WOW! I never thought i'd see a video about this. I have a bunch of black and white still photo's that my Grandpa (E.O.) took of this event. One is of the XB-70 sitting on the bridge. My Grandpa watched that plane land one time. (I think when it first arrived for the old museum) He told my dad that it looked like it was going to crash. Photo's are from Huffman dam, Wright memorial and Springfield street. There is even a high resolution aerial photograph of the entire rout from the old museum to the current one. I would like to donate these to the museum in his name. Someone out there may have known him, he was known as E.O.
Amazing! I first visited the museum as a AFJROTC cadet in the early 70s at the current location, and have been back many times. I never got to see the old location at Patterson Field.
That XB-70 move must have caused a lot of heart palpitations!!! There was only one way and that was hauling down 4 to Harshman and past Eastwood Lake. HECK OF A JOB. I wish that a list of the workers doing this, was published somewhere so people could read and admire their work.
Love watching the movers , back when you ran across a problem, like the xb-82 wings hitting. They came up with a salutation and kept the move moving. . Boards in the grass, guys standing on 1 wing to raise the other wing over the rail. Couldn't do that today....
I was on a Navy ship during this move but remember Dad mentioning it. He was on the "Prep Crew". They clipped wings and vert. stabilizers for clearance, aired up tires so they'd roll better, secured loose parts and got ready for the move. It took them a couple weeks. i don't think the old B-36 with the Plexiglas viewing panels was moved. The main landing gear track was too wide to fit on the bridges and they had the current one already sitting at Wright Field. Heard the one on the old museum lot went to Walter Soplata's collection in northern Ohio. Also, the XB-52 and YB-52 that had been stored on the old museum lot didn't make the move. These 2 planes that were the USAF's first jet-powered heavy bombers would have been great additions to the new museum. Unfortunately, they were unceremoniously burned up as fire fighting props at Patterson Field in the mid-60s. This was during the era of Ladybird Johnson's "beautification" program to rid the countryside of billboards and old airplanes. Too bad at least one wasn't saved, had the wings and stabs. removed and towed to the new museum. How did they get the planes from the old museum site to Rt 444? Did they go down Main and Broad streets in Fairborn or did they travel through the base until they got to Area A where they could access Rt 444?
XB-70 at 13:10 -- just wow!
Moving that F-89 with the missles still mounted on the wings is an elite move. Love this video!
Thanks, from Thailand.
my favorite r B-58 n XB-70.
WOW! I never thought i'd see a video about this. I have a bunch of black and white still photo's that my Grandpa (E.O.) took of this event. One is of the XB-70 sitting on the bridge. My Grandpa watched that plane land one time. (I think when it first arrived for the old museum) He told my dad that it looked like it was going to crash. Photo's are from Huffman dam, Wright memorial and Springfield street. There is even a high resolution aerial photograph of the entire rout from the old museum to the current one. I would like to donate these to the museum in his name. Someone out there may have known him, he was known as E.O.
... Thank You So Very Much, for the incredible memories !!!
Amazing! I first visited the museum as a AFJROTC cadet in the early 70s at the current location, and have been back many times. I never got to see the old location at Patterson Field.
Thanks for sharing this! Happy anniversary!
That XB-70 move must have caused a lot of heart palpitations!!! There was only one way and that was hauling down 4 to Harshman and past Eastwood Lake. HECK OF A JOB. I wish that a list of the workers doing this, was published somewhere so people could read and admire their work.
Man that would be so cool to see in person.
Love watching the movers , back when you ran across a problem, like the xb-82 wings hitting. They came up with a salutation and kept the move moving. . Boards in the grass, guys standing on 1 wing to raise the other wing over the rail. Couldn't do that today....
The Cowtown Hustler looks great from any angle!!!
That was awesome.
My mom tells me stores of her and my dad watching these planes being pulled to the museum when he served at wright Patterson at that time. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
I’m remember this, think the biggest problem was moving aircraft like the XB-70 and the B-36
Great video. I can barely remember the museum they were at before the move....
I was on a Navy ship during this move but remember Dad mentioning it. He was on the "Prep Crew". They clipped wings and vert. stabilizers for clearance, aired up tires so they'd roll better, secured loose parts and got ready for the move. It took them a couple weeks.
i don't think the old B-36 with the Plexiglas viewing panels was moved. The main landing gear track was too wide to fit on the bridges and they had the current one already sitting at Wright Field. Heard the one on the old museum lot went to Walter Soplata's collection in northern Ohio.
Also, the XB-52 and YB-52 that had been stored on the old museum lot didn't make the move. These 2 planes that were the USAF's first jet-powered heavy bombers would have been great additions to the new museum. Unfortunately, they were unceremoniously burned up as fire fighting props at Patterson Field in the mid-60s. This was during the era of Ladybird Johnson's "beautification" program to rid the countryside of billboards and old airplanes. Too bad at least one wasn't saved, had the wings and stabs. removed and towed to the new museum.
How did they get the planes from the old museum site to Rt 444? Did they go down Main and Broad streets in Fairborn or did they travel through the base until they got to Area A where they could access Rt 444?
Thank you for all that detail, pretty amazing aircraft move!!! Thank you so very much for your service in the Navy Dave!!!
My Grandparents remember the roads being closed for this, this was so epic
This would`ve been a hell of a thing to watch. Looked like the XB-70 gave them a little trouble. That area sure has changed.
Oh look dear, a B58 Hustler. That’s nice honey, don’t miss our turn off.
😆😆😆
Never expected to see an XB-70 being moved like that! Or a Hustler, for that matter.
Amazing, the amount of planning required to pull that off.
The pet skunk was totally unexpected! 😆
Wasn't the B-70 still active duty and complete? Could of flown it to the new museum location.
Wow,Very Impressive !