Hill AFB Museum getting rid of 18 planes...

[Warbirdnerd]

Need a used fighter jet? How about a missile? A Utah museum may have a deal for you.
Hill Aerospace Museum is getting rid of 18 aircraft, three missiles and some support vehicles in an effort to save money.
Aircraft to be moved:
» F-4C (RF)
» F-4E
» F-86L
» T-39A (CT)
» C-131D
» C-130E, Trainer
» H-21C
» F-4E (GF)
» A-7F (YA)
» C-45H
» F-106A (QF)
» U-3A
» H-13T
» T-28B, BUNO
» F/A-18A
» B-47E (WB)
» C-119F, RCAF
» C-7B
Acting museum Director Aaron Clark said in a press release that "the museum no longer has the manpower, funding or means necessary to give these aircraft the care they need."

The museum will still have more than 50 aircraft and about 2,000 artifacts.

The outgoing aircraft and other items will be offered to other museums and base air parks across the country and to veterans’ organizations, hospitals and cities. Clark said the planes will be scrapped only as a last resort.

Found it here
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/5 ... e.html.csp

[old iron]

I would like to see the B-47 find a home at NASM.

[aerovin]

So what happens when they learn that the NMUSAF actually owns most or all of those airframes and they don't get to give them away and/or scrap them? You would think they would know that already.

Edit: I should have read the actual press release in which the director states that the NMUSAF has control of the aircraft. It was the Salt Lake newspaper that incorrectly gave the impression the museum controlled the aircraft.

[David J Burke]

How about they donate the C-119 to a Canadian museum so atleast one example can be preserved in Canada.

[JohnB]

I'll take the TH-13T.

I agree, the B-47 should be in the NASM...but it won't be.
Instead, they'll continue to make room for obscure (but meaningless in the overall history of the nation) one-offs and common stuff (FedEx Falcon, really?).
I always get the idea the NASM is run by people who came of age in the Vietnam generation when "the military" was a four letter word.

[k5083]

Luckily someone managed to sneak 27 military aircraft into the downtown facility (a majority of the 48 aircraft on display) and 61 military aircraft into Udvar-Hazy when the people who run the NASM weren't looking.

August

[wendovertom]

Wow - I have talked with the museum director once or twice over the year and this kind of surprises me. In fact the Hill AFB foundation was just up at the State legislature asking for support for a new hanger for the B-29 they have. Maybe they have decided to clear out the museum and make room for the B-29 now rather than waiting.

The Hill AFB museum is an awesome place - they have done a great job and run some great educational programs as well. Many of the listed aircraft are restored and inside; specifically the F/A-18, two of the three F-4s, the F-86L, F-106 just to name a few. The outside aircraft are a bit rough - the B-47 specifically is in tough shape - it is partially in the first shot of the article. It would take a huge effort to bring her back into good shape.

Tom P.

[Jerry O'Neill]

That's NEAM's old WB-47E. I hope someone takes it in!

[JimH]

The mission of the NASM is to preserve significant aircraft with some kind of provenance. Not just military aircraft. You can't save everything, and quite frankly the NMUSAF aircraft are in a prolonged death spiral. 99% of them are gutted shells...it's tragic.

jim

[mustangdriver]

Jim H, It depends on what you are talking about. A gate guard at a base is one thing that may be gutted and a shell, but the base museums like Hill and the others try to put them back into pretty good shape. For example the guys at the SAC Museum in Nebraska are doing amazing work. I encourage you to look closer.

[Mark Allen M]

NMUSAF aircraft are in a prolonged death spiral. 99% of them are gutted shells...it's tragic.jim

Well h*ll that's discouraging. I hope my donations have been going to the 1%

[mustangdriver]

If you are talking about the actual airframes in the NMUSAF in Dayton, then you are giving to a great cause, and the aircraft are some of the finest examples around.

[flightsimer]

It appears that some of them may not be NMUSAF aircraft, such as the C-119

[bdk]

Better to scrap them than to sell them to private individuals...

[Mark Allen M]

airframes in the NMUSAF in Dayton

I'm not too worried about those at Dayton. Several others scattered about? not so sure.