The Cavanaugh Flight Museum at the Addison Airport announced that the museum is permanently closed. The museum’s final days ended the last weekend of 2023.
“We truly appreciate each and every guest who has come to enjoy the aircraft with us over the past 30 years,” a statement from the museum read.
According to WFAA, the museum's lease was scheduled to conclude in 2024. During the Jan. 10, 2023, city council meeting, the council approved a ground lease with Addison Hangars, LLC that includes the 6 acres currently occupied by the Cavanaugh Flight Museum and Monarch Aviation, situated just to the north of the museum. Plans for the space include a $25+ million investment in hangars, office space and parking.
The museum announced that its aircraft would be relocated to the North Texas Regional Airport in Denison. However, it remains uncertain whether they will continue to be publicly displayed. Local Profile reached out to the Cavanaugh Flight Museum for comment but did not receive a response prior to publishing.
Town spokesperson Mary Rosenbleeth told WFAA, these changes were anticipated for quite some time. According to Rosenbleeth, the absence of funding approval from Addison voters in a 2008 bond election for a new aviation museum was a crucial factor. By that point, it became evident to the town that the current site was inadequate to meet the museum's requirements.
“As the museum collection grew, it became apparent that its initial location on Claire Chennault lacked the size, visibility and facilities necessary to successfully host events, provide educational opportunities and complete restorative services, all of which provide additional revenues for aviation museums,” Rosenbleeth told Local Profile.
The Cavanaugh Flight Museum featured memorabilia and artifacts from World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, civilian aircraft, as well as military vehicles and weapons.
The museum, founded in 1993 by businessman Jim Cavanaugh, hosted many events for the community including Wheels & Warbirds and the drone wars. The museum’s historic planes were also featured in Addison’s Kaboom Town airshow for more than a decade.
