Racy vehicle at Louisiana aviation history museum

Posted: Nov 13, 2009 3:01 PM by sleonard

Souped-up speedster from the ‘30s lands At Louisiana's aviation history museum

There's something new - and very racy - at the Louisiana State Museum's aviation history museum in Patterson, Louisiana. It's the souped-up and streamlined WW-45, one of the fastest and most advanced airplanes of the 1930s.

The original was built in Patterson more than 70 years ago by Louisiana aviation pioneers Jimmy Wedell and Harry Williams. Last week, a full-scale hand-built replica of the famous racing plane arrived there by truck and was re-assembled on the museum floor. The replica is exact in every detail, made of wood, fabric, and tubular steel. And guess what? It even flies!

Located just west of Morgan City on Highway 90, the Louisiana State Museum-Patterson is dedicated to "The Golden Age of Air Racing" in the 1920s and ‘30s when Louisiana-designed and built racing planes dominated that thrilling sport.

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For more information on Louisiana's aviation history, visit our online exhibit at http://lsm.crt.state.la.us/aviation/wedwm.htm