Backed by the governor of the state of New York, a Monmouth, New Jersey-based museum last Thursday presented to the Republic Airport Commission a proposal for a living aviation museum.

If approved by the advisory committee, the museum would be located on at least three acres of the East Farmingdale airport. It would house airworthy, historic aircraft, in which tourists and other visitors could take to the air for vintage flight experiences, according to Gary Lewi, a spokesperson for the museum, American Museum for Preservation of Historic Aircraft (AMPHA). Governor Pataki has allocated $250,000 to build a 12,000-foot hangar for the museum, and made an appearance at the airport last Tuesday to announce the venture as a culturally and economically significant venture.

"These aircraft represent every American veteran in every conflict we have confronted during this century," Pataki said upon making the announcement. "These aircraft represent the efforts of past generations, their sacrifices, and their ingenuity. This museum represents our efforts to pay tribute to our past and our faith in the future." He added, "Today's announcement allows us to bring together two profoundly different historic experiences for the region - the spectacular collection of the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Nassau County and the airworthy aircraft here at Republic. With the Intrepid in Manhattan as part of this effort, it becomes a powerful triple attraction."

The AMPHA plans to create a marketing alliance with the Cradle of Aviation Museum at Mitchel Field to attract tourists.

The governor's administration expects the tourist attraction to at least replicate the economic returns generated by a similar facility in Chino, CA, which pumps approximately $1.5 million into that economy. And, many key local players have stated their support for the proposal, including Airport Commission Chairman Frank Nocerino, State Senator Charles Fuschillo, Jr., Lynn McDonald of the Long Island Republic Airport Historical Society, and Gerry Kessler, president of Friends of Long Island Heritage.

However, some residents surrounding Republic who have long followed issues concerning the airport's use, such as aircraft type, noise and flight patterns, have concerns with the plan. They have cited noise potential from the aircraft, raised questions about the plane's safety records, and cited a lack of specific information about possible flight patterns. "I think if it were a static display, nobody would have any objections at all," Huntington civic leader Elfriede Craddock said in a telephone interview this week. "Those old planes are very noisy." Civic leaders such as Helen Norjen have also publicly expressed such concerns.

Still, other local civic leaders seem to be cautiously ambivalent about the proposal and its possible effect on the airport and surrounding communities, as they continue to closely watch the airport's overall layout plans.

In response to the safety concerns, Nocerino said the aircraft will be required to adhere to strict Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety guidelines.

Lewi said the maximum number of flights generated by the museum per week would be 20, adding, "Clearly we are going to be rigorously adhering to noise requirements, and to noise abatement procedures."

The airport commission at Thursday's meeting gave the go-ahead for leasing and operations negotiations between the New York State Department of Transportation, which owns Republic, and the museum. Final approval for the deal must be given by the commission before construction may begin. Lewi said the proposal is an appropriate use for the airport and that it is "environmentally benign." He added that the museum hopes to have the attraction up and running by this time next year.

Aircraft expected to be based at Republic as part of the proposed plan, or to be on long-term loan there, include a Grumman Avenger, a B-25 Mitchell bomber, a B-17 Flying Fortress, a Corsair F4-U, a Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk fighter, a T-6 Texan trainer and others. It is also expected to be the operations center for additional "warbirds" from around the country that will visit the airport in years to come.

Lewi said runway use and flight patterns would depend on air traffic controllers' commands, and that the planes' pilots would neither fly in inclement weather nor perform acrobatics.