Missile Gallery at the NMUSAF to close until summer
Wed Nov 19, 2014 11:38 am
Re: Missile Gallery at the NMUSAF to close until summer
Wed Nov 19, 2014 7:04 pm
Got to visit the museum in June. Had't been there since the early 90's. For some reason the missile display room made me feel a bit uneasy.
Re: Missile Gallery at the NMUSAF to close until summer
Wed Nov 19, 2014 7:15 pm
Elwyn wrote:Got to visit the museum in June. Had't been there since the early 90's. For some reason the missile display room made me feel a bit uneasy.
Out of curiosity, may I ask why?
Re: Missile Gallery at the NMUSAF to close until summer
Wed Nov 19, 2014 7:27 pm
I find the missile gallery to be awesome, but thats just me. It will be even better a number of years down the road when the final 2 rockets go on display.
Re: Missile Gallery at the NMUSAF to close until summer
Fri Nov 21, 2014 1:10 pm
Looks like the room will close December 8th.
I'll be making my first trip in 18 years to the museum tomorrow. I can't wait to see everything!
I'll be making my first trip in 18 years to the museum tomorrow. I can't wait to see everything!
Re: Missile Gallery at the NMUSAF to close until summer
Fri Nov 21, 2014 3:56 pm
Jeremy S wrote:Looks like the room will close December 8th.
I'll be making my first trip in 18 years to the museum tomorrow. I can't wait to see everything!
I hope you have at least one day planned there.
Re: Missile Gallery at the NMUSAF to close until summer
Fri Nov 21, 2014 4:01 pm
Misterg97 wrote:Elwyn wrote:Got to visit the museum in June. Had't been there since the early 90's. For some reason the missile display room made me feel a bit uneasy.
Out of curiosity, may I ask why?
I know where he's coming from....ICBMs are designed for only one thing. Bad stuff.
I got the same feeling when I entered the Weapon Storage Area when I was in SAC in the old days.
Last time I was there I noted they didn't have an Atlas...a rather huge gap.
Re: Missile Gallery at the NMUSAF to close until summer
Fri Nov 21, 2014 5:58 pm
JohnB wrote:Misterg97 wrote:Elwyn wrote:Got to visit the museum in June. Had't been there since the early 90's. For some reason the missile display room made me feel a bit uneasy.
Out of curiosity, may I ask why?
I know where he's coming from....ICBMs are designed for only one thing. Bad stuff.
I got the same feeling when I entered the Weapon Storage Area when I was in SAC in the old days.
Last time I was there I noted they didn't have an Atlas...a rather huge gap.
An Atlas is tough to display. They supported themselves via pressurization. Unpressurized, an Atlas would collapse...if I'm not mistaken...
Re: Missile Gallery at the NMUSAF to close until summer
Fri Nov 21, 2014 6:01 pm
They've got an Atlas over in one of the storage hangar. I understand the missiles were removed from outdoor display years ago after one of them collapsed, because they were not designed to stand up indefinitely with empty fuel tanks.
SN
SN
Re: Missile Gallery at the NMUSAF to close until summer
Fri Nov 21, 2014 6:21 pm
Pat Carry wrote:Jeremy S wrote:Looks like the room will close December 8th.
I'll be making my first trip in 18 years to the museum tomorrow. I can't wait to see everything!
I hope you have at least one day planned there.
I'll probably be there from open until close tomorrow
Re: Missile Gallery at the NMUSAF to close until summer
Fri Nov 21, 2014 7:23 pm
Steve Nelson wrote:They've got an Atlas over in one of the storage hangar. I understand the missiles were removed from outdoor display years ago after one of them collapsed, because they were not designed to stand up indefinitely with empty fuel tanks.
SN
Which is what happened to their last Atlas....circa 1994.
Their "new" one IIRC, is ex-Franklin institute and is just a shell with re-enforcing structure inside.
You'd think they'd have it on display by now.
Re: Missile Gallery at the NMUSAF to close until summer
Fri Nov 21, 2014 7:34 pm
The SAC (sorry, SASM) has had an Atlas missile on display since they moved to the new location. I believe it was also modified with an internal structure during its restoration. The design of the Atlas was a great innovation, but it was also a great burden on maintenance for that same reason and why they didn't last long as an ICBM. Made for one helluva satellite and person launcher though!