Smith began his job in June.

He has a staff of three full-time employees and one part-timer, so "my job is pretty hands-on," Smith said.

The museum also relies heavily on a large number of volunteers.

"If we didn't have those volunteers, we'd be in deep trouble," Smith said.

The Kansas Aviation Museum opened in 1991 to showcase and archive the state's vast aviation history.

The museum, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is housed in the former terminal for the Wichita Municipal Airport. It was built in the 1930s and 1940s.

Itis funded by grant money, private and corporate contributions, ticket sales, museum store sales and special events.

Smith grew up in Wood River, Ill., and was part of the Wood River Heritage Council and the Wood River Museum.

He also worked in the hospitality industry, but wanted to be more involved in museums.

So when he came to Wichita with his family in 2004 to be closer to his wife's family, Smith sought out the job at the Museum of World Treasures.

Smith, 46, holds an undergraduate degree in speech communication, a master's in business administration and a master's in public administration.

You have lofty goals to increase attendance. What are they?

Within two to three years, we're going to have between 80,000 and 100,000 people coming through this museum annually, maybe more. We can't continue to progress and achieve our goals if we have 15,000 people coming through the museum.

How will you do that?

Anything that isn't illegal or unethical -- skydive with a big sign on my back. (Seriously), we'll have lots more events. At the Museum of World Treasures we had lots of events. Whatever we can do within reason.

What's your biggest challenge?

Fundraising. For instance, right now, we don't have heating and air conditioning in the atrium, which could be an amazing source of revenue for the museum in terms of renting it out for events, wedding receptions, corporate events and that sort of thing.

You're also planning monthly KAMtastic Saturdays, with discounted admission. The first one is Sept. 6. What will it feature?

(We'll) put a lot of those old drawings out on display for the day.... We'll have several airplanes open out on the ramps so people can go in and view the planes.

The museum has spent more than $1 million on the building and needs another $8 million to $10 million for restoration. How will you raise the money?

We are in the throes of creating a guidebook for a capital campaign.

You'll need a lot of community support to restore the building.

I think that's possible. This is the Air Capital of the World. It's deserving of a world-class aviation museum. We're hopeful that key players in the community will want to be a part of that once they recognize we have clear goals.

What does it need?

It will be a complete restoration. We will attempt to get back as nearly as possible to the original look of the building.

You're also planning to build a hangar to store vintage airplanes, including an historic B-29 now undergoing restoration on the property. It also would include a restoration facility, you said.

Raising money to build a hangar and exhibition space for planes, including the B-29, is critical.

You were impressed with the archives of the museum. How so?

I'm actually staggered by the quality and quantity of the archives that we have. That includes rare photographs of early aviation history. In addition, we have many of the original blueprints for the early days of the old Stearmans and Swallows and the companies that originated in Wichita.

The museum is finishing what it calls Room 112. What is that?

People can come by appointment and do research using its archives. The room will open in about a month.

Reach Molly McMillin at 316-269-6708 or mmcmillin@wichitaeagle.com.

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