New exhibits unveiled at Center for Freedom & Flight reopening - Vacaville Reporter

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Love military and aviation history?

Drop by the Center for Freedom & Flight at the Nut Tree Airport in Vacaville and indulge in a new look, new exhibits and the knowledge of staff and volunteers.

As Operations Manager Paul Mirich puts it, the museum may have been shuttered due to the coronavirus pandemic but it’s been busy behind the scenes.

“We started getting a lot of stuff from the community,” he explained. “They were bringing in memorabilia.”

Lots and lots of amazing, historical collectibles that deserve to be viewed, he said, but there just wasn’t any available space.

From uniforms to aircraft to photos and other military memorabilia, the Center for Freedom & Flight in Vacaville has a lot of everything.Photo by Kimberly K. Fu, The Reporter

So, space was made.

Make that, a total revamp was performed.

There’s now a pathway from one exhibit to the next instead of a jumble of clustered collections, Mirich said.The path also helps with social distancing.

There’s also display cases everywhere, featuring photos and letters and other ephemera, medals, uniforms from the different wars and other items, like two cases of model aircraft painstakingly put together by Solano County Supervisor Jim Spering.

There’s also a variety of aircraft, jeeps both large and small, motorcycles, engines and other parts.

Outdoors, there’s Vietnam-era vehicles, including an impressive helicopter. Museum officials have plans to expand that exhibit, Mirich said.

Retired Vacaville Mayor Len Augustine donated a vintage military communications system that is powered by crystals. It’s part of the rotating exhibits at the Center for Freedom & Flight.Photo by Kimberly K. Fu, The Reporter

Featured are several large-scale exhibits that make visitors a part of history.

For example, a World War II era backdrop of a French town, complete with a real brick walkway and vehicles on loan from the American Armory Museum in Fairfield, which has also aided other displays.

Get up close and personal with a 1944 Willy’s Jeep, a Mercedes W31 Command Car Replica and an M-16 Half Track, Anti-Aircraft Vehicle.

Kid-size jeeps, compliments of another generous donor, round out the scene.

Nearby, an olive-green tent shelters a replica of a wartime command post for General George S. Patton. Lying on the podium is an old-school telephone handset.

As Mirich tells it, the iconic leader once misheard some information. A field phone was tapped, it seems, to ensure no repeats.

The scene also features an old-school communications system. It’s large, contains multiple pieces and appears hefty.

“You definitely can’t stick it in your pocket,” joked Len Augustine, a retired Vacaville mayor, military veteran and board member.

He explained that crystal devices, which resemble Apple iPhone chargers but not quite as fat, power the system.

“It still works,” he said. “All I have to do is get the antenna up.”

Still more exhibits are in various states of completion, including a cave-and-tunnel replica that already feels realistic.

The plan, Mirich said, is to rotate exhibits to keep the museum fresh. That includes the vehicles, the static displays, everything.

All the collections, the manager said, will be revealed t some point and there will be lots of new aircraft and other vehicles.

“We want to go as far back as the Revolutionary War,” he said.

And, there will be a heavier focus on the freedom aspect of the museum, Augustine said, without sharing more details.

The center reopens to the public today and is open from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. daily.

Aside from just enjoying the view, you can also volunteer. All are welcome.

Drop by the hangar at 300 County Airport Road or call Paul Mirich at 301-0905.

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