American Helicopter Museum Expansion Plans Take Off

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Penn Medicine 126
Shot of a vintage tail rotor at the American Helicopter Museum in West Chester.

Strap yourself into your seat, because a major expansion to West Chester’s American Helicopter Museum and Education Center is about to take off.

Just ahead of World Helicopter Day festivities on Aug. 15, the expansion plans swirled into action with a vote from the nonprofit organization’s board of trustees.

“Adding two classrooms and a larger theater will enable us to serve more school groups than ever before,” Executive Director Sarah Sands said in the announcement. “Corporations will find these additions invaluable for training programs and social events as well.”

The expansion, set to happen before the end of the year, will also enlarge the 20,000-square-foot museum’s restoration center for larger helicopter projects. The Kaman HH-2 and Piasecki HRP-1, for example, will be restored in 2016 following completion of the current project, a World War II-era Sikorsky R-6.

The Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey, a tiltrotor aircraft with short take off and landing capability.

It all adds up to more room and vintage equipment for visitors to climb into and take control of as they pretend to pilot flights to far-off places.

The move comes as adjacent office space tenant ONExia relocates to a larger building in Exton, leaving 3,800 square feet available for rent starting Dec. 1.

That space’s offices, meeting area and parking “is perfect for a small business,” Facilities Committee Chairman Verne Weidman said.

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