L-4 shares floor space with a Fokker Triplane project Ken started and Dorothy vows to complete someday. After talking to her, I have no doubt she eventually will. I told you lots of interesting people call Creve Coeur home!
I am told that weather permitting, on Sunday's year round Al hosts a BBQ lunch starting at 12:00 P.M. sharp. According to the locals I talked to, Al never lets on as to what he is going to prepare on any given Sunday. It could be chicken, beef, or pork. Hamburgers or spare ribs, you just never know. I'll tell you this much....Al Stix certainly knows how to run a classy airport!