Walt Disney's Gulfstream I To Be Restored

The Gulfstream I known as The Mouse, which was once owned by Walt Disney, is about to undergo a full interior restoration to return it to its 1960s appearance. The twin-engine turboprop sat for decades in a backlot area of Florida's Disney World following its 1992 retirement. It was recently repainted and trucked across the country to Anaheim, California, where it was one of the star attractions at this year’s D23 Convention. It was later announced that the airplane would go on exhibit at the Palm Springs Air Museum.

Now the museum, which is displaying rarely seen interior items from The Mouse, has announced it will head up a two-year cabin restoration of the airplane in partnership with Georgia-based Phoenix Air Group, which has offered to donate any needed parts.

Disney had the interior of N234MM customized with features including an instrument panel near his favorite seat so he could monitor flight conditions, a telephone handset so he could communicate with the cockpit, two bathrooms, a galley kitchen, a pair of couches, and a desk.

“We are so thrilled to partner with the Walt Disney Archives on this amazing restoration project,” said museum vice-chairman Fred Bell, adding that the museum has restored more than 60 aircraft in its 26-year history. “We know that we have a special responsibility to Walt Disney, to the archives, and to the millions of Disney fans around the world to do this work as accurately as possible so that the airplane can be enjoyed for decades to come.”