Three highflying co-founders of the Frontiers of Flight Museum anticipate a happy landing in their $25.5 million capital campaign "to put a real jewel in the Love Field crown."

The threesome: Jan Collmer, a high-tech executive, an aerobatic thriller at a dozen air shows a year and a former Navy pilot; Bill Cooper, former Dallas Market Center chairman and World War II B-29 pilot; and Kay Bailey Hutchison, U.S. senator, transportation authority and museum chairwoman.

The museum is under construction on Lemmon Avenue just north of Mockingbird Lane.

Museum Construction Under Way on Main Hangar

When finished in April, it will replace the current site on the second floor of the Dallas Love Field Terminal, which has drawn more than 250,000 visitors in nearly 15 years of operation.

Mr. Collmer, president/owner of Collmer.com and museum president, said the new facility is designed to "inspire the next generation."

Looking forward to the opening of the 100,000-square-foot facility, Mr. Collmer said, "Several times a month, some kid will walk in, and it will change his life.

"We hope it will make the boy or girl take math and science courses and go to college. We hope the young people will be inspired to better themselves."

An outreach program will involve public and private schools in the region.

Sen. Hutchison & Mr. Collmer conduct an interview at the new site

Mr. Collmer recently told his museum board members:

"The new facility will allow the museum to greatly expand exhibits and for the first time display our considerable collection of full-size aircraft."

Executive director Dan Hamilton promises exhibits for visitors of all ages.

Plans for the two-story building include a 200-seat theater, an education center, research library, exhibit hall, gift shop, cafe, meeting rooms and offices. It will also have interactive education areas.

The museum will provide rental space for community meetings, business programs and parties.

Its regular admission fee hasn't been established yet.

Mr. Hamilton says attendance is projected to grow to more than 500,000 over the next three years.

Steel girders in place at new Frontiers of Flight Museum facility

But, he adds, the Frontiers of Flight Museum may surpass those "conservative" visitor projections with traveling shows from the Smithsonian Institution's Air and Space Museum (the Smithsonian is an affiliate) and other exhibits.

The permanent collection, based on original material provided by the University of Texas at Dallas and the collection of the late George Haddaway, already reflects the glorious first hundred years of flight.

Mr. Collmer said Dallas' history of aviation prominence will guarantee a steady flow of artifacts of historical importance.

He noted that Dallas Love Field, which opened in 1914, trained aviators during World War I and served as a U.S. Air Transport Command base for the Army Air Force in World War II.

North American Aviation, Chance Vought, Ling-Temco-Vought, Northrop Grumman, Hensley Field/Dallas Naval Air Station, Braniff Airways and Southwest Airlines, all in Dallas, as well as General Dynamics, Consolidated Vultee, Carswell Air Force Base and American Airlines in Fort Worth, are treasure troves of history.

"Turning down offers will be the hard part of it," Mr. Collmer said.

The $25.5 million capital campaign is not as daunting as it seems, Mr. Collmer said. There is already $9 million in the till to pay for the structure.

A $7.2 million State Transportation Enhancement Project grant came from the Texas Department of Transportation, largely through the leadership of Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst after Dallas City Council member Veletta Forsythe Lill identified the grant opportunity.

A matching $1.8 million in funding from private sources and foundations raised the $9 million total cost of construction.

The remaining $16.5 million will be spent on exhibits and toward creating an endowment.

Members of the capital campaign steering committee are:

Former astronaut Walter Cunningham; Olin and Sally Lancaster; Romona Upfield; Tom Leppert, chief executive officer of Turner Construction; Eric Stroud, Cardinal Investments; Mike Corboy, Corboy Investments; Jack Hamilton, retired businessman; Dr. Larry Sall, director of libraries, UTD; David Pasahow, Heidrick & Struggles; John Meadows, AT&T Wireless; Mr. Cooper, Cooper Co.; Ms. Hutchison; and Mr. Collmer.

To make a donation, call Ilene Stern, vice president for advancement, at 214-350-0258 or e-mail stern@flightmuseum.com.