WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE -Sequestration cuts have made their way to the National Museum of the United States Air Force.
April 30 will be the last day visitors can board a shuttle and visit galleries that house the XB -70 Valkyrie, and President Kennedy's Air Force One.
"That's sad because Kennedy's plane is one of the main reasons we came here, was to see that plane. That's history," Museum visitor Amy Booth said.
"These were hard decisions. Nothing was easy. They are tough decisions." Museum Director Lt. Gen.(Ret.) Jack Hudson said.
The main museum complex will stay open 7 days a week, but the galleries that require a bus shuttle service will be cut.
Hudson said closing the galleries will save over 120 thousand in utility and transportation costs.
Also on the chopping block: Aerospace summer camps for kids and Behind the Scenes Tours where visitors can see the restoration of the famous Memphis Belle.
This just a great historical place- and people just don't know what we have here." Bill Kreeger said.
Kreeger has visited the museum since he was a kid-- and its where he takes his grandson. He only hopes that they can figure out a way to keep the entire museum open for future generations
"I hope so, because I want to come back with my great grand kids."
The U.S. Air Force Museum has 1.2 million visitors a year.
EARLIER COVERAGE:
DAYTON -- Budget reductions due to sequestration is now becoming more transparent. The National Museum of the U.S. Airforce will close its Presidential Research and Development Galleries beginning May 1.
The Director of the Museum Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Jack Hudson says leaders of the museum have been working with the Air Force to comply with Department of Defense sequestration guidelines. "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 XB-70 Valkyrie," said Hudson. "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." Hudson says this was the best way to reduce museum operational costs with the least impact to the public.
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 a week, and the Air Force Museum Foundation, Inc. will fund those costs one day per week from May through September.
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 could also be affected. Details will be announced on the museum's website as those events approach. www.nationalmuseum.af.mil
Tune into ABC22 at 6:00 for more on this story.
April 30 will be the last day visitors can board a shuttle and visit galleries that house the XB -70 Valkyrie, and President Kennedy's Air Force One.
"That's sad because Kennedy's plane is one of the main reasons we came here, was to see that plane. That's history," Museum visitor Amy Booth said.
"These were hard decisions. Nothing was easy. They are tough decisions." Museum Director Lt. Gen.(Ret.) Jack Hudson said.
The main museum complex will stay open 7 days a week, but the galleries that require a bus shuttle service will be cut.
Hudson said closing the galleries will save over 120 thousand in utility and transportation costs.
Also on the chopping block: Aerospace summer camps for kids and Behind the Scenes Tours where visitors can see the restoration of the famous Memphis Belle.
This just a great historical place- and people just don't know what we have here." Bill Kreeger said.
Kreeger has visited the museum since he was a kid-- and its where he takes his grandson. He only hopes that they can figure out a way to keep the entire museum open for future generations
"I hope so, because I want to come back with my great grand kids."
The U.S. Air Force Museum has 1.2 million visitors a year.
EARLIER COVERAGE:
DAYTON -- Budget reductions due to sequestration is now becoming more transparent. The National Museum of the U.S. Airforce will close its Presidential Research and Development Galleries beginning May 1.
The Director of the Museum Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Jack Hudson says leaders of the museum have been working with the Air Force to comply with Department of Defense sequestration guidelines. "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 XB-70 Valkyrie," said Hudson. "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." Hudson says this was the best way to reduce museum operational costs with the least impact to the public.
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 a week, and the Air Force Museum Foundation, Inc. will fund those costs one day per week from May through September.
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 could also be affected. Details will be announced on the museum's website as those events approach. www.nationalmuseum.af.mil
Tune into ABC22 at 6:00 for more on this story.