A 38,591-sq.ft land and building contribution from Boeing to the Museum of Flight began the process. The donated parcel, which was then swapped to King County, is located on East Marginal Way at the 86^th Place South, and is the location of the new KCIA hangars.

In return, King County gave the museum a land parcel located immediately north of the proposed expansion site at the museum. Approval from the FAA was required for the swap to occur, since King County had originally purchased the land with a FAA grant. The grant restrictions required FAA approval verifying that the proposed land swap was in the best interest of the airport and would not impose any negative economic impact. This was a goal shared by all the partners.

"It was important to the Museum of Flight that no general aviation facilities be eliminated in this land/building trade," said Eugene McBrayer, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Museum of Flight. "Our goal was always to ensure that the general aviation community has comparable or better facilities at the proposed new site. We are very excited to have been able to fulfill our promise."

Included in the land swap agreement was a commitment by the Museum of Flight to relocate the t-hangars from the traded airport property to the new site now referred to as Midfield Airpark. The museum built a replacement Hangar "A" and, with support from KCIA, also constructed a new Hangar "B," replacing the two hangars that will be demolished at the site near the museum.

In addition, KCIA built a one-stall addition to the "A" hangar, a new 5-stall executive hangar, a 7-stall T-Hangar for smaller aircraft, and a number of new tiedowns at the Midfield Airpark. The museum will add a new general aviation wash pad, tiedowns, taxilanes, taxiways and ramps.

The Midfield Airpark now houses 26 brand new hangars (13 of which replace the old A & B hangars), 18 permanent tiedowns, a new wash pad and vehicle parking. The total development cost of approximately $7.1 million was split between the museum ($3.7) and KCIA ($3.4).

"This project increases the economic self-sufficiency of King County International Airport, adding new revenue and aviation facilities," said Sims. "It also expands the general aviation capacity at Boeing Field, which is one of the busiest facilities of its kind in the nation."

For the Museum of Flight, the benefits are equally impressive. The new area makes expansion to the north possible. As part of a multi-year master plan, the museum has launched construction of a new exhibit gallery. Called the "Personal Courage Wing," the new structure will offer 85,000-square-feet of new exhibit and education space, as well as space to properly house the museum's expanding archives and library.

This area will ultimately house the WWI and WWII galleries in which the Champlin Fighter Aircraft collection will be displayed. These incredible aircraft - combined with personal memorabilia, oral histories and exhibit dioramas - will be part of a new wave of exhibits that illuminate this era of world history through the eyes and struggles of the men and women involved. Plans call for the new wing to be open by D-Day (June 6) of 2004.