The Evansville P-47 Foundation is a separate, not-for-profit, organization dedicated to preserving and protecting an Evansville-built P-47 Thunderbolt.  The Foundation works very closely with the Evansville Wartime Museum to achieve this mission.

Yes, the P-47 Foundation is a 501 (c) 3, not-for-profit, organization, and all donations made to the Foundation are tax-deductible.

The first priority is to pay off the loan for the plane itself. Once this is accomplished, the Foundation will decide whether or not to fly the aircraft occasionally.

This is a very tough decision, and the board is aware of the interest in having a flying P-47 but must weigh this against the risks associated with flying as well as the ongoing expense.

Community leaders in Evansville have been searching for a suitable P-47 for 20+ years. Due to the rare nature of these aircraft, they do not come on the market frequently. When the Lonestar Flight Museum was willing to part with Tarheel Hal in 2020, the Foundation acted swiftly to secure the aircraft. Other static examples that have been considered where either in a state requiring major restoration or too expensive to acquire.

To honor the men and women in of our state who helped with the war effort, it was decided to rename the airplane from Tarheel Hal to Hoosier Spirit II. The original Hoosier Spirit was the first plane to roll off of the Evansville Republic Aviation assembly line.

The Foundation drew inspiration largely from the Indiana State flag. The golden torch and star with the blue background represent the State of Indiana. The 50 stars on the plane represent the 50 United States.

While the cost of the aircraft itself was over 3 million dollars, the Foundation must raise significantly more than that to ensure the long-term care and maintenance of the plane.

The plane is currently on display at the Evansville Wartime Museum located at 7503 Petersburg Rd. Evansville, IN 47725. Please visit  https://www.evansvillewartimemuseum.org/ for more details.

You can donate via Debit/Credit card, PayPal, by mailing a check, or by contacting a board member. To find out more, please visit  https://p47foundation.org/#Donate