The Palm Springs Air Museum in California has celebrated Walt Disney's birthday with the opening of a new exhibit to accompany his Grumman Gulfstream I aircraft. Rarely seen items from the interior of the aircraft, known affectionately as 'The Mouse', are now on display for visitors including a customised instrument panel originally located near Walt's favourite onboard seat, from where he monitored flight conditions; a telephone handset that gave Walt a direct line of communication to the pilot in the cockpit; and a flight bag featuring an image of Mickey Mouse sitting on the tail of the iconic aircraft. These items are now on long term loan from the Walt Disney Archives.

The museum will be restoring and recreating the interior of the Gulfstream I in conjunction with Phoenix Air. Museum vice chairman Fred Bell says: "We are so thrilled to partner with the Walt Disney Archives on this amazing restoration project. The Palm Springs Air Museum has restored over 60 aircraft in its 26 year history. Phoenix Air Group in Cartersville, Georgia has offered to donate any parts we need. Phoenix Air Group is a worldwide provider of aviation services and at one point owned and operated 20 per cent of the world fleet of Gulfstream Is flying at the time. 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 aircraft can be enjoyed for decades to come."

The restoration and recreation is anticipated to take approximately two years.