Jack Ericson, the founder of Erickson Air-Crane, purchased his first warbird, a P-51, in 1980.Three years later, he purchased a Corsair and a Spitfire and began his collection.[1] However, in April 2013, the collection announced it would not be renewing its lease on the museum.[2] A few months later, the collection purchased a B-17 and reproduction Fw 190 from the Military Aviation Museum.[8] The collection's Corsair and Skyraider were used in the filming of the 2022 movie Devotion.