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Learn more about our AVIATION STEaM for kids K-12
Learn more about our Dedication Program Here
Learn more about our Dedication Program Here
MACHEN HISTORY CHANNEL
History Channel Untold Story of Billy Machen and Navy Seals in the Vietnam War. Billy's story begins at approximately 4 minutes into the program.
NOTAM 5
NOTAM for Participants, guest speakers, pilots, Patriot Guard, Military Vehicle operators, military aircraft, and performers for the Memorial Program:
Flight of the Phoenix Aviation Museum is dedicated to:
Honoring Veterans
Nurturing Patriotism
Preserving Heritage
Blast from the past
Photo by Ruel Felipe
Steve Dean, left, with Aneita Henry, Director of Administration for the Museum, receive a generous check from Jack Langston, Oil and Gas Property Manager for Sulphur River Exploration Company Aneita is holding the Metro section of the 22 Oct 2013 Dallas News 'Veterans Day Parade' article.
Team FENIX as they will be seen in Dallas on Nov. 11 at 11 AM with pilots, top row Carl Best, Plano, Tx ( yellow), Steve Dean, a Gilmer, Tx (orange), bottom row, Steve Afeman, Stephenville, Tx (blue), and Mark Todd, Dallas, Tx (gray)
Sulphur River Exploration Company CEO Rex Corey, Jr. is a hard working Texas oilman based in Dallas whose company is one of Upshur County's most active oil and gas producers, bringing with it a substantial stream of revenue to local mineral interest owners and to the local tax base.
Sulphur River is also a supporter of charitable organizations and veterans groups such as Wounded Warriors in the metroplex: so when CEO Rex Corey, Jr. read the recent Dallas News article about Gilmer`s aviation museum providing the vintage warbird fly-past for the annual Downtown Dallas Veterans Day parade, he wanted to express his support.
Enter Jack G. Langston, Oil and Gas Property Manger for Sulphur River/East Texas.
Last week Langston called Steve Dean at the museum. He said Mr. Corey was pleased to read about the museum in the Dallas paper. He said Mr. Corey was looking forward to the Dallas Veterans Day Parade, and especially watching the Flight of the Phoenix Escadrille do the honors.
Traditionally the flight mission is reserved for active duty military jets from Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, TX. This year, due to military sequestration and federal budget restraints, vintage warbird museums around the country, like Flight of the Phoenix in Gilmer, are being called upon.
"It is quite an honor for the museum, and an awesome responsibility" said museum president Steve Dean. "We're taking actual WWII equipment.....70 year old equipment.....flown by pilots almost as old as the planes......and we are reliably, safely, and realistically flying the exact same ceremonial mission as our active-duty military counterparts perform in their modern jet fighters."
Businessmen like Mr. Corey understand what it takes to provide men and machines under strict regulatory federal guidelines. Understanding the costs, appreciating the cause, and knowing the contribution of the men and women of our uniformed services, provide the incentive for businesses and individuals to support charitable 501 (c) 3 organizations such as FOTPAM.
Mr. Corey hopes by showing his financial support that he will inspire other individuals and businesses to join in supporting Flight of the Phoenix. The museum was founded by Dean in 1990. It received 501(c) 3 tax exempt status in 1996, and has steadily grown as an educational museum for area students, a local tourist attraction, and as a conservator of area military history.
Located at Fox Stephens Field/Gilmer Municipal Airport, the museum is open 9 to 5 weekdays, and any other time by prior request, for individuals and groups. Admission is free and donations are certainly welcome. On Veterans Day weekend the Escadrille can be witnessed flying for City of McKinney, City of Grand Prairie, City of Dallas, and City of Gainesville patriotic events.
The weekend just past, the team flew ceremonies for City of Bonham, and a Missing Man Formation for Mr. Mark Hardin, FBO Manager at the Terrell, Tx airport, sponsored by City of Terrell.
Another Gilmer Air Force veteran, Jim Gooch, now of Dallas, will be in the Dallas parade. Gooch will drive his restored WWII jeep with a WWII veteran and a Gulf War veteran as passengers.
Education First
FOTPAM Museum's Steve and Linda Kay hope the aviation museum will provide area school children with a learning laboratory for aviation education. With a variety of displays, they are making a special effort to recognize community leaders who have contributed to Gilmer's heritage through aviation.
"Is this a church or a cathedral?"
This is a typical question from visitors when they catch a glimpse of this unique airplane hangar at the Gilmer-Upshur County Airport. The multi-use building not only houses an operations base for Dean Lumber Company's business aircraft, but is also home to the Flight of the Phoenix Aviation Museum. The museum provides local school groups an opportunity to learn more about the diverse role that aviation plays in their daily lives. Dean received the Texas Forestry Association Award for Best Design in Wood Buildings for 1997.
Sponsors
This website is Generlously Sponsored by Tefteller Law Firm!
Gilmer man's love of vintage planes propels air show
July 22, 2019
TYLER, Texas (KLTV) - Many people think there's nothing more patriotic than a flying World War II aircraft, and a Gilmer man does his best to give people just that. And he coordinates the T6 Texan Air show which features at least two vintage war birds trailing smoke and thrilling crowds.
Retired from the Air Force, Steve Dean has been a pilot for years.
He's pretty much taken himself out of the pilot's seat because of a bad knee, but he's still very involved in flight and helps present air shows featuring his buddies flying T6 Texans....
GILMER, TX (KLTV) - Children gathered at the Flight of the Phoenix Aviation Museum in Gilmer witnessed the recreation of a historic event that took place during World War II.
On Wednesday, pilots recreated what's known as the Candy Bomber. During World War II, Col. Gail "Hal" Halvorsen, dropped candy to children in Berlin after Russia cut off their food supply.
Fast forward to 2019 and some East Texas children were taken back to World War II.
A hundred 5th graders ran toward sweet victory, as small bags of candy dropped from the sky....
