Behind the scenes tours at the NMUSAF cancelled

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Fri May 29, 2015 10:17 am

www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123447570. The tours were scheduled to close permanently in October anyways so I assume the tours will not be conducted again. I know its a long way off but maybe the next building to open 10 years from now can house the restoration shop there at the museum. Just a thought.

Steve Nelson · **Posted:** Fri May 29, 2015 10:38 am

I thought the only tours being permanently cancelled were the Presidential/R&D hangars, since all that stuff's being moved over to the new building this fall. AFAIK the "Behind The Scenes" tours (AKA the restoration hangar) has only been temporarily suspended due to the latest round of terrorist hysteria.

SN

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Fri May 29, 2015 11:26 am

According to the latest Friends of the NMUSAF Museum magazine, all tours will cease in October. I assume that includes the restoration shop tours.

Nathan · **Posted:** Fri May 29, 2015 11:51 am

WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH THIS COUNTRY...AND PEOPLE???? IF PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE LIKE SHEEP THEN LET THEM. :evil:

WE CAN'T EVEN ENJOY HISTORY ANYMORE. :evil:

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Fri May 29, 2015 1:36 pm

There was a threat made to USAF bases. The part of the tour they closed off is on an airbase. Really not much to wonder about.

rwdfresno · **Posted:** Fri May 29, 2015 2:12 pm

mustangdriver wrote:

There was a threat made to USAF bases. The part of the tour they closed off is on an airbase. Really not much to wonder about.

That's a fine message to the American public. We don't really care about stopping terrorists from getting to you outside the gates, but we'll be damned if we will let any of the important people inside get hurt.

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Fri May 29, 2015 3:52 pm

I think the idea is that if the base gets attacked, there will be less people in harms way.

Steve Nelson · **Posted:** Fri May 29, 2015 4:47 pm

I suppose the base can't afford to take any chances, and it's best to err on the side of caution. Still, overall I think we've become a nation of 'chicken littles'..some self-styled 'Jihadist' makes a post on Facebook and the country goes into full lockdown.

SN

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Fri May 29, 2015 4:57 pm

I guess a year from, now it wont matter because the new building will be open. I hope they plan on turning on some lites in the new building.

Xrayist · **Joined:** Wed Jun 08, 2005 12:51 am **Posts:** 329

Sometimes I wonder if we are not "losing" the war on terror. All that is needed is for someone to start a rumor, or actually call in a threat, and whatever the affected target is, is put off limits, closed, moved, whatever. I used to go to our local small airport, that in the past has been home of, or visited by a B-17, 5 different Mustangs including the XP-51, at least one Tigercat, one Wildcat, a couple of Bearcats, one P-40E, a DC-3, two BF109G that were restored to flying, a wrecked LB30, and various others. Now we cannot even get close to the fence without being asked why we are there, what we are doing, etc. The fences are still adjacent to, or on public roads, and we still get hassled.
I am sorry to see the museum cancel all tours. Hope they don't shutter the doors permanently to the rest of the museum.

Steve Nelson · **Posted:** Fri May 29, 2015 10:57 pm

Fortunately the NMUSAF main campus is not on the active part of the base, so it isn't affected by the security restrictions (which I think apply to all military bases nationwide.) Last time I was there, I was rather disappointed to see the museum had added metal detectors and had security searching all bags (although to be honest I'm surprised it took so long..these days you have to be screened at just about every museum, theme park or other public venue.) I grumbled something like "yep..looks like they won on 9/11" and was told the new procedures were in response to the Boston Marathon bombing. I did apologize to the security agent for my attitude..it just gets so frustrating and sad living in such a fear-based society. You're far more likely to be killed by slipping in your bathtub than a terrorist attack.

SN

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Sat May 30, 2015 8:31 am

Steve Nelson wrote:

Fortunately the NMUSAF main campus is not on the active part of the base, so it isn't affected by the security restrictions (which I think apply to all military bases nationwide.) Last time I was there, I was rather disappointed to see the museum had added metal detectors and had security searching all bags (although to be honest I'm surprised it took so long..these days you have to be screened at just about every museum, theme park or other public venue.) I grumbled something like "yep..looks like they won on 9/11" and was told the new procedures were in response to the Boston Marathon bombing. I did apologize to the security agent for my attitude..it just gets so frustrating and sad living in such a fear-based society. You're far more likely to be killed by slipping in your bathtub than a terrorist attack.

SN

a sign of the times for sure.

rwdfresno · **Posted:** Sat May 30, 2015 6:00 pm

mustangdriver wrote:

There was a threat made to USAF bases. The part of the tour they closed off is on an airbase. Really not much to wonder about.

Chris, I think you're a cool guy and love all that you do for the warbird community, especially the "little guy" causes you promote. I truly do! But I feel like the NMUSAF could invite Yeager to run a bulldozer through the side of the Memphis Bell and give a good excuse of why it made sense and you'd find a way to support both of them

. I'm giving you a hard time of course (kind of.)

Without a doubt everything they do is in my best interest. I won't go into a big debate about it because it borders on politics, but I'm just tired of every time the government drops the ball, the people who pay for everything get shafted and nothing is really done to solve the root cause of the issues. I'm really, really tired of it. That's all I have to say about it. Have a good afternoon.

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Sat May 30, 2015 6:27 pm

Thanks.

maradamx3 · **Posted:** Mon Jun 01, 2015 6:52 am

Why not "move" the restoration shop outside of the base? Granted, no easy task, but would this not solve the "behind the scenes tour" restriction?
Just trying to think of positive solutions or possibilities.

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Behind the scenes tours at the NMUSAF cancelled

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