Warbird Information Exchange

From the newsgroups:

Posted on Thu, Oct. 07, 2004

HURRICANE CASUALTY

Aviation museum to reopen Monday

PENSACOLA - (AP) -- The National Museum of Naval Aviation will reopen
Monday, nearly a month after being closed by Hurricane Ivan.

Free T-shirts commemorating the storm will be available during the
first two weeks to encourage visitors to return. Nearly a million
people visit every year, making it Pensacola's second most popular
tourist attraction next to its storm-ravaged beaches.

The shirts depict the Blue Angels, the Navy's precision flying
squadron, above a satellite photo of Ivan approaching the Gulf Coast
with the words ``Pensacola . . . soaring back after Hurricane Ivan.''

''The city has had the wind knocked out of it, and people are looking
for something positive,'' said retired Vice Adm. Jack Fetterman,
president and CEO of the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation. ``They are
looking for some therapy, a collective positive and this museum
represents that.''

The museum, which sustained only minor storm damage, also is offering
two IMAX theater tickets for the price of one for two weeks and 15
percent restaurant discounts for one week. It is on the grounds of
Pensacola Naval Air Station where the Blue Angels are headquartered.

The flying team will resume practice sessions that can be seen from a
public viewing area behind the museum on Oct. 20. Practices also is
scheduled for Oct. 26-27 and Nov. 2-3. The Blue Angels then will end
their annual season with a homecoming show Nov. 12-13 in Pensacola.

The only damage to the museum was a leaking skylight that allowed
water into the entryway. Seven of about 70 aircraft in an outdoor
display will require repairs.

Pensacola's sugar white beaches were eroded by the storm and remain
closed because of damage to roads and buildings.

_________________
http://floridawarbirds.wordpress.com/

Updated twice a week!!

Anyone planning a visit should be aware there are still areas
of the base off limits. Also all entry and exit is not through
the back gate (Blue Angel Parkway). I am posting a link to
the base newspaper Gosport detailing this.

Blue skies,
Owen

http://gosport.pensacolanewsjournal.com ... F324.shtml

I am posting a link to a Pensacola News Journal
story about the reopening of NMNA.

Blue skies,
Owen

http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/new ... A016.shtml