$100 million donation to the Military Aviation Museum

VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia — The Military Aviation Museum has received a $100 million donation, believed to be among the largest charitable gifts from an individual in Virginia history.

The donation by philanthropist and businessman Gerald Yagen includes some 70 vintage military aircraft that have been collected and displayed over the years.

The gift also includes the land upon which the museum was built, the historic buildings that were relocated there from sites around the world, and $30 million to establish the museum’s endowment. This money is designated to keep the aircraft flying — a core part of the vision Yagen had for his collection, according to museum officials.

“In the beginning, I saw this as my personal challenge to preserve history and these beautiful warbirds,” Jerry Yagen said. “I just didn’t want to see them disappear to time. I never believed so many would volunteer so much to help Elaine and I do this. I realize it is no longer an individual challenge.”

Yagen encouraged members of the community to support the museum to “help ensure we ‘Keep Em Flying’ long into the future,” citing a slogan the U.S. Army Air Corps used to recruit pilots during World War II.

“I hope that all of our great-great grandchildren will be able to visit this museum and enjoy the sights and sounds of warbirds in the sky,” he said.

The aircraft in the Yagen collection span the first 50 years of aviation history, from just after the Wright brothers made the first flight in 1903 to the Korean War period in the early 1950s. They include such historically significant examples as a North American Aviation P-51 Mustang, the Goodyear FG-1D Corsair, and a rare, restored World War II German Messerschmitt Bf 109, all of which now are used by the museum to share aviation and military history with the public.

“Jerry Yagen’s passion as a collector is an inspiration,” said Keegan Chetwynd, the museum’s director and CEO, who is shepherding the museum’s transition from a private collection to an independently managed nonprofit. “His efforts have saved many important artifacts from the scrap heap. These now form a collection of unequalled significance in the world, with stories from the war years being brought to life with each new aircraft restoration.”

“Jerry’s generosity will empower a new generation of learners, offering new and exciting ways to connect with history — to experience it up close, in a way that static airplanes just cannot provide,” Chetwynd added.

Ken Yagen recalled how as children, he and his sister, Susan, watched their father’s hobby grow into a small collection.

“Each new addition was very special to Jerry as he would research the history of the aircraft, the pilots that flew it, and the role it played in the war,” he said.

The original hangars in Suffolk soon were full.

“That led to an idea, seeded by my mother, Elaine, to create a place where everyone could see, appreciate, and learn about these magnificent airplanes,” he said. “The Military Aviation Museum was born.”

Opened in 2008, the Military Aviation Museum began as the private collection of Yagen, a businessman, aviation enthusiast, and general aviation pilot. Yagen, who began collecting planes in the 1990s, also is founder of the Aviation Institute of Maintenance and Centura College, which operates more than 20 colleges nationwide.

The museum boasts a collection of more than 50 aircraft from both World Wars, plus a 4,800-foot grass runway, several original World War II structures relocated from Europe, and a maintenance facility. The site hosts regular flying demonstrations, aircraft rides, and multiple air shows each year. The museum draws more than 85,000 visitors annually.

For more information: MilitaryAviationMuseum.org