Rewriting Aviation History in Kentucky

Cities and time zones change so quickly when I'm working I almost forgot to mention the Kentucky Aviation Museum. This is a gem worth stopping in for on your way through the state.

There are dozens of planes, helicopters, engines, and memoriabilia on display. It's also free to the public and run by the old-timers who know more about flying than just about anyone.

This is a hand-built replica of Kentucky's claim to aviation fame — the 1908 Matthew Sellers quadraplane. It hangs from the ceiling wanting to be admired. It's called the Sellers Quadraplane and underneath it are the tools Sellers used to build it.

My guide gave me a quick bio: Mr. Sellers was born in the Appalachian foothills of eastern Kentucky in 1869. He made critical contributions to the development of aviation in the early 1900's but received little attention for many of his inventions. Unlike the PR-savvy Wright brothers at the time, Matthew was low-key with his mechanical genius.

This 'mechanical bird' is far more advanced than the one first flown by the Wright brothers, with retractable wheels and more stability.

Stop by and preserve history by making a donation to this fabulous non-for-profit, just opened in 1995 and still going strong with ever-changing exhibits.