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Model Airplane
Identifier:
2025.84.7Description:
This model airplane of an A-4 Kahu Skyhawk was presented to Smiths Industries by Harold V. Simpson, Aircraft Structural Design Engineer. In the 1980s, Lear Siegler, Inc. worked on a modernization program called Project Kahu for the A-4 Skyhawk of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. This model was collected by Roland Bouchard, an employee with the company from 1977 to 1996, on behalf of his friend and colleague Harold Simpson.
This model airplane is part of the Lear Siegler-Smiths Aerospace Employee Memorabilia Collection, curated by a committee of retired employees. The Collection documents this dynamic local, national, and global company and its many contributions in developing aerospace and aviation instruments. The objects relate to company programs, products, events, workplace accomplishments and the camaraderie of the many long-time employees.
Date:
1988Materials:
Plastic, PlexiglassDimensions:
5.5" h 10.5" w 16.25" dCollection Tier:
Tier 2Source:
Gift of Lear Siegler-Smiths Aerospace Employee Memorabilia CollectionRelated Entity:
Lear Siegler-Smiths Aerospace Employee Memorabilia Collection Committee (donor)Through a desire (in early 2025) to preserve in perpetuity artifacts and memorabilia for public education and enjoyment from the Lear Siegler- Smiths Aerospace Grand Rapids time frame, a committee of former employees solicited donation items from the large and very active Grand Rapids Lear Siegler-Smiths Aerospace former employees. The Grand Rapids employees have been proud of being part of such a dynamic local, national, and global company and its many contributions. Some of these employees transitioned to GE Aviation upon its acquisition of Smiths Aerospace in 2007. We encourage you to peruse this collection as well as the G.E. Aviation Systems Collection and the book published in 1999 by Smiths Industries Aerospace Information Management Systems titled “Fifty-five Trips Around the Sun” housed in that collection. Most of the paper items collected for this effort are being donated to the Grand Rapids Public Library History Department at 111 Library Street, NE. Also of interest are 25 images from Lear, Inc. in the 1950s-1960s in the Museum of Flight Collections in Seattle (Tukwila), Washington. Many thanks to the many donors who made this effort so successful. We sincerely appreciate the assistance of Andrea Melvin, Curator, Grand Rapids Public Museum Collections Department. Members of the Committee included: Julie Burch, Cristine Crew, Linda David, Michael DeJonge, Andrea Fotias, Phyllis Lanning, Susan Mengers, and Barbara Way.