DAYTON, Ohio -- The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force’s new $40.8 million fourth building including aircraft such as SAM 26000 (Air Force One) and the only remaining XB-70 Valkyrie, will open to the public on June 8, 2016.
The 224,000 square foot building, which was privately financed by the Air Force Museum Foundation, will house more than 70 aircraft, missiles, and space vehicles in four new galleries - Presidential, Research and Development, Space and Global Reach, along with three science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) Learning Nodes.
Construction of the building first began in July 2014 and will be completed in January 2016 by the Columbus office of Turner Construction Company and overseen by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville District.
The museum’s restoration division is currently moving aircraft into the building and assembling other artifacts for display such as the massive Titan IVB space launch vehicle and satellite booster rocket weighing 96 tons.
According to Museum Director Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Jack Hudson, visitors can now begin making their summer travel plans and include a visit to see the museum’s new fourth building.
“We’re extremely excited to open the fourth building with some of our most popular aircraft at the beginning of the summer vacation season,” Hudson said. “The museum is within a day’s drive of more than 60% of the U.S. population so we’re not too far from many of the places folks will be travelling to, and with free admission and parking it is well worth a stop to see the new additions at the Air Force’s national museum.”
Although the building will open to the public on June 8, special weekend activities and demonstrations are being planned to continue celebrating the building opening, June 11-12. More information on these events will be released as it becomes available.
The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, is the world’s largest military aviation museum. With free admission and parking, the museum features more than 360 aerospace vehicles and missiles and thousands of artifacts amid more than 19 acres of indoor exhibit space. Each year about one million visitors from around the world come to the museum. For more information, visit www.nationalmuseum.af.mil.
The Air Force Museum Foundation, Inc. was established in 1960 as a 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. The Foundation raises funds through its membership program, the Air Force Museum Theatre, Museum Store, flight simulators and Valkyrie Café, as well as from direct donations. For more information about the foundation, visit www.afmuseum.com.
NOTE TO PUBLIC: For more information, contact the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at (937) 255-3286.
NOTE TO MEDIA: For more information, contact Rob Bardua in the National Museum of the United States Air Force Public Affairs Division at (937) 255-1386.