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# Airport museum ready to fly in the future
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/airport-museum-ready-to-fly-in-the-future/
- Published: 2008-05-13T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T19:35:50.000Z
- Author: Melody Hanatani
- Tags: Government & Politics, Santa Monica Airport, #archive-import

*City Hall looks at hybrid SUV*

(Editor’s note: This story is part of an ongoing series that tracks the city’s expenditures appearing on upcoming Santa Monica City Council consent agendas. Consent agenda items are routinely passed by the City Council with little or no discussion from elected officials or the public. However, many of the items have been part of public discussion in the past.) CITY HALL The Museum of Flying will get a new home.

The City Council is expected tonight to designate the southwest corner of Airport Avenue and Donald Douglas Loop South as the future home of the museum, which has been closed since 2002 for a lack of funding.

The new location — 3090/3100 Airport Ave. — will bring the museum closer to the DC-3 Monument Plaza and Airport Park.

“The combination of the Museum of Flying and DC-3 Monument Plaza would create an historical and cultural focal point on the airport that would be easily accessible to the public,” according to a report prepared by Bob Trimborn, the airport manager.

Established in 1974 as the Donald Douglas Museum and Library, the Museum of Flying once operated south of Airport Avenue before moving to the Supermarine Complex in 1989, operating there until its closure.The new site is a mixed-use facility and currently houses 13 tenants, all of whom will see their leases expire in February 2009,allowing the development of the museum. The proposal contains at least $800,000 for renovations to the facility, which includes constructing display structures.

“The museum… would create a cultural focal point for the airport,”Trimborn states.“It would display aircraft, artifacts and exhibits relevant to the history of the Douglas Aircraft Company, the airport and the city of Santa Monica.”

The museum will fund the construction and operation over a seven-year-lease with City Hall. The monthly rental is being proposed at $2,000 a month.

MORE HYBRIDS City Hall could get three Toyota hybrid sport utility vehicles if the council approves a purchase order from Toyota of Santa Monica, part of more than $301,000 in spending items at the meeting.

The hybrids, estimated to cost a combined $111,000, will be purchased as part of City Hall’s Vehicle Replacement Program. The SUVs will be used by the operations and customers relations staff.

The council is also expected to approve a $189,000 contract with the Wildan Group to provide professional services with capital improvement projects.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 13, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/051308.pdf?ref=smdp.com)