From the President’s Desk Summer 2025

Great things are always happening at your museum. I think the biggest news of the year is the addition of the one and only PiperJet to our collection. It was over two years in the making. It took a lot of work and planning to get it to Lock Haven. We are extremely grateful to Piper Aircraft for all their help and support. If you haven’t been to the museum to see it yet, you owe it to yourself to come and see this beautiful airplane in person. 

     And sometimes I feel that little things are actually big things. Our summer Penn State intern, Josh Contorchick, is really a cinematic and technical wiz. The twelve minute movie that we show in our theater room at the beginning of the museum tour was done many years ago. And although it was “okay,” the viewing and sound quality was not what we wanted it to be. Josh used his expertise, and the latest digital technology to edit the full-length master into a first-class movie that you have to see.

     My wife, Cathy, and I were thrilled to be part of Piper Aircraft’s exhibit at the EAA AirVenture this year. Piper Aircraft is very supportive of our museum and helped to promote us at the Oshkosh fly-in. Piper created  an eye-catching display board and had our table strategically placed beside a beautiful, fully restored PA-17 Vagabond, which by the way, won the Gold Lindy Grand Champion Classic award this year. It, and we got a lot of attention.  And, the hospitality shown to Cathy and me was amazing. We were treated as members of the Piper Aircraft family. We are extremely thankful.

     I’d like to offer congratulations to Michael Melachrinos, Director of Engineering at Piper Aircraft. for receiving his MBA from Penn State University. Mike and his wife journeyed north this month to attend his  graduation ceremony. They spent a little time on campus, which I’m told included a mandatory visit to the Penn State Berkey Creamery. Afterward they found time to visit our museum and I was happy to be there to give them a personal tour. Mike has been with Piper in Vero Beach for twenty years and had many interesting stories to share.

     Summer is winding down. But you still have time. See you at the museum.