"My Gal Sal" Update

9/30/06

For over a year we have not had much to report on the restoration of “My Gal Sal” which is directly related to the future of the Blue Ash airport.  When I started the restoration of “My Gal Sal” in 1999 the vision was to build a memorial, not a museum, with “Sal.”  We hoped that by building the memorial it would help save this small airport just 18 miles from downtown Cincinnati.  For years this airport, like many others, has become one of those political directions to sell the airport to developers.  This battle has, for me, been going on since 1984. 

The frustrations of dealing in an environment that is so political is beyond anybody’s logical understanding.  With “Sal” 95% restored and the future of the Blue Ash airport uncertain, I began to lose faith in the future of the airport and whether “Sal” would ever be displayed the way she was being restored to be shown to the public.  I’m happy to report that we now have hope.  It has been agreed by the City of Blue Ash that surrounds the 210 acre airport (who wants to keep the airport) and the City of Cincinnati that owns the airport (who wants to sell the airport) to purchase and develop a 130 acre Green Park which will include the Ultimate Sacrifice Memorial and “My Gal Sal”.  This will leave approximately 90 plus acres for the airport.  We had always hoped that Blue Ash would purchase all the 210 acres and ultimately own and control the airport. 

Although this is not the best solution for the future of the airport, it gives us hope that we can save the airport.  Many of us believe that the Green Park will compliment the airport and with federal funding the airport will compliment the park.  This can truly be a win-win plan for all concerned.  If the residents of Blue Ash pass a .025% earnings tax to fund the Green Park, we have a good chance to save the airport.  If it fails, we will probably lose the airport and the park forever.

There is a lot more to this story than what I have described, but this gives you the short version of what’s going on.  The bottom line is we now have hope and we are revitalized to fight like hell to keep this great little airport.  My plan is to now bring back the volunteers that have dedicated so much to restore this piece of history and finish the remaining details of “Sal’s” restoration.  There are still a lot of little things to do before we bolt her together.  This will take about ten to twelve months to complete.  Hopefully by then we will have a direction to build a new building which will be the final home for “My Gal Sal.”  Thanks to all who support our direction to preserve this great piece of history and to the Blue Ash residents who will hopefully support Issue 15 on November 7^th.