Barksdale Profile: New Museum Would Protect Million Dollar Aircraft
By:
Updated: September 27, 2011
Decades of history, worth millions of dollars, grounded at the Eighth Air Force Museum, inside the gates of Barksdale Air Force Base.
"The challenge is trying to maintain and preserve these historic aircraft for future generations. The museum has some World War II aircraft that are very unique. B24, B17 and B29" says Gary Miller, the museum director.
Some of the most coveted aircraft in the world. The Smithsonian Museum is even after one of them.
"They're out in the Louisiana elements and the National Museum of the Air Force would like to see them better taken care of" he says.
You can see paint chipping off the rare B24. It's one of eleven left in the world.
"The only way to take better care of them is to put them under a roof."
Preventing damage from heat, humidity and hail.
But the price tag is high. More than $35-million to build the new museum.
It's in the planning stages and Miller says northwest Louisiana is getting behind the idea.
"Museums are a big part of communities and how they evolve and the infrastructure, quality of education, quality of life" he says.
Miller says the Air Force would supply land and infrastructure and possibly supply part of the educational facility and conference center. The rest would have to be raised through private donations.
But the dream is still about five years from reality.
The proposed location is outside the gates of Barksdale Air Force Base so more people would visit. Right now, some feel uncomfortable going through the gates, into the base. Miller says about 30,000 people visit, but would like to see the museum become a destination attraction, similar to the WWII museum in New Orleans.
The 8th Air Force Museum is open seven days a week (except holidays) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can access the museum by going through the north gate off Airline Drive in Bossier City. Just make sure you bring a picture ID to get on the base.
For more information visit http://www.8afmuseum.com/
"The challenge is trying to maintain and preserve these historic aircraft for future generations. The museum has some World War II aircraft that are very unique. B24, B17 and B29" says Gary Miller, the museum director.
Some of the most coveted aircraft in the world. The Smithsonian Museum is even after one of them.
"They're out in the Louisiana elements and the National Museum of the Air Force would like to see them better taken care of" he says.
You can see paint chipping off the rare B24. It's one of eleven left in the world.
"The only way to take better care of them is to put them under a roof."
Preventing damage from heat, humidity and hail.
But the price tag is high. More than $35-million to build the new museum.
It's in the planning stages and Miller says northwest Louisiana is getting behind the idea.
"Museums are a big part of communities and how they evolve and the infrastructure, quality of education, quality of life" he says.
Miller says the Air Force would supply land and infrastructure and possibly supply part of the educational facility and conference center. The rest would have to be raised through private donations.
But the dream is still about five years from reality.
The proposed location is outside the gates of Barksdale Air Force Base so more people would visit. Right now, some feel uncomfortable going through the gates, into the base. Miller says about 30,000 people visit, but would like to see the museum become a destination attraction, similar to the WWII museum in New Orleans.
The 8th Air Force Museum is open seven days a week (except holidays) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can access the museum by going through the north gate off Airline Drive in Bossier City. Just make sure you bring a picture ID to get on the base.
For more information visit http://www.8afmuseum.com/
