If you missed a chance to see Walt Disney’s Grumman Gulfstream I Airplane at D23 Expo last month, The Palm Springs Air Museum is hosting an event that includes a viewing of the plane.
The Event
An exclusive Private Viewing Party for Walt Disney’s Grumman Gulfstream I plane will take place on Saturday, October 15 at 5:30pm at The Palm Springs Air Museum.
In addition to a viewing of “The Mouse,” Disney Archivist Ed Ovalle will speak about the airplane’s history.
Beer, wine, soft drinks and light hors d’oeuvres will be served, as well.
Admission is $50 for the general public; $40 for Palm Springs Air Museum members and for D23 Gold Members. Please call 760-778-6251 to reserve your tickets or email [email protected].
Following the event, the Gulfstream Jet will then go on display for the general public starting Sunday, October 16.
A new exhibit will also be constructed at the Museum and open on Walt Disney’s birthday, December 5, 2022, where Palm Spring Air Museum guests will have the opportunity to learn about the role this iconic plane has played throughout the Company’s history.
The Mouse
In 1963, Walt acquired the iconic Gulfstream that would come to be known as “The Mouse.”
The interior of the plane, initially designed with creative input from Walt and his wife, Lillian, seated up to 15 passengers, and included a galley kitchen, two restrooms, two couches, a desk, and nods to the mouse who started it all, including matchbooks and stationery adorned with a silhouette of Mickey Mouse.
Mickey’s initials were eventually included in the tail number of the plane, too, as N234MM, in 1967.
Throughout its 28 years of service to The Walt Disney Company, the plane flew 20,000 hours and transported an estimated 83,000 passengers before it was grounded.
The Museum
The Palm Springs Air Museum is a non-profit living history museum based in Palm Springs, California.
It preserves, exhibits, and flies aircraft from World War Two, Korean War, Vietnam War and more. A good portion of the aircraft in the collection are in flyable condition.
For more information about the museum, or the event, visit palmspringsairmuseum.org