Great coverage - with video!
Koat - channel 7
pictures of this exciting event will be posted by the end of the day. Check our photo site by clicking on the photos to the left.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
it's PLANE to see...this will be an exciting weekend!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE!
The National Atomic Museum will move its largest artifact, a B-52B bomber, to its new location in southeast Albuquerque on January 10 and 11, 2009. The historic plane has been stored at the Museum’s previous location on Kirtland Air Force Base.
The plane wings will be hauled in pieces by tractor-trailer two miles to the new Museum location at Eubank and Southern Blvds. SE in Albuquerque, adjacent to the Sandia Science and Technology 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 fuselage will be towed on its own wheelgear by two special tow bars. The plane was delivered to KAFB from the Boeing plant. The plane was always used in the special weapons program, where it was flown to the test site in Nevada; it was not part of the Strategic Air Command, unlike most B52s.
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; the Museum’s plane may be one of two B-52B planes still in existence. 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.
“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 plane wings will be hauled in pieces by tractor-trailer two miles to the new Museum location at Eubank and Southern Blvds. SE in Albuquerque, adjacent to the Sandia Science and Technology 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 fuselage will be towed on its own wheelgear by two special tow bars. The plane was delivered to KAFB from the Boeing plant. The plane was always used in the special weapons program, where it was flown to the test site in Nevada; it was not part of the Strategic Air Command, unlike most B52s.
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; the Museum’s plane may be one of two B-52B planes still in existence. 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.
“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.”
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, the Bomarc, Mace, Matador, and Snark cruise missiles will be moved; three planes have already moved in October 2008. There are also plans to relocate a MiG-21 from Tucson, Arizona, to the new site.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
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!
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!
Saturday, September 20, 2008
A Belated Update from volunteer Dick Perry
August 29th, 2008
"The road appears to be essentially complete. The equipment was being moved out this morning. The pads for three aircraft (B-52, B-29, F-105) are all poured. The B-52 and B-29 pads have the forms off and the excavations are backfilled. The F-105 is finished, but the supports for the pole and the top forms will not come off until next week. The forms for the A-7 are set, and the rebar appears ready to be installed. The fill on the bottom of the forms needs to be built up and compacted before the rebar goes in. You'll see from the photos that the concrete is set quite low in the ground for the F-105 and especially for the A-7. There is a "hill" in that area of the outdoor exhibit park that still needs to be leveled. When that is complete, the pads will be at the correct height relative to grade -- they promised! I have confidence. If the hill remains, we will likely have a pond on the south side of the building when we get a good rain.
For those who have not been to the site in the latter part of this week, I offer the attached photos. The windows are in except for the one closest to the entrance. Insulation is going up on the roof and walls, and it looks as if the first of the HVAC equipment in the ceiling is being installed in the entry area. There is plumbing appearing above the floor -- looks like the start of restroom drains.
The drains around the inlets have been excavated (adjacent to the settling pond, at least), and there are the beginnings of forms and rebar for the inlets along the road and in the staging area. Let's hope we don't get too much rain this weekend."
The photos referenced will be added to the photo page today, in addition to some great shots of the limo - now under restoration! More blogs to follow! check back!
"The road appears to be essentially complete. The equipment was being moved out this morning. The pads for three aircraft (B-52, B-29, F-105) are all poured. The B-52 and B-29 pads have the forms off and the excavations are backfilled. The F-105 is finished, but the supports for the pole and the top forms will not come off until next week. The forms for the A-7 are set, and the rebar appears ready to be installed. The fill on the bottom of the forms needs to be built up and compacted before the rebar goes in. You'll see from the photos that the concrete is set quite low in the ground for the F-105 and especially for the A-7. There is a "hill" in that area of the outdoor exhibit park that still needs to be leveled. When that is complete, the pads will be at the correct height relative to grade -- they promised! I have confidence. If the hill remains, we will likely have a pond on the south side of the building when we get a good rain.
For those who have not been to the site in the latter part of this week, I offer the attached photos. The windows are in except for the one closest to the entrance. Insulation is going up on the roof and walls, and it looks as if the first of the HVAC equipment in the ceiling is being installed in the entry area. There is plumbing appearing above the floor -- looks like the start of restroom drains.
The drains around the inlets have been excavated (adjacent to the settling pond, at least), and there are the beginnings of forms and rebar for the inlets along the road and in the staging area. Let's hope we don't get too much rain this weekend."
The photos referenced will be added to the photo page today, in addition to some great shots of the limo - now under restoration! More blogs to follow! check back!
Friday, August 15, 2008
Update on the Aircraft Move
from our friend Richard L. Perry, P.E.
Senior Manager, Corporate Engineering Practice
Sandia National Laboratories
Board member Jerry Adams will lead a team of volunteers over the coming weekend to start cleaning the B-29. We need to remove the rather massive amounts of pigeon remains from the aircraft in order to reduce the likelihood of corrosion and preserve the structural integrity of the airframes. After this weekend's activities, we will have a better idea of the extent of the cleaning required.
Worldwide Aircraft Recovery has returned to Nebraska to collect some required tools for the B-52 disassembly and move. They will return in a couple of weeks with towbars and additional trailers for the move.
This week NM Millwrights used the largest crane in New Mexico (100 ton capacity) to move the Atomic Cannon and Mk17 shape to make room for maneuvering the B-52 so that the wing can be removed. The center section of the Atomic Cannon weighs 110,000 pounds, and the Mk17 weighs 41,000 pounds.
Board President Chuck Loeber and Project Manager Harry Mumma report that the work to pour the concrete pads on the new museum site for the first aircraft displays (B-52, B-29, A-7, F-105) has begun. WWAR will fabricate the steel stands needed for the displays as part of their contract.
Senior Manager, Corporate Engineering Practice
Sandia National Laboratories
Board member Jerry Adams will lead a team of volunteers over the coming weekend to start cleaning the B-29. We need to remove the rather massive amounts of pigeon remains from the aircraft in order to reduce the likelihood of corrosion and preserve the structural integrity of the airframes. After this weekend's activities, we will have a better idea of the extent of the cleaning required.
Worldwide Aircraft Recovery has returned to Nebraska to collect some required tools for the B-52 disassembly and move. They will return in a couple of weeks with towbars and additional trailers for the move.
This week NM Millwrights used the largest crane in New Mexico (100 ton capacity) to move the Atomic Cannon and Mk17 shape to make room for maneuvering the B-52 so that the wing can be removed. The center section of the Atomic Cannon weighs 110,000 pounds, and the Mk17 weighs 41,000 pounds.
Board President Chuck Loeber and Project Manager Harry Mumma report that the work to pour the concrete pads on the new museum site for the first aircraft displays (B-52, B-29, A-7, F-105) has begun. WWAR will fabricate the steel stands needed for the displays as part of their contract.
Monday, August 11, 2008
First planes, no trains, now automobiles!
One of the new exhibits for the new museum will be a life size diorama of the Trinity Testing site, enclosed in the Manhattan Project exhibit. This exhibit will be packed with valuable information, but also filled with valuable artifacts! Two of those items are our Atomic Autos. We’ve been lucky to have come across two vehicles that were used by the US military in the 1940’s.
1941 Packard Clipper
Parked at the Trinity Testing Site in 1945.
“Ask the man who owns one”
This was the famous slogan that stood for one of the finest automobiles produced in America. It’s no wonder that a 1941 Packard Clipper, converted into a custom limo by Fitzjohn Coach Company, was chosen to transport Manhattan Project Scientists from the railway station in Lamy to Los Alamos. It also carried personnel to the Trinity base camp for the testing of the first atomic bomb. The car was donated to the Museum and requires extensive restoration.
Sitting on a flatbed in Albuquerque, NM. Waiting to be restored.
1942 Plymouth Special Deluxe
Plutonium being unloaded, on the Trinity Testing Site in 1945.
This is the type of vehicle utilized by the US military during the 1940’s. This particular model was the vehicle used to carry the plutonium core for the “device” – the first atomic bomb – to the Trinity site for the historic test that would change the world. This particular model was purchased by the museum to be restored to military function and look for this exhibit.
We were lucky enough to have this vehicle painted by Car Crafters here in Albuquerque, New Mexico - just in time for our annual fundraising event. It was towed to and from the event with the help of Macy's Towing. The annual Einstein Gala was a one of a kind event, partly due to the presence of this beautiful vehicle. All our donors, friends, and volunteers got the pleasure of a vintage photo opportunity with the Plymouth.
Fresh paint and on display with long time volunteer Dick Justus at the annual National Atomic Museum Einstein Gala fundraising event, March 2008.
More pictures of the Atomic Autos project can be found here.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
The most vital support beam in this whole project.
This weeks blog post is about our esteemed board president Chuck Loeber. Chuck has worked diligently on this project, but also spent many years working diligently in our field. Chuck is the author of Building the Bombs: A History of the Nuclear Weapons Complex. (which is available in the museum store)
About the Author:
"Charles Loeber worked as an engineer on the design and production of nuclear weapons for more than 40 years. He served in a variety of organizations, including the Department of the Army, the Department of Energy, and Sandia National Laboratories. Over time, his interest in the history of the Nuclear Weapons Complex grew into a hobby, and he became an authority on the subject."
This book is known as being one of the difinitive resources on the topic, being ordered and shipped every day from our store to buyers all over the world.
Take a moment to listen to this great radio interview he did. Scroll down or enter "loeber" in "find a page" to hear his spot on the show.
Resources like Chuck are one of the many reasons that this museum is truly a treasure. We are lucky to have experienced individuals with decades of knowledge as partners, docents, board members, and volunteers. We can't thank them enough, but hope to at least honor them by the creation of this new museum. It will be filled with information and knowledge of fields and topics that they themselves pioneered.
And don't forget to check out our photo page. This project is really moving - thanks to Chuck and his team!
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