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Education isn't just for students at the museum

  • Published
  • By A.J. Kaltenbach
  • National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
DAYTON, Ohio --  As summer shifts into full swing, there are a number of educational activities for adults and students alike to participate in.

Don't miss out on a free, guided Behind the Scenes Tour of the museum's restoration area. Visitors can experience firsthand what it takes to accurately restore aircraft like the famous B-17F Memphis Belle and B-17D The Swoose. Tours are scheduled every Friday, with some exceptions, and include a shuttle to and from the restoration buildings. Advanced registration is required. Reservations are currently being taken for tours through August, and registration for fall tours begins July 19. For more information or to register, visit http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/visit/tours.asp. To learn more about current restoration projects, check out http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/exhibits/restoration/index.asp.

Visitors may experience one of the museum's USAF Heritage Tours by following along on a guided journey from World War I fabric-covered aircraft to the elite fighters of today's Air Force. Tours are free and offered daily at 1:30 p.m., with an additional tour at 10:30 a.m. on Saturdays. No registration is necessary.

Children and adults of all ages enjoy the popular Family Day, which is offered on the third Saturday of each month (second Saturday in December). Upcoming activities include learning about rocketry and space flight on July 17, celebrating of National Aviation Day on August 21, and sitting in a B-2 ejection seat and trying on a parachute on September 18. Information is available at http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/education/family/index.asp.

If you are interested in receiving regular updates from the Education Division, sign up for our e-newsletter at http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/education/index.asp.

Note: This article originally appeared in the Summer 2010 issue of Friends Journal. To receive the Journal and other benefits, become a member of the Air Force Museum Foundation.