Behind the scenes tours at the NMUSAF cancelled

[Pat Carry]

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]

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]

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]

WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH THIS COUNTRY...AND PEOPLE???? IF PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE LIKE SHEEP THEN LET THEM. WE CAN'T EVEN ENJOY HISTORY ANYMORE.

[mustangdriver]

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]

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]

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

[Steve Nelson]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Thanks.

[maradamx3]

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.