Lon Smith back at Kansas Aviation Museum

Lon Smith is back at the Kansas Aviation Museum, this time for a six-month stint as interim executive director.

Tim Bonnell Sr. is now president of the museum’s board, according to a release issued Wednesday by Smith and Bonnell.

“Lon and I worked together when he first came to the museum back in 2008 and we were able to move the museum forward in some very positive ways,” Bonnell said in the release.

Smith, who resigned as museum director in May 2015, added: “This is another pivotal moment in the history of this institution and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to help navigate to the next level of success.”

During the past six months, the museum has struggled financially. Last winter, the museum cut staffing to one full-time position, reduced the time the museum is open to two days and turned down the building’s heat.

In minutes from the museum’s Dec. 14 board meeting, the board discussed closing the museum, bankruptcy and the possible sale of artifacts.

According to Wednesday’s release, Richard Moore, who had served as board president and interim director, has rotated off the board. Moore could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

In March, the Kansas Aviation Museum received a temporary reprieve from the city of Wichita in paying back a Capital Improvement Program loan that was due next year. The museum now has until Feb. 1, 2020, to pay about $180,000 to the city for the loan, which added heating and air conditioning to the building and made it handicapped-compliant, city and museum officials said.

The museum in March also hired Judy and Phil Frick as consultants to build a better business plan and create a more active board of directors.

Smith referred all questions Wednesday to Bonnell.

Bonnell said the Fricks finished their work for the museum and have prepared a report for the board.

“There are things we are working to tweak,” he said of the report. “They were thorough. I think a lot of the Fricks.”

He would not elaborate on what the report said, saying it was premature to comment.

He also said three other board members have opted to rotate off the board. The last board meeting was May 23.

Bonnell said Moore is still a volunteer at the museum and is on the golf tournament committee, which oversees a major fundraiser for the museum.

No additional new hires have been made at this time, Bonnell said. Currently, the museum’s volunteers are helping to fill job positions.

Smith’s position is being funded through a private donation. Bonnell would not say how much the position paid.

“We needed somebody in there that was a museum professional,” he said of Smith. “We had interviewed others, but it was clear he could hit the ground running.”

Smith and Bonnell have both been at work in their respective jobs since May 23.

He said Smith’s position would be re-evaluated in six months and it is possible Smith could be hired back full time as director, or another person might be hired instead.

This is the sixth time Bonnell, an aviation insurance broker, has been president of the museum board.

Smith was the museum’s director for seven years. During his tenure, which began in 2008, there were a number of changes, including restoring the building’s exterior, acquiring land from Spirit AeroSystems, relocating the museum’s restoration shop, retiring a $250,000 debt and growing the museum’s staff from 1.5 positions to 10.

Daniel Bateman took Smith’s position as executive director but left after less than six months. Bateman told The Eagle in February that Moore and Bonnell had a conversation in which the two strongly encouraged him to leave.

Smith served as president of the Wichita Independent Business Association until he left the organization last month.

The Kansas Aviation Museum is housed in the former terminal for Wichita Municipal Airport, constructed during the 1930s and 1940s. The building at 3350 George Washington Blvd. is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

This story was originally published June 1, 2016 at 2:23 PM with the headline "Lon Smith back at Kansas Aviation Museum."