Aviation enthusiasts in Columbus and around Ohio may have a new museum for aviation research and learning at Don Scott Field – the location of Ohio State’s Airport.

The decision of whether a museum will be built on airport grounds has not been made, but the idea is being discussed, said Doug Hammon, OSU Airport director.

“I need to begin discussing the proposal with the university administration, and if they are interested in looking further at the idea, I will connect them with the organization making the request,” Hammon said.

Members of the Experimental Aircraft Association drafted the proposal for the museum.

The EAA proposal states that several years ago Columbus aviation pioneer Foster Lane conceived the idea to build an aviation museum at Port Columbus Airport.

The Ohio History of Flight Museum was built at Port Columbus to house, restore and preserve aviation artifacts.

Through the efforts of Lane and his board of directors, the facility grew and a new hangar-type facility was erected. The museum had an extensive collection of books, photographs and magazines, along with many other aviation materials.

“In 2000, the Ohio History of Flight Museum at Port Columbus was closed to make room for a hotel,” Hammon said. “The Ohio Historical Society took over the artifacts, but have very little room to display them.”

A group of volunteers who ran the museum joined the EAA and began looking for locations to build another museum. From that point, the OSU Airport became the preferred choice.

“The facility would provide a learning laboratory and professional experience for students seeking to become leaders in tomorrow’s worldwide aviation system through research and learning about previous successes and failures,” the proposal said.

Another benefit of the OSU Airport location is the museum could be accessed via airplane or automobile, Hammon said. At Port Columbus, visitors could not fly in and taxi directly to the facility.

The museum would not only benefit university students and faculty, but it would supplement the airport’s K-12 outreach program.

“We currently host numerous school groups on tours, shadow programs and career fairs,” Hammon said. “All these activities will have complete access to the proposed facility.”

Two major obstacles hindering the building of this facility are no organization has been formed to advocate for the cause and a lack of funding.

The members of the EAA are looking for a sponsor.

The funding problem would have to be negotiated among the Ohio Historical Society, Ohio State and the sponsor, the proposal said.

Joseph L. Vogel, a visiting lecturer in the department of aviation, emphasized the facility would not be an OSU project, but rather one of the state.

These obstacles are making a definite time frame impossible to make.

“Ideally, ground would be broken in late 2003 to correlate with the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers’ first flight,” Hammon said. “But I have to believe we are still several years off.”

The anniversary marks an important year in Ohio aviation history. A yearlong series of events are expected and the governor has established committees to help plan the celebration. However, a groundbreaking for a new museum may not be one of them.

“Lead time for establishing a facility such as this could consume all of the next three to five years,” the proposal states. “But perhaps at least a dedication ceremony could take place.”