National Museum of the U.S. Air Force to add Thursday evening hours

The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force will add evening hours on the first Thursday of the month beginning in January.

During these select evenings from 5 to 8 p.m., the museum will offer opportunities for an up-close look at different aircraft from the collection each month.

>> Air Force museum near top of best U.S. museums list

“If you’re a working couple, sometimes the daytime or even on the weekends is a little tough to visit when you’ve got kids’ events and so forth,” museum Director David Tillotson said. “Adding an option to visit in the evening addresses a challenge that certain age groups have and provides more opportunities for people to come by and see all that we have to offer.”

  • On Jan. 2, visitors will be invited to climb aboard the CV-22 Osprey and learn more about it from museum volunteer Bob Recchiuti, who spent time working on it during his college years for Boeing Vertol (now Boeing Defense Systems). In addition, on Jan. 2 the Air Force Museum Theatre at 5 p.m. will show "Fighter Pilot" (3D); at 5:30 p.m. "Aircraft Carrier - Guardians of the Sea" (3D); at 6 p.m. "D-Day Normandy 1944 (3D); and at 7 p.m. "Apollo 11: First Steps."
  • On Feb. 6, the museum will open the cockpit of the B-1B Lancer and offer an opportunity to learn more about the bomber from museum volunteer Don Chislaghi. During his career, he served as director of engineering for the B-1B.
  • On March 5, the museum will open the cockpit of the F-100F and invite visitors to learn more about the aircraft from museum volunteer Col. (Ret.) Jack Wilson, a former pilot, flight instructor and aircraft commander who has flown the F-100C and F-100D as well as the F-4 and F-101. He participated in 100 Missions North Vietnam and 45 Missions Laos.

The museum store, simulator rides and cafes also will be open for the Thursday evening events.

The theater schedule for the evenings of Feb. 6 and March 5 will be announced at a later date.

WANT TO GO? 

What: National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

Where: 1100 Spaatz St., Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433 (near Dayton)

Regular hours: Open daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Cost: Free admission and parking

More info: WebsiteFacebook

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