Chanute Air Museum

[mlenoch]

From the museum letter dated 4/21/2015, the museum board made the decision to close the museum due to rising costs.
The museum will officially close 12/30/2015.
FYI,
VL

[4RG.I.'S]

That is really sad news!

[Warbirdnerd]

Bummer. Quite a collection.
http://www.aeromuseum.org/index.php/201 ... 6/aircraft
Can't imagine the C-133 will be relocated.

Last edited by Warbirdnerd on Thu Apr 23, 2015 7:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[sandiego89]

It is sad. All the best to those involved, and for a smooth transition.

The 133 was moved to Dover so there is hope.

[Chris Brame]

What a shame. Hope I can make a run down there before they close.

Any thoughts as to which museums would be good fits for the aircraft? Almost all are loanouts from the NMUSAF; I could see the P-51H going to Wright-Patterson since they don't have one, as well as the second oldest surviving YP-84A and third oldest surviving F-86A. Maybe Castle or March for the B-58?

Any other ideas?

[Spectre_I]

What a shame. Hope I can make a run down there before they close.

Any thoughts as to which museums would be good fits for the aircraft? Almost all are loanouts from the NMUSAF; I could see the P-51H going to Wright-Patterson since they don't have one, as well as the second oldest surviving YP-84A and third oldest surviving F-86A. Maybe Castle or March for the B-58?

Any other ideas?

Anything can be moved. Our RB-36H came from Chanute on 11 rail cars. I for one would love to see the Hustler at Castle. We've got a real nice bomber collection, one of the more complete ones you'll find. Glaringly missing is the B-58 (we do have a Hustler Pod, however). I don't make the decisions, and I'm sure those who do are already talking. They're going to have to move 'em somewhere. The EC-121 and the C-133 are also real nice pieces you don't see just anywhere.

[lmritger]

Man, that is just awful news. We'll gleefully crap away billions of dollars on the ever-failing F-35 program, but museums dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of the men and machines which made the USAF what it is today can't get a few thousand dollars per year to help them stay open and keep telling those stories.

Yeah, I'm inherently biased but I'm also not wrong. This just p|sses me off to no end.

Lynn

[sandiego89]

I agree Castle or March would be great spots for the B-58. Would really round out the bomber collection at Castle. Both places have better climates than many other places for long term outdoor display (of course inside would be even better). The only Hustler west of the Rockies is at Pima (not counting Snoopy for course).

The XB-47 is quite a prize as well.

Wonder if NASM UH would be interested in either- not that they seem overly interested in bombers....oh sorry did I open up a can of worms....

[old iron]

I think the B-47 would be quite appropriate to NASM. This type is an important part of the process towards development of the B-52, which is likely too large to be incorporated into the collection anytime soon. Yes, NASM lacks adequate representation of bombers, and has recently deaccessed their Martin B-57 Canberra (to Warner-Robins). The B-47 would fill the role of an early jet bomber, with the B-2 ultimately filling to role of a late bomber in the collection.

My guess is that NASM would not be interested in the B-58, in part to its relatively low production and short service. As technologically interesting as this aircraft is, it is not as historical important as the B-47.

[p51]

So sad. My Dad went through USAF electrical mechanic school there (he later worked on F-86Ds) and still recalls the seemingly endless rows of B-29s there. He said they'd sometimes hop in a superfort and fire an engine or two up just for the heck of it...

[Pat Carry]

I hope good homes can be found for all the aircraft.

[Pat Carry]

Among others, yet another Connie is looking for a home.

[JohnB]

Is the SA-16B (the first "B" 51-7200) still there?
I'd hope it finds a new home.
I have a soft spot for that airframe...it was the prototype for the Moniogram 1/72nd scale kit I had as a kid.

[Tom Moungovan]

Well, sorry to hear of this. We now live nearby & I'll be sure to try to visit as soon as I can. I went through Aircraft Egress Training there in spring of '66. After Texas, Illinois was a breath of fresh air. And once you were out of Basic and in a school squadron, things relaxed quite a bit. We had to march to class and back and had barracks assignments, but there was Pizza Pop, a vendor who was allowed access to the base to vend pizza and soda from his truck right outside your barracks in the evening. I'll never forget that.

Any others on this forum that went through one of the schools here?

Hope that things change. They had an F-105 inside, wonder if it's still there?

Last edited by Tom Moungovan on Sun Apr 26, 2015 1:25 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Rauhbatz]

Any idea who to approach for acquiring some of the aircraft? Just curious as F-101s and Corsair IIs served here in Central Ohio at Lockbourne/Rickenbacker...

Airport manager at Newark OH where our restored F-4 resides is open to other aircraft..