Vintage Aero Flying Museum facts for kids
VAFM's Fokker Dr.1 and SE.5 taxiing at Platte Valley Airpark
|
|
| Established | 1997 |
|---|---|
| Location | Platte Valley Airpark Fort Lupton, Colorado |
| Type | Aviation |
The Vintage Aero Flying Museum (VAFM) is a special aviation museum in Colorado. It used to be called the LaFayette Escadrille Flying Museum. You can find it at Platte Valley Airpark. This is about 4 miles (6 km) northwest of Hudson, Colorado. It's also about 40 miles (64 km) northeast of Denver, Colorado.
The museum keeps the history of the LaFayette Escadrille pilots alive. These pilots were heroes from World War I. Andy Parks, whose father was one of the last members, helps run the museum. He makes sure their stories and items are remembered.
You can see the original uniforms and special items from these pilots. They are kept in safe display cases. This collection is very rare. There is no other collection like it anywhere else. The museum is set up to feel like a French air field from World War I.
VAFM is a non-profit organization. This means it's run for a good cause, not to make money. James Parks, Andy's father, started the foundation in 1984. Its goal is to teach people about history.
Planes You Can See Flying
The museum has many amazing airplanes. Some of them can even fly! Here are some of the cool aircraft you might see:
- 1917 Fokker Dr.I (a copy of the original)
- 1918 Fokker D.VII
- 1918 Fokker D.VIII
- 1917 Sopwith Pup
- 1917 SE5a
- 1939 Vultee BT-13 Valiant
- Mullicoupe by Younkin/Dake (This plane is a mix of two other planes: a Monocoupe 90 and a MrMulligan)
