Collings Foundation facts for kids
 |
|
_B24-P51-B17.jpg)
Collings Foundation's B-24J, TP-51C and B-17G
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Established | 1979 |
|---|---|
| Location | Stow, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Type |
|
| Founder | Bob Collings |
The Collings Foundation is a private non-profit group located in Stow, Massachusetts. Its main goal is to save and show the public important parts of transportation history. This includes old cars and historic airplanes. The foundation's main office is at a small private airfield in Stow. This airfield has a small museum that opens for special events and pre-booked tours.
The American Heritage Museum, which displays a large collection of military vehicles, is also on the foundation's property. The organization also has another base in Houston, Texas. This base mainly holds its collection of jet aircraft and helicopters from the Korean War and Vietnam War.
The Collings Foundation used to offer two traveling collections of historic military aircraft. These were called The Wings of Freedom Tour and The Vietnam Memorial Flight. The Wings of Freedom tour stopped in 2023. This happened because the organization decided to ground its World War II aircraft.
The Collings Foundation used to sell rides in vintage warbird aircraft to the public. They had special permission for these flights. However, this permission was stopped by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This decision came after an incident involving the foundation's B-17G aircraft in 2019.
Contents
History of the Foundation
The Collings Foundation was started in 1979 by Robert F. Collings and Caroline Collings. As of April 2020, Caroline Collings still works as the financial director. Their son, Rob Collings, is the CEO and main pilot for the foundation.
On July 4, 2013, another group called the Military Vehicle Technology Foundation gave its entire collection of military vehicles to the Collings Foundation. A year later, the Collings Foundation sold about 120 of these vehicles. They used the money to help build a new museum at their headquarters. The remaining vehicles are now the main part of the American Heritage Museum in Stow, Massachusetts.
In 2015, there were questions about building the new museum. The land was meant for homes, so the museum needed to show it had an educational purpose. After some discussions, an agreement was reached in 2017. The museum was finished in 2018 and fully opened in May 2019.
In October 2019, the organization's B-17G Flying Fortress aircraft was involved in an incident. In March 2020, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stopped the organization's permission to carry passengers. The FAA mentioned concerns about maintenance and safety practices leading up to the incident.
In 2023, the foundation traded a Stearman PT-17 airplane. They exchanged it with the National Museum of the United States Air Force for a Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. Later that year, an original Nieuport 28 owned by the foundation was damaged in an accident. The foundation then announced it would end its Wings of Freedom tour and ground its aircraft.
Amazing Collections
The Collings Foundation has many different types of vehicles. They have a large collection of historic aircraft and many unique cars. They also have a very impressive collection of military vehicles from different time periods.
Aircraft Collection
The foundation has many airplanes, some of which can still fly! They also have planes that are on display and others that are being fixed up.
Airworthy Aircraft
These planes can still fly!
- Bell UH-1E Iroquois
- Bleriot XI – a copy of the original
- Boeing PT-17 Kaydet
- Cessna UC-78 Bobcat
- Consolidated B-24J Liberator "Witchcraft"
- Curtiss P-40B Tomahawk
- Douglas A-1E Skyraider
- Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk
- Grumman FM-2 Wildcat
- Grumman TBM-3E Avenger
- Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat
- Lockheed P-38L Lightning "Pudgy V"
- Lockheed T-33
- McDonnell F-4D Phantom II
- Messerschmitt Me 262 Schwalbe "White 1" – a reproduction
- North American A-36 Mustang
- North American AT-6 Texan
- North American B-25J Mitchell "Tondelayo"
- North American F-100F Super Sabre
- North American TF-51D Mustang "Toulouse Nuts"
- North American TP-51C Mustang "Betty Jane"
- Supermarine Spitfire IX
- Vought F4U-5NL Corsair
- Waco UPF-7
Static Aircraft
These planes are on display and do not fly.
- Lockheed T-33
- Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-10
- Wright Model EX "Vin Fiz Flyer" – a copy
Aircraft Under Restoration
These planes are being repaired or rebuilt.
- Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress 44-83785
- Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina
- Douglas A-26B Invader
- Focke-Wulf Fw 190 F-8 "White One"
- Nieuport 28
- Piper L-4H Grasshopper "Rosie the Rocketer"
Automobile Collection
The foundation has a wide range of historic cars, from very old models to famous race cars.
Brass Era Cars
These are very early cars, made before 1919.
- 1901 Oldsmobile Curved Dash
- 1904 Franklin Type A Roadster
- 1906 Stanley Steamer Touring Car
- 1913 Ford Model T Touring Car
- 1914 Stutz Bearcat
Roaring 20s Cars
Cars from the 1920s.
- 1921 Marmon Model 34 Speedster
- 1924 Ford Model T
- 1926 Chevrolet Woody Depot Hack
Classic Era Cars
Beautiful cars from the late 1920s and 1930s.
- 1927 Rolls-Royce Springfield Phantom 1 Phaeton
- 1928 Packard Model 533 Sedan
- 1932 Duesenberg SJ Dual-Cowl Phaeton
- 1936 Auburn Boat-Tail Speedster
Celebrity Cars
- 1940 Cadillac Limousine V-16, once owned by Al Capone.
Indianapolis 500 Race Cars
These cars raced in the famous Indy 500 race.
- 1961 Trevis/Offy – a team car from the 1961 race.
- 1979 Porsche Indy – a factory race car that set many records.
- 1980 Penske PC-9/Cosworth DFX – Mario Andretti's winning car.
- 1995 Lola/Ford XB – Michael Andretti's winning car.
Other Race Cars
- 1996 Rilley & Scott MkIII/Ford – won the 1997 Rolex 24 hours of Daytona.
- 1990 Nissan 300ZX – a factory team car that won many races.
Sprint Cars: 1920s–WWII
These are powerful, open-wheel race cars.
- 1932 Crager-Ford
- 1936 Thomas Spl.
- 1937 Rutherford – won over 300 races!
Midget Racers: 1930s-1950s
Smaller, lighter race cars for short tracks.
- 1936 Sowers
- Caruso-Offy 110 ci.
- Studebaker
Military Vehicles
The foundation has a huge collection of tanks, armored cars, and other military vehicles.
- 1942 Ford Jeep, GPW Willys MB
- 1943 White Motor Co. M-16 half-track
- M1917 6 Ton tank (an American version of the Renault FT)
- Panzer I. A
- Panzer V "Panther" Ausf. A. (The only running Panther in the USA!)
- Mercedes G4 staff car
- Sherman turret trainer
- M3 Lee
- Matilda MK.II tank
- Leichter Panzerspähwagen Sd.Kfz. 222 armored scout car – Germany
- BMW R75 motorcycle and side car
- M3A1 scout car
- M5A1 Stuart light tank
- VW Kübelwagen Type 82
- Schwimmwagen Type 166 (a swimming car!)
- T-34/76 Tank
- LCVP "Higgins Boat" (a landing craft)
- Cromwell I tank
- Jagdpanzer 38t Hetzer
- M4A3E2 Sherman "Jumbo" tank
- M18 Hellcat tank destroyer
- A34 Comet
- IS-2 Iosef Stalin tank
- SU-100
- M8 Greyhound
- LVT(A)-4 Landing Vehicle
- M29C Weasel
- Daimler Dingo Mk1
- M26A1 Pershing
- M24 Chaffee
- M2A1 Bradley Fighting Vehicle
- ZPU-23 Anti Aircraft Gun
- M41 Walker Bulldog
- M48 Patton
- PT-76 Amphibious Tank
- T72G
- M551 Sheridan
- M60A1
- T-55
- MAZ-7310/Scud-B Missile Launcher
- ZSU-23-4 SHILKA Anti-Aircraft Tank
- 2S1 GVOZDIKA
- M1A1 Abrams Tank
- QinetiQ TALON robot
- iRobot PackBot
Trucks and Farm Vehicles
The foundation also has a collection of old trucks and farm equipment.
- 1909 Peerless Steam Tractor
- 1915 Walker Electric Truck
- 1920s International Harvester
- 1931 Diamond T Truck
- 1931 Chevrolet Model C Cab-Truck
