United Technologies Corp. and Pratt & Whitney commit $1.2 million to Air Force Museum Foundation campaign

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United Technologies Corp. and Pratt & Whitney commit $1.2 million to Air Force Museum Foundation campaign

Posted 5/31/2012 Updated 5/30/2012

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by Lin Erickson
Air Force Museum Foundation

5/31/2012 - DAYTON, Ohio -- Bennett Croswell, President of Pratt & Whitney, Military Engines, announced today the commitment of $1.2 million by United Technologies Corp. and Pratt & Whitney to support construction of the fourth building at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Croswell made the announcement in the Southeast Asia War Gallery at the museum, standing next to a Pratt & Whitney YF-119 engine -- a prototype of the engine used today by the U.S. Air Force for the F-22 Raptor, an advanced tactical fighter.

Charles Faruki, former Chairman of the Air Force Museum Foundation Board of Managers, expressed his gratitude on behalf of the Foundation.

"We are grateful to United Technologies Corp. for its generous gift of $1.2 million," Faruki said. "UTC has been a longtime supporter of the National Museum of the United States Air Force. Their generosity contributes significantly to closing the gap required to achieve the $48.7 million goal to construct the fourth building. The addition of the fourth building will allow the museum to tell the full Air Force story and expand educational programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics."

Prior to today's announcement, Pratt & Whitney had contributed $200,000 toward construction of the fourth building. Croswell announced an additional commitment of $1 million by United Technologies Corp. to the campaign and then presented the first of four installments, with the balance to be paid over the next three years.

"United Technologies enjoys a long history of collaboration with the U.S. Air Force on the development of state-of-the-art technologies to support Airmen protecting our nation's freedom," Croswell said. "Our story is an integral part of the Air Force story told in these galleries, and we are deeply committed to sharing that story with future generations. We are proud to support the construction of the fourth building and believe that it will be a great place to educate future scientists, engineers, mathematicians and Airmen."

With today's announcement, the Foundation has raised $38.7 million of its $48.7 million campaign goal. Current plans call for construction to begin in 2013 and the new building to open in late 2014.

Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines. United Technologies, based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the global aerospace and commercial building industries. For more information, visit www.pw.utc.com.

The Air Force Museum Foundation, Inc. was established in 1960 as a Section 501(c)(3) philanthropic, non-profit organization to assist the Air Force in the development and expansion of the facilities of the National Museum of the United States Air Force and to undertake and advance programs and activities supporting the Museum. For more information on the Air Force Museum Foundation, visit www.airforcemuseum.com.

The National Museum of the United States Air Force, located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, is the oldest and largest military aviation museum in the world. Each year, more than 1.2 million visitors come to the Museum to learn about the mission, history, and evolving capabilities of the U.S. Air Force. For more information on the Museum, visit www.nationalmuseum.af.mil.