SR-800-001-09
RMD:Airport:BT:f:\resource\share\Staffreports\DC-3 Monument Project Staff Report.doc
Council Meeting: June 15, 2004 Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Acceptance of a Douglas DC-3 Aircraft from the Museum of Flying to be
Used for a Proposed Monument Project at Santa Monica Airport
INTRODUCTION
This staff report recommends that the City Council approve the acceptance of a
Douglas DC-3 aircraft from the Museum of Flying to be used as a monument at the
Santa Monica Airport.
BACKGROUND
On September 9, 2003 David G. Price, Chairman of the Board of the Museum of Flying,
offered to donate a Douglas DC-3 aircraft at no cost to the City of Santa Monica to be
used as a monument on Airport Avenue. Subsequently, on October 27, 2003 Mr. Price
donated an additional $50,000 in seed money to launch a special DC-3 Monument Fund
established by the Museum of Flying specifically for the monument project. The DC-3
had been part of the Museum?s collection but the new museum, to be located at Hangar
33 Donald Douglas Loop North, is not large enough to display the aircraft. Since the
date of the donation offer, staff has been exploring the title of the aircraft and has
determined that all the necessary documentation is in order for the City to accept the
aircraft.
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DISCUSSION
The Douglas Aircraft Company DC-3 is one of the most influential aircraft in the history
of aviation and is routinely ranked as one of the top-10 most important aircraft of all
time. The DC-3 donated by the Museum of Flying was built by the Douglas Aircraft
Company at Santa Monica Airport in 1942 and was one of over 13,000 produced
beginning in 1935. The DC-3 combined the right combination of speed, payload and
economy to make commercial air travel affordable and accessible for a vast majority of
the public. The aircraft spawned the birth of the modern commercial air transportation
system and was instrumental in the success of the Douglas Aircraft Company.
Currently over 1,000 DC-3s are known to exist worldwide. (It is interesting to note that a
DC-3 continues to provide mail and cargo service to Catalina Island on a twice-daily
basis). The DC-3 monument will acknowledge and memorialize the contribution the
Douglas Aircraft Company and the City of Santa Monica made to the history of aviation.
As envisioned, the DC-3 would go through an exterior restoration process whereby the
existing paint will be removed (as needed) and the aircraft prepped and repainted in a
Douglas Aircraft Company paint scheme consistent with the time the aircraft was built.
A three column mounting system would be constructed to support the aircraft at the
southwest corner of Airport Avenue and Donald Douglas Loop South. The DC-3 would
be mounted approximately ten feet off the ground (for security and safety reasons)
facing the intersection in a northeasterly direction (across the street from the new
Airport Park). There will be no need to restore the interior of the aircraft therefore
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greatly reducing the cost of the restoration. Once in place, the annual maintenance cost
will be minimal and focused mainly on general up-keep, landscape maintenance and
utility costs similar to those associated with other types of monuments.
The aircraft would be subtly lit at night (both inside and out). The navigation lights,
landing light and rotating beacon would function in a way so as not to cause a
distraction to the neighbors or passing vehicles. An informational kiosk would be
constructed at the base of the monument detailing the history of the aircraft, the
Douglas Aircraft Company and its impact on the City of Santa Monica, the Airport and
history of aviation. A monument dedication plaque would be installed acknowledging
individuals, companies and organizations that participated in the project.
A volunteer restoration oversight committee comprised of Airport tenants, Boeing
Aircraft personnel, FedEx personnel, West Los Angeles College instructors, FAA
personnel and Airport staff will guide and oversee the restoration project. Students from
West Los Angeles College have volunteered to assist in the project as part of their
aircraft mechanics school class work. Staff anticipates that the restoration process
would take nine months to a year to complete and that the dedication of the monument
would coincide with the reopening of the Museum of Flying.
Donations for the restoration project will be tax deductible and accepted through the
DC-3 Monument Fund established by the Museum of Flying.
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The DC-3 monument will provide visitors to the Airport and the new Airport Park an
opportunity to learn about the significant role the aircraft and the City of Santa Monica
played in the history of aviation.
BUDGET/FINANCIAL IMPACT
The acceptance of the DC-3 Aircraft would have no budget/financial impact and the cost
for the restoration of the aircraft would be paid out of the Monument fund established by
the Museum of Flying.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council accept the donation of the Douglas DC-3
aircraft from the Museum of Flying on behalf of the City of Santa Monica and authorize
the City Manager to sign the necessary documentation authorizing the transfer of
ownership of the aircraft to the City. Staff will endeavor to keep the City Council
informed as to the progress of the project.
Prepared by: Jeff Mathieu, Director, Resource Management Department
Bob Trimborn, Airport Manager
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