Military UAV Museum near Dallas, TX

[AUVM]

Hello All, thank you for allowing me to join this awesome forum! My buddy Mark Nankivil steered this way

My grandfather was heavily involved in the Firebee Drone Projects during his 32 year career with the USAF- RED WAGON, LONG ARM DECOY, LIGHTNING BUG, COMBAT ANGLE, COMBAT DAWN, HAVE LEMON TASK 05. He served in RPV Systems at SAC Headquarters, the Big Safari Office, and the Drone/RPV System Project Office (SPO) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio, and in Vietnam and Thailand.

His Experience: USAF RPV MISSION ANALYSIS, Deputy for Plans, HQ ASD, WPAFB, OHIO 45433. Responsible for formulating concepts for the future roadmap for Drone/ RPV employment in USAF. Evolved the Multi-Mission concept for the BGM-34C, May of 1973/1974. Pave Spike Program Manager, RWRS, WPAFB, OHIO 45433. Aquisition Manager for LASER designator for the F-4 Phantom Aircraft. Task included concurrent D, T&E, Pre-Production, I, O, T&E, and combat deployment to Southeast Asia, JUNE 1972 to MAY 1973. Vietnam War, Vietnam Bien Hoa Airbase 1968 During the Vietcong Tet Offensive.

Long story short, towards the end of his life he was finally ready to assemble a UAV museum with his incredible collection. He was tragically killed by a drunk driver on his way home from the the airport where we run a family business and have all the drones and drone parts. Since his accident, my family and I have been hard at work carrying on his legacy and building the museum!

We have roughly 100 drones, from 1930's/1940's Radio Plane drones, to the Teledyne Ryan BGM-34B, the QH-50 to the Lockheed X-7A possibly Kingfisher- we have conflicting identifiers on this bird, still working on figuring that one out. Check out the website, we were preparing for our grand opening when the covid hit, and have suspended the grand opening until this whole covid thing plays out.

Thanks for checking us out,
Marshall Smith
AUVM (Aviation Unmanned Vehicle Museum)
www.auvm.net

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

That's pretty cool, Marshall - sad that he isn't here to see this open.

 

[AUVM]

That's pretty cool, Marshall - sad that he isn't here to see this open.

Thanks man! We are still going through his endless files of cabinets and ect. Finding original model 147 order sheets/ shipment documents. Declassified reports from the lightning bug missions, Have Lemon docs, the list keeps going!

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

@aim9xray might feel like a visit... it’s up his alley subject wise.

 

[marauder2048]

Looks great and the product of a real labor of love. I'll donate.

 

[AUVM]

Looks great and the product of a real labor of love. I'll donate.

Thank you sir, that’s very kind of you and much appreciated! Since the start of this we have not been able to acquire any out side funding. That is a whole job on its own, we have knocked many doors but no cigar yet thanks again you kind man!

 

[flateric]

Jim Goodall has some nice fresh walk from AUVM on his FB

 

[AUVM]

Jim Goodall has some nice fresh walk from AUVM on his FB

It was good to finally meet Jim, we’ve been talking the last few months! He’s pointed us in the right direction to get our hands on the correct engine for our X-7A

 

[shedofdread]

Firstly [and most importantly]; sorry about your Grandfather. Secondly, what a fascinating museum - a topic I'm very interested in. If only it was a little nearer.....

 

[AUVM]

Firstly [and most importantly]; sorry about your Grandfather. Secondly, what a fascinating museum - a topic I'm very interested in. If only it was a little nearer.....

Thank you sir, I appreciate the kind words. We are itching to get a virtual foot print so that we can offer virtual tours for those that are too far away. All in time though! We have so much to do and very little time and short on hands!

 

[riggerrob]

Fascinating collection!
Even more relevant with modern drones bashing Taliban left, right and centre.
As for funding ... follow the money. Try asking General Atomics or the other modern drone manufacturers to donate a modern drone. While you have them on the phone, ask for a few more thousand dollars to properly display their drone. They can probably find extra funding in their marketing budget.
Otherwise, take a page from the warbird crowd and get a sneaky tax accountant on your team. The best tax accountants know how to shuffle money about to the advantage of museums.

 

[Mark Nankivil]

I had the great pleasure of spending two days there at the Museum last week - Great people, great collection (and inventory) and wonderful hospitality. Looking foward to going back this coming Spring. What a treasure trove!

Enjoy the Day! Mark

 

[Mark Nankivil]

I had the great pleasure of spending two days there at the Museum last week - Great people, great collection (and inventory) and wonderful hospitality. Looking foward to going back this coming Spring. What a treasure trove!

Enjoy the Day! Mark

And a few more... Mark

 

[GTX]

Might have to schedule a visit...if/when I make it to the USA again.

 

[yasotay]

I certainly look forward to visiting once we can travel again. Have always been a fan of Firebee and all the wonderful variations that came from that humble beginning.