Wright-Patterson AFB NMUSAF Storage Aircraft

**Rata** · #1 12-23-2021, 05:57 PM

Just came across this:

Storage Aircraft Dec 13 2021 NMUSAF Footage from Drone - YouTube

**Texman** · #2 12-23-2021, 06:05 PM

So many wonderfully unique aircraft. For no one to see. That just shouldn't
have to be. Thanks for that link!

**Rata** · #3 12-23-2021, 06:26 PM

I know Ray. There might be valid reasons for not doing so, but surely that hangar itself could be part of the museum?

**Texman** · #4 12-23-2021, 07:09 PM

I would hope so!

**chaparral2d** · #5 12-23-2021, 08:07 PM

Believe it, or not, before 9-11, you were able to leave the actual museum, drive across the tarmac, and access another hanger where there were a number of complete planes that would not fit into the original custom made museum hanger. Now, the museum consists of four large hangar appearing buildings, and all of the collection still will not fit. On top of what the video showed, you also have the b-17, the Swoose and the XC-99 both of which are in various states of restoration. The collection will only grow.

**Isaac** · #6 12-23-2021, 09:14 PM

I am a docent ( a tour guide ) at this museum in Dayton Ohio. I have seen some of the artifacts not on display.

Wright-Patterson AFB NMUSAF Storage Aircraft-isaac-museum-1.jpg

Wright-Patterson AFB NMUSAF Storage Aircraft-isaac-museum-2.jpg

Here is the story

There are over 360 aircraft and missiles on open display as well as numerous vehicles, equipment and artifacts ( 130,000 of them ) spread over 4 huge buildings. We are in the planning stages for a 5th building.

the displayed items are only 5% of all planes, equipment etc... that are stored on the closed Air Force side of the base.

In the pre 9/11 days, yes you could simply drive over to the 2 hangars on the base side and see the presidential and experimental planes. All of them are now on display in the 4th building which you can see.

Some of the aircraft that were parked outside on the tarmac are now stored inside the same hangars that housed the special planes. There are other hangars behind that are off limits and require special permission ( like research ) to go there. The drone video is but one building location and it houses the aircraft that were outside as well as some stored that have never been restored or displayed there ( like the Merlin powered Heinkel 111 bomber; CASA of Spain built and used in the Battle of Britain movie ).

However, even though most of the planes and artifacts are off limits, they started showing drone videos as well as displays of different items including special family days, Star Wars characters and even zoo animals

I used to routinely display many of my paper models there ( when you click or hover over this picture it is rotated correctly ).

Wright-Patterson AFB NMUSAF Storage Aircraft-isaac-museum-models.jpg

You can easily spend 3-4 days at the museum's 4 buildings and still not see everything in detail.

Isaac

**Rata** · #7 12-23-2021, 09:28 PM

Thanks for explaining that Isaac. The drone videos are an excellent idea. The film quality is 100% so I guess it's the next best thing to actually being there.

I hope to get over there one day and I know Dayton will be one of the first places I visit.

**Isaac** · #8 12-23-2021, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rata

Thanks for explaining that Isaac. The drone videos are an excellent idea. The film quality is 100% so I guess it's the next best thing to actually being there.

I hope to get over there one day and I know Dayton will be one of the first places I visit.

Years ago, I visited the Australian Air Force museum in Point Cook outside of Melbourne. They have a fine display of many aircraft including restoration hangar. While not as big as the USA museum, I would encourage you to visit it ( even if you been there in the past, do it again ).

Isaac

**Don Boose** · #9 12-24-2021, 12:09 PM

Gosh! What a wonderful collection of historic airplanes. Thanks for sharing this, Garry, and thanks for the additional information, Isaac.

Don
Friend of the National Museum of the USAF since 1979

**Butelczynski** · #10 12-24-2021, 01:24 PM

Casa 2.111 and DC-2 would make me running there.DC-2 is a mid-war version with DC-3 tail and I'm not sure if outer parts of wings. Quite a few were used staterside for transport and para training. I'm almost sure all US paras that later were in Normandy learned their jumps from one just like that.

To be far,all museums have many more artifacts in storage than on display. Krakow Aviation Museum in Poland has much more and I've seen some of it but funds for restoration are not there and space is getting expensive every year.

Imagine cost of heating and electricity to keep huge hangars like this open to public. This is in part why supporting museums with cash is important. It always was and it's getting more desperate every year.