Tuesday, October 22, 2024

Travel Tuesday: Why the Air Force Museum - the Presidential Collection

One of the biggest reasons I wanted to see the Air Force Museum in Dayton was the Presidential collection, they have three presidential aircraft on display.  Starting with a plane that was customized for Roosevelt (with a wheelchair lift), one from Truman, and then the 707 that brought JFK home from Dallas, and took Nixon to China.  The planes are open, with a narrow glass corridor down through the middle, you can stand where Johnson took the oath of office. Sometime in the next decade or so, a 747 will join the collection.  I might go back for that. 














 

17 comments:

  1. I don't know very much about planes, but if an Australian wanted to visit the US or Europe, it used to be by a long distance 747. It may be a decade or so since I last travelled on one and it was very tired and shabby, but still, I remember the 747 fondly.

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    1. The 747 entered commercial service in about 1970, the last passenger version was built about 10 years ago, the last freighter version was completed in the last couple of years. The two current presidential aircraft are 747s that entered service when Reagan was President. Two replacements are being built. The new planes will be 747s, new passenger versions that are being extensively modified.

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  2. J is looking very presidential.

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    1. He has mastered the Queen Elizabeth wave

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    2. Tee-hee! BTW, Eisenhower's plane was there too.

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  3. Very cool exhibit. I love the old phones!

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    1. It was worth the trip. Phones?

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  4. What fun to see photos from out-of-state visitors! If you love airplanes and history, which you do, the NMUSAF is the place to visit.

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    1. Very nice collection. Others to see, Udvar Hazy at Dulles, and the Museum of Flight in Seattle - my plans to see that in April of 2020 were cancelled.

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  5. Oh wow, I'd love to tour that plane. I didn't realize there was one on display anywhere.

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    1. My biggest reason for wanting to go there.

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  6. Your Sweet Bear looks so handsome up on those steps! What a great tour!

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  7. I was wondering if you have ever take a Hunza Tour , if you did, do share your experience with us.

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  8. I liked the photos of J the best.

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