Sequestration impacts at NMUSAF

[Warbirdnerd]

4/2/2013 - DAYTON, Ohio -- The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force will close its Presidential and Research and Development Galleries until further notice beginning May 1, 2013, as part of budget reduction requirements due to sequestration.

According to Museum Director Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Jack Hudson, museum leadership has been working with the Air Force to comply with Department of Defense sequestration guidance to determine the best possible course of action for reducing museum operational and maintenance costs with the least impact to the public.

"This was not an easy decision, as we have several popular exhibits in the Presidential and R&D Galleries, including President Kennedy's Air Force One and the XB-70 Valkyrie," Hudson said. "Our goal has been to make every effort to maintain museum operations to the maximum extent possible, and we hope to reopen these galleries as soon as possible."

The main museum complex will remain open to visitors from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. seven days a week. The Air Force will fund utility costs for six days each week, and the Air Force Museum Foundation, Inc., will fund those costs one day per week from May through September.

"The Air Force Museum Foundation proudly supports the growth and expansion of the museum, as well as special events and programs," said Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Richard V. Reynolds, chairman of the Foundation's Board of Managers. "In these extraordinary budgetary circumstances, it only makes sense to assist with day-to-day operations as well, employing funds earned from Foundation business operations and investments."

Additional sequestration impacts include the weekly Behind the Scenes Tours of the museum's restoration area, which will end after the April 26 tour until further notice, as well as cancellation of the Wings & Things Guest Lectures on April 30 and May 22 and all summer Aerospace Camps.

Other scheduled museum events also could be affected. Details will be announced on the museum's website, http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil, as those events near.

Reductions announced earlier in the year have been extended to include the cancellation of all staff training and travel, minimal funding for mission critical supplies and the deferral of non-emergency facility maintenance.

"These are challenging times; however, we will continue our mission of sharing the Air Force story with the public and inspiring our youth," Hudson said. "We'll also keep providing information about museum exhibits and activities 24/7 through our website and virtual tour."

The National Museum of the United States Air Force is located on Springfield Street, six miles northeast of downtown Dayton. It is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day). Admission and parking are free. For more information about the museum, visit http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil.


NOTE TO PUBLIC: For the latest information on scheduled events and programs, please visit http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil.

NOTE TO MEDIA: For more information, please contact the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Public Affairs Division at (937) 255-1337, (937) 255-1386 or (937) 255-1283.

Found it here:
http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/news/s ... =123342477

[mustangdriver]

The important thing is that Welfare can continue with no interruption.

[Robbie Stuart]

The important thing is that Welfare can continue with no interruption.

Big 10/4 on that one Brother!

[Badman]

The important thing is that Welfare can continue with no interruption.

And those all important presidential vacations and golf trips - they need their relaxation so they can think clearly on work day.

By the way, my son is in the USAF and works on F-16s @ HAFB and was told last month that the USAF will no longer pay for his college education while he's active-duty as they told him they would when he signed-up. And, he said they just got word one of the squadrons (I think it was the 4th) will stop flying their planes this month - all due to "sequestration".

What I can't figure out is even with the "sequestered" funds, the government (including DOD) is still spending more $ this FY than they did last FY and they were able to provide all of these services and do all of these jobs just fine last FY, but this FY with more $ they can't?

[Rob W]

My other half and I are going to go down to Dayton to visit some close friends; a trip to the NMUSAF is always a highlight and she has never been into the R&D/Presidential hangar.

We are due to arrive on May 2!

Go figure!

[mike furline]

The important thing is that Welfare can continue with no interruption.

Look, it just isn't fair that everyone doesn't have the same things that you and I worked for.

My local FAA CMO complains about layoffs. I suggested that if they all took a 10% paycut everyone could remain at work. ......crickets.....

[K5DH]

The following is an honest, straight-up question with no political agenda, expressed or implied:

Doesn't sequestration deal more with cutting increases in spending as opposed to cutting existing spending?

As always, I am open to being educated!

Dean the educable

[Marauderman26]

The Museum Restoration Team...still on the job?

[Badman]

The following is an honest, straight-up question with no political agenda, expressed or implied:

Doesn't sequestration deal more with cutting increases in spending as opposed to cutting existing spending?

As always, I am open to being educated!

Dean the educable

Exactly - that's what's so frustrating about what this Administration is doing to us, our troops, our museums, our airshows, White House tours, etc. I don't think there's been but a couple politicians that have actually seriously discussed cutting any $ from our spending (thus, spending less next year than we did this year) - its all about reducing how much more we're gonna spend!

[Pat Carry]

The only area that needs sequestration is the salaries of everyone in Washington DC!

[ZRX61]

The following is an honest, straight-up question with no political agenda, expressed or implied:

Doesn't sequestration deal more with cutting increases in spending as opposed to cutting existing spending?

As always, I am open to being educated!

Dean the educable

Yes, it's a decrease from a 5% spending increase to a 3% increase. There were NO cuts. It's all political BS & pandering.

[Pat Carry]

Hopefully things are on track to have the new building open in 4 years so the presidential aircraft wil be on display again.

[Rob W]

I'm interested to hear what their plans are for such "trivial" tasks such as keeping the dust off of their museum exhibits.

I took a "Behind the Scenes" tour a few years ago and posed the question to our tour guide. He stated that a crew comes in, after hours, with scaffolding and air hoses and things of that nature and remove the dust off of the aircraft in order to keep the exhibits looking absolutely pristine.

With sequester happening, I wonder if this service will continue?

Cheers,
Rob

[bdk]

We can only hope the P-82 goes on eBay...

[mustangdriver]

It already was. That's why it's in Dayton.