Museum, flight academy opens

PENSACOLA — Chappie James’ childhood home in downtown Pensacola is now history. But James, an American hero, might not be the last young person to walk the halls of the small home and make history.

The Gen. Daniel “Chappie” James Museum & Flight Academy opened Thursday. The historic home — where his mother also ran a school — is at 1608 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

James was a legendary Air Force combat pilot and the first African-American four-star general in the U.S. military, earning his fourth star Sept. 1, 1975, when he assumed command of NORAD in Colorado.

He died Feb. 25, 1978, at the age of 58. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

“There might not be a statue of him,” said Ellis Jones, the Pensacola museum’s board president. “But this is the next best thing.”

Better, actually, because it’s not just a symbol of past greatness but a working lab for future achievement.

The 900-square-foot home has been renovated and serves as a museum, but an additional structure has been added — a 1,500-square-foot building that will serve as headquarters and classrooms for the Gen. Daniel “Chappie” James Flight Academy.

For 22 years, the flight academy has run free camps for largely underprivileged children to learn about the science and mechanics of flight. This year’s flight academy summer camp begins today and runs through Saturday. But with a permanent facility, the academy will now offer a year-round aeronautical program for boys and girls ages 13 to 18.

“This means that we will be able to have a living legacy for General ‘Chappie’ James through our flight academy,” said academy director Cliff Curtis. “It will add something tangible for the community kids to be involved in for years to come.”

The city of Pensacola and the Community Redevelopment Agency’s $1.1 million renovation/construction project broke ground in January 2017.

The residence was constructed in 1909 by Chappie James’ father, Daniel.