The single seat Mini-500 helicopter could previously be seen through the large glass windows of the museum, but now will be placed in storage among other items. The air museum has enjoyed commercial space on the corner of Fourth and North Main streets for five years.

The space was leased through the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Museum at a time when the museum did not need the extra space across the street. However, the air museum’s lease is set to expire in January, prompting the board to look for a new home.

“They’re expanding; they needed the space,” said Jim Paige, air museum board member. “They’ve been good to us.”

The air museum is also looking for a new curator as its former custodian, Edward Martiny, recently retired. Watkins said a space would have to be selected for the museum before a new curator is found.

The Mini-500 helicopter is pictured loaded on a trailer to be taken to the Jamestown airport. P-J photo By Jordan Patterson

On Saturday, the helicopter was carried through an opening in the one of the building’s windows that was removed the day prior. Several volunteers carried the helicopter carefully through the opening into the cold and onto a trailer bed.

“We were going to fly it out of here,” joked John Watkins, secretary of the air museum.

The helicopter was donated by Linda Keverline many years ago in honor of her husband, Paul Keverline, who built it.

Along with the helicopter, a basket for a hot air balloon and a training aid aircraft were also removed from the museum Saturday. The equipment was placed in storage until a permanent place is found. Paige said while remaining downtown would be ideal, he noted the museum is looking into going back to the Chautauqua County-Jamestown Airport, where it was located before its move downtown.

The Lucille M. Wright Air Museum was created in the 1980s in honor of Lucile M. Wright. Wright, known as “Jamestown’s First Lady of Aviation,” founded local branch of the womens’ pilot organization the “99s” in Jamestown.

Wright died in 1990, but in 1986 she donated $50,000 to the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation with the goal of creating an air museum in Jamestown.

Paige and Watkins were hopeful the museum would re-open at some point next year.