usaf museum dayton ohio slated to demolish historic building

[tom d. friedman]

a very historic building at wright pat afb / usaf museum is slated to be torn down due to the fact that the usaf cannot find the $$$$$ to restore the building or find a new use for it. it is also stated that it is an evironmental haz mat area. now, let's look at the history of the structure......... the technology for pilot g-suits / nasa space suits were mostly configured / tested their dating back to ww 2. it is building 55 at wright pat, built in 1942, it housed a centrifuge to test the affects of acceleration on pilots. the haz mat issue stems from supposed dry cleaning fluids under the foundation. is that affecting the general population?? as a preservationist does this warrant the destruction of a historic building??? if it wasn't for that building, we wouldn't be where we are today technology wise in aerospace. the usaf with their vast resources can't some how clean up the mess & find a viable use for it?? i call that b.s. & a waste of history as well as tax payer dollars. it's a landmark building on a landmark sight. its demolition will only demolish the historical significance of the base.

[mustangdriver]

I would love to see it saved, and did not know it was being torn down. I will say that if it is actually on the AFB, then there is not a ton that the NMUSAF is allowed to do.

[n5151ts]

they could put some of those old planes in it and get rid of those too!



isn't there some historical building rule that could be invoked? On the east coat you have to get permission to paint your house in some areas due to historical rule.

[mustangdriver]

We were thinking of painting it bright red with flames on it, turning into a strip bar, and moving it to Reno.

[n5151ts]

We were thinking of painting it bright red with flames on it, turning into a strip bar, and moving it to Reno.

there are no strip bars in Reno! woo hoo!

[APG85]

they could put some of those old planes in it and get rid of those too!



isn't there some historical building rule that could be invoked? On the east coat you have to get permission to paint your house in some areas due to historical rule.

Sadly, you'd be surprised at how difficult it is to put a building on "protected" status. I grew up in an historical town in New Jersey and we had rules about paint, siding, etc. that you could do to your home if it was on the towns historic list. People always managed to get around these rules and do their own thing. Arguably, the homes were their property. I've seen historically significant houses torn down all over North Jersey to make may for a new bank or drug store - much cheaper than restoration unfortunately....

[Second Air Force]

WWII B-29 hangars and other structures are being torn down in Kansas even as I post this. Liability concerns win out over historical artifacts every time, it seems.

[Flying Pencil]

Monticello is being torn down for a new million dollare houses with golf course.

/sarcasm

The population at large does not care much for the history of flight, it seems. Less then the aircraft, which barely attracts attention, expect for air shows.

I also suspect most do not think an airplane is approachable.

BTW, any pictures??