Wright-Patterson museum asks for a space shuttle

The Columbus Dispatch ^ | April 6, 2009 | NA

[buccaneer81]

Wright-Patterson museum asks for a space shuttle Monday, April 6, 2009 3:11 AM

DAYTON DAILY NEWS DAYTON -- The U.S. Air Force museum is making a bid to land one of NASA's space shuttles after the fleet is retired in late 2010.

Air Force Secretary Michael Donley sent a letter to the space agency in March making the request. NASA hasn't indicated when it will make a decision on where the retired orbiters will be displayed.

NASA spokesman Mike Curie said it is in everyone's interest to find a location where the shuttles can be seen by the greatest number of people. One space shuttle appears to be headed to the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum in Washington.

The Air Force museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton draws 1.3 million visitors a year. Museum director Charles Metcalf said a shuttle's drawing power would push that to about 2 million.

Handling a preservation assignment as massive as a shuttle would be a unique challenge that few other than NASA and the Air Force museum are equipped to handle, Metcalf said. "You better know what you're doing," he said. "We're very good at what we do."

NASA plans to retire Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour by Sept. 30, 2010, in keeping with former President George W. Bush's initiative of returning astronauts to the moon. A new spaceship -- a capsule called Orion sitting on top of a new rocket called Ares I -- will not be ready until March 2015, which means the U.S. must rely on Russia for rides into orbit in the interim.

The Air Force museum would accept any of the shuttles but has stated a preference for Atlantis because it took military payloads into orbit, Metcalf said.

[buccaneer81]

This should be a no-brainer. One to Wright-Patterson, one to the Smithsonian and one to somewhere on the west coast.

[SERKIT]

National Museum of the US Air Force

World-class museum! I go as often as I can, and a "Friend of the Museum".

[henkster]

The USAF Museum is two hours away; we’ve been there maybe 5 or 6 times. I think it’s even better than the National Air & Space Museum in D.C., and that’s probably because there are space constraints in D.C. We’ve done the “3 day wonder weekend” before: Reds game Friday night at Great American Ball Park, Dayton Air Show Saturday, USAF Museum Sunday.

The Museum would be the very best place to put one of the retired shuttles. They have PLENTY of room for one.

P.S: I wish the museum would bring back the XB-70.

[thackney]

One to Wright-Patterson, one to the Smithsonian and one to somewhere on the west coast. Houston for the NASA Johnson Space Center.

It would look good with these:

[ICE-FLYER]

A new spaceship -- a capsule called Orion sitting on top of a new rocket called Ares I -- will not be ready until March 2015, which means the U.S. must rely on Russia for rides into orbit in the interim.

We should be ashamed of ourselves...we are better than this.

[HighWheeler]

The museum has been restoring the Memphis Belle for a few years now. It was left outside for years in Tenn, and it had a lot of parts missing.

I saw it about 2 1/2 years ago, the belly turret was out on the floor. That is one small, sealed compartment. You can imagine how cold, lonely, and terrifying it would have been seeing a fighter coming up, targetting the turret gunner.

[billorites]

"This should be a no-brainer. One to Wright-Patterson, one to the Smithsonian and one to somewhere on the west coast."

I was thinking Dollywood or maybe Branson...

[HighWheeler]

“P.S: I wish the museum would bring back the XB-70.”

— -— -—

They have the XB-70 inside, check this out:

http://www.johnweeks.com/b70/xb70usafm.html

[Oztrich Boy]

Put it in Hanger 18

[henkster]

It was not inside the hangar when I was last there, which was a year or two ago. That was just after the opened the 3rd hangar and missile area. Glad they brought it back.

[golfisnr1]

Best place in the US for a Shuttle. Great Museum.

[SERKIT]

I will be going for the tour of the restoration area. Swoose, Memphis Belle, and the XC-99 are on my list....

[buccaneer81]

Ohio ping.

[TSgt]

I live a little over an hour south from the USAF Museum and just got back from DC this weekend where I visited the National Air & Space Museum.

I was deeply disappointed with the National Air & Space Museum. Aside from it’s small size and collection its atmosphere doesn’t do the wars and vintage aircraft they fought in any respect. The USAF Museum hangers are time machines that allow quiet reflections on aviation history. I’ve watched the museum grow over the years and look forward to its next hanger.

BTW - The XB-70 is my favorite aircraft. ;)

Mike

[Las Vegas Dave]

Ohio Pings!

To be added to the Ohio Ping List, please freepmail (works best)
both TonyRo76 and LasVegasDave.

(It would not be easy to remove the piggybacked shuttle from the 747 in Dayton. It's going to require a lot of specialized equipment to do so.)

[PA Engineer]

Absolutely they should get one of the shuttles. This is the best air and space museum in the country.