Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!bu.edu!att!cbnews!cbnews!military From: newave!john@uunet.UU.NET (John A. Weeks III) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Re: Wright-Patterson AFB Museum (was Re: SR-71 on display) Message-ID: <1990Dec7.011417.616@cbnews.att.com> Date: 7 Dec 90 01:14:17 GMT References: <1990Nov30.020610.7079@cbnews.att.com> <1990Dec4.001618.8532@cbnews.att.com> Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (William B. Thacker) Organization: NeWave Communications Ltd, Eden Prairie, MN Lines: 54 Approved: military@att.att.com From: newave!john@uunet.UU.NET (John A. Weeks III) In article <1990Dec4.001618.8532@cbnews.att.com> smpod@helios.lerc.nasa.gov (Stefan) writes: > From: smpod@helios.lerc.nasa.gov (Stefan) > In article <1990Nov30.020610.7079@cbnews.att.com>, v073nqa6@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (Elvin Y Chan) writes... > > Has anyone been there and can give their opinions of the museum? > It's probably the best musuem for aircraft on this continent! Although many of the planes are not on display due to budget problems. The annex building is closed to the public, and part of the original building is closed. Also, some of the outdoor planes on display have been moved across the runway into storage (such as the B-1A). I think that it is silly of them to be spending large sums of money building an I-Max theatre when they cannot afford to keep the buildings open and lights turned on. After complaining to the museum director, he indicated that they will be able to open the pre-WWII display next spring, they are planning to re-open a new & improved space display, but the annex might not ever open agian. As far as collections go, the USAF has an extensive list of planes, but all of them are strictly for static display. There is nothing like the thrill of seeing those planes fly--which is why I personally support organizations like the Confederate Air Force, Yankee Air Force, the Kalamazoo Air Zoo, and the Planes of Fame. Also, if you like to photograph planes, the USAF museum is a difficult place to work in. The planes are jammed in and poorly lit. Especially the Valkarie. It is worth it to visit places like Lackland AFB or Dyess AFB to get nice outdoors shots of each plane. It is true, however, that the USAF has many one-of-a-kind planes, such as some of the X planes. If you enjoyed the USAF museum, there are a few others that you should check out. The Navy air museum is in Pensacola Florida, the Army air museum is at Ft Ruker in Alabama, the Air Force Armorments museum is at Elgin AFB near Pensacola Florida, and the SAC museum is just south of Omaha Nebraska. The SAC museum also has their planes jammed togather real close. I did find that I could get a good picture of the B-36 by driving around the base on the access road and then shooting over the fence through an opening in the trees. Then drive away real quick before the MP's get ya! -john- -- =============================================================================== John A. Weeks III (612) 942-6969 john@newave.mn.org NeWave Communications ...uunet!rosevax!tcnet!wd0gol!newave!john =============================================================================== Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com