So much change - it's hard to keep up!

In the past three months the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History has progressed by leaps and bounds! The building is enclosed, interior walls are up and painted, there is lighting, flooring, and electrical. There are PLANES already moved onto the site (oh, B-29, how we've missed you!), and exhibits in preparation for installation. There have been countless hardhat tours where our volunteers, supporters, partners, and community members, have been able to preview this dynamic space and the future it holds. It is truly an amazing feeling for all that have had the opportunity to go see it.

Over 150 new photos have been uploaded to our flickr page, with many more to come!

However, the most moving day thus far was October 31, 2008. It was a momentous day. One of those days where you were proud to say "I was there."

It's one of those situations that I really think you had to be there to experience, but there were moments where we had serious chills and tears our eyes. Those of us in attendance got to be a part of both National and New Mexican history.

What happened? The National Atomic Museum's B-52 bomber, that has been sitting in the same spot at the old museum location on base for THIRTY FIVE YEARS, had one of the final phases of deconstruction done. The wings were removed from the fuselage (the body).

Three of the largest cranes in New Mexico were on hand to hold up the ends of the wings and the box in the center that holds them together. The staff from World Wide Aircraft recovery worked tirelessy all morning to prep to remove the FOUR BOLTS (each the size of an average adult forearm) that held the wings to the plane. Then, as if the many hours that passed hadn't yet, the wings and the body were no longer one. The fuselage was towed out from underneath the wings, and the wings then lowered in preparation to be seperated.


Sometime in December or January, Worldwide Aircraft Recovery will be back to tow the B-52 to its new home at our new site. Not only will this be momentous because of the new museum, but also because this plane will be towed there ON ITS OWN WHEELS. All you history, military, and science buffs out there - get your cameras ready! This is going to be some kind of an event!


While we can't have people coming up onto the new museum property, you CAN park yourselves in the parking lot of the Costco accross the street and take as many photos as you'd like! Details and information to come!

The New Museum Takes Flight!

The National Atomic Museum has contracted with Worldwide Aircraft Recovery Ltd. of Nebraska to move two of its largest artifacts: a B-29 and a B-52 bomber, both of which have been stored at the Museum’s previous location on Kirtland Air Force Base. The planes will be moved in early September, after disassembly.

The planes will be hauled by tractor-trailer 2 miles to the new Museum location at Eubank and Southern Blvds. SE in Albuquerque, adjacent to the Sandia Science and Techology Park and KAFB. The route will take the planes from their current location off of Wyoming Boulevard to the new site, where a new Museum is under construction. The B-29 is expected to be moved first, on a Saturday in early September.

“Moving these significant artifacts represents a huge step toward becoming the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History,” said Jim Walther, Director of the Museum. “We know the public will appreciate having these giants available for viewing. We hear repeatedly how eager people are to see these important historical aircraft.”

The B-29 was a revolutionary aircraft, the first intercontinental bomber. At 70,000 pounds, it was the heaviest production bomber built. Its 135,000 pounds fully loaded required an 8,000-foot runway for takeoff. It could cruise above 30,000 feet, out of range of flak and most enemy fighters.

The Boeing Stratofortress B-52 has been the main long-range heavy bomber of the Strategic Air Command. Affectionately known as the BUFF (Big Ugly Fat Fella), the B-52 first flew on April 15, 1952. Nearly 750 B-52s were built when production ended in October 1963. On January 18, 1957, three B-52Bs completed the world's first non-stop round-the-world flight by jet aircraft, lasting 45 hours, 19 minutes, with only three aerial refuelings en route. A B-52 also made the first known airborne hydrogen bomb drop over Bikini Atoll on May 21, 1956.

Worldwide Aircraft Recovery Ltd. has provided assistance in a number of projects, including the entire Strategic Air Command Museum and its B-52, B-36, B-58 and an Atlas missile. They will move eight pieces for the Museum: four aircraft and four missiles. In addition to the B-52 and B-29, they will move an F-105 and an A-7 airplane along with the Bomarc, Mace, Matador, and Snark cruise missiles. There are also plans to relocate a MiG-21 from Tucson, Arizona, to the new site.



Photo of exhibits waiting to be moved, currently on display outside the old National Atomic Museum at Kirtland AFB. Photo taken by flickr.com user marz0.

A long dusty road to our new home

First, it was the prairie dogs. Next, came a transient owl. And finally, it was fugitive dust.



Fugitive dust? Yes, dust that is created by preparing our property for the building of a brand-new museum.



But, before grading could start (with a permit requiring us to water down the dust being created), a prairie dog relocation effort was underway. Prairie dogs, it turns out, must be assisted to find new living quarters.



And that transient owl? One day it was gone, presumably on to a new place.



Prairie dogs, owls, and even dust...all making way for our new home. A home that, as of last week, has all of its' steel roof installed.

Museum Relocation Project: Selected Milestones

October 30, 2007: Charles Loeber, the Museum Relocation Project Manager, and Harry Mumma, the Building Construction Manager delivered the Fugitive Dust Control Permit and the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan to our point-of-contact at Sandia National Laboratories (SNL). These were the final documents required prior to construction.

October 31, 2007: After confirming that all prairie dogs and burrowing owls had been removed from our site, SNL issued their approval for us to proceed with infrastructure construction. We then notified the City of Albuquerque, and they immediately authorized A.S. Horner, their construction contractor, to proceed. By the end of this day, bulldozers were grading our site. The City is constructing our infrastructure using funds from the State of New Mexico.

December 19, 2007: Bids were solicited bids for construction of the building. These bids were due by January 31, 2008.

January 18, 2008: The City of Albuquerque, using A.S. Horner, completed Phase 1 of our infrastructure. This work was divided into two phases pending the City’s receipt of the second increment of funding from the State of New Mexico.

February 18, 2008: Charles Loeber and Kim Meagher as President and Treasurer respectively of the National Atomic Museum Foundation signed a contract with MV Industries, Inc. to construct a 30,000 sq. ft. building for approximately $5.7 million. MVI then proceed to obtain a City permit to do the earthwork, transfer the Fugitive Dust Permit, revise the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan, obtain construction insurance, sign contracts with their subcontractors, mobilize their workforce, etc.

March 4, 2008: Charles Loeber, as Museum Relocation Project Manager, issued a "Notice to Proceed" to MVI.

March 19, 2008: MVI began preparing the foundation. This involved compacting the soil, constructing the foundation forms, installing all of the electrical conduits and plumbing that goes under the slab, placing the rebar, etc.

April 19, 2008: MVI began pouring the concrete foundation. The final pour should be completed on May 23rd.

May 28, 2008: The steel building is scheduled for delivery to our site.

June 2, 2008: MVI will begin erecting the steel building. This building should be up by mid-June.