caf looking for new headquarters

[jspott]

The caf announced that it is looking for a new national headquarters.
http://www.commemorativeairforce.org/?p ... ventID=182

[Mike]

Southern California, perhaps?

[The Inspector]

It reads like a move for leadership to a major metropolitan area. Implication might be that Midland may not attractive enough these days to the leadership and skilled workers as a place to live. I'm guessing their search will keep them in the South for the mild climate and lower costs. Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex makes sense, being so near Midland helps logistics. FiFi is there...other basing options?

San Antone? Lot's of Boeing guys there with big airplane tin experience-

[seabee1526]

Go in halfsies with Yankee Air. Willow Run plant offers 5 MILLION square feet of hangar space.

[dinghao]

IIRC San Antonio offered to help them move to Kelly AFB. before they decided on Midland. The city was also going to provide abatements and help construct a couple of period looking hangers. Would have been a perfect move as during that time MANY bomb group associations had annual reunions in the Alamo City.
San Antonio is and has been the No.1 tourist destination in the state for years. The decision to go to Midland made absolutely no sense to a lot of people, including me.


Chris

[CAPFlyer]

In 1992, Kelly AFB/Lackland AFB wasn't in play. It was still fully in use by the USAF. San Antonio may have put something together in more recent years since the closure in 2001 and the transfer of the former Depot area and ramps east of the runway to the Port of San Antonio, but not prior to that.

I seriously doubt that the CAF will move out of Texas, but it may make sense for somewhere like Austin or San Antonio to make a new bid for the new location as their air service, while not DFW or Houston level, they are better than Midland.

[Red Baaron]

In 1992, Kelly AFB/Lackland AFB wasn't in play. It was still fully in use by the USAF. San Antonio may have put something together in more recent years since the closure in 2001 and the transfer of the former Depot area and ramps east of the runway to the Port of San Antonio, but not prior to that.

I seriously doubt that the CAF will move out of Texas, but it may make sense for somewhere like Austin or San Antonio to make a new bid for the new location as their air service, while not DFW or Houston level, they are better than Midland.

San Antonio was in play when the move from the valley was made, I believe it was the second choice.

[APG85]

This is easy: Jersey.

[Dan K]

Texas?

Time for the CAF to shake the good-ol'-boy, confederate dust off their feet for good.

If they really want an image change, they must move north...

Out of rebel territory...

Minneapolis would be just about right.

(CUT TO ZEPPELIN)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBmueYJ0VhA

[Kyleb]

San Antonio (or San Marcus) would be great. Much more accessable than Midland, both for hiring people and for attracting visitors.

[SaxMan]

D.C. would make sense: Easier coordination with the military services, better springboard for lobbying politicians, including the educational aspect. Coordination with the NASM would be possible, as well as being centrally located to coordinate efforts with East Coast organizations such as Yagen and Collings, for example. There's already a fairly well established CAF chapter in the area.

Besides, I could use a new job.

[CAPFlyer]

In 1992, Kelly AFB/Lackland AFB wasn't in play. It was still fully in use by the USAF. San Antonio may have put something together in more recent years since the closure in 2001 and the transfer of the former Depot area and ramps east of the runway to the Port of San Antonio, but not prior to that.

I seriously doubt that the CAF will move out of Texas, but it may make sense for somewhere like Austin or San Antonio to make a new bid for the new location as their air service, while not DFW or Houston level, they are better than Midland.

San Antonio was in play when the move from the valley was made, I believe it was the second choice.

Maybe San Antonio at San Antonio International, but not Kelly / Lackland. The Depot at Kelly wasn't slated for consolidation until late 1992 (over a year and a half after the decision to move was made) and even then, the depot was to remain a DoD asset for the time being. 1993 BRAC recommended the base for consolidation, but local petitioning kept it off that round. It didn't survive the 1995 BRAC, and all functions ceased by 1998 with the flightline being transferred to Lackland in 2001. The Port of San Antonio was established in 1995 as the Greater Kelly Redevelopment Authority, again, well after the move decision.

[tulsaboy]

I would put in a plug for Tulsa. Middle of the country, usually some great flying weather, two good airports, one with a 10,000 foot runway that is being repaved right now...plus the bonus of a strong aerospace industry, including American Airlines' biggest maintenance base. The same AA base that has provided huge support for Fifi when she had trouble and for the recent repairs to the B-24. Just a thought, but there are some major positives. There are some huge empty areas at the big airport that would be prime for a major museum complex.

kevin

[JFS61]

Maybe if the whole move to Midland hadn't been done in such an underhanded way to begin with. . .

[Old Shep]

Nothing under-handed. Money talked: bs walked. Times have changed. The CAF presence in Midland will remain as it is, with the exception of the bureaucracy leaving to establish a new "super Air Base." Airsho will still be Airsho, the museum gets an upgrade, the local unit (sixth largest in the CAF) stays active, etc. This whole thing will take time, and there are some hoops to overcome yet before this is a done deal.