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National Museum of the United States Air Force

Air Force Museum Expands Virtual Experiences

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Being temporarily closed as a public health precaution in relation to COVID-19 (Coronavirus) has not stopped the National Museum of the United States Air Force from sharing the Air Force story with online visitors from around the world.

In addition to continuing its heritage stewardship duties, the museum has also expanded its digital museum experience through the virtual tour. The virtual tour allows visitors to take a 360-degree, self-guided tour of the entire museum by navigating from gallery to gallery either by using a drop-down map or by following navigational arrows connecting the individual nodes. Icons indicate hotspots where the visitor can get additional information such as videos, audio and links to online resources.

Now visitors who are taking the virtual tour can also access online educational activities such as lesson plans, word searches, coloring sheets and other items that can be done at home, along with new videos including first-hand accounts from veterans who served on missions from several different eras. The virtual tour also has virtual reality capabilities (using Google Headsets) and social applications such as the snapshot tool (camera icon) which allows you to screen grab the location you’re at and post to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media sites.

All of these online tools and applications are free and available to the public.

According to National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Digital Curator Bryan Carnes, the virtual tour is not only a great way to learn more about the Air Force and all that the museum has to offer, but also serves as a gateway to many of the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) applications that are available on the museum’s website as well.

“Our virtual tour has always been a great tool for planning a future visit to the museum, but it also offers so much more that those of all ages can access from the comfort of their homes,” said Carnes. “From 360-degree gallery tours, educational content, virtual reality and STEM applications, and social media connections, you can access it all 24 hours a day from the museum’s virtual tour.”

To access the museum’s virtual tour, visit: www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Virtual-Tour/.

National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Hosts Family Day and Makes Air Show Parking Easier

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Whirlybirds

Family Day: Whirlybirds

June 21

10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Celebrate the anniversary of the first flight of the world’s first practical helicopter by learning about the aircraft that can go backwards, forwards, spin and even hover in place during Family Day from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. on June 21at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. Visit http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123413234 for more information.

Dayton Air Show park and ride

June 28-29

Those who want to take an easy route to the Vectren Dayton Air Show may park and ride from the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. RTA shuttle buses will run to and from the museum, dropping off riders at the air show main gate from 7 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. on June 28-29. Visit http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123414168 for more information.

Connect with the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force! Visit our Virtual Tour, become a fan of the museum on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or receive the latest news by subscribing to an RSS feed.

Out Of This World Activities Await At Space Fest

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space-fest-web You never know what you may come across in the galleries at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force! Out-of-this-world activities – and perhaps even some “extra-terrestrials” – await visitors to the museum during Space Fest on May 16-17 when the museum and more than 20 other participating organizations offer a multitude of space-related activities for visitors of all ages. All activities are free, unless otherwise noted.

The event begins Friday, May 16 with a special showing of the film Gravity (in 3D) at 7 p.m. at the Air Force Museum Theatre. Former Astronaut and retired Air Force Colonel Gregory H. Johnson will introduce the show and answer questions immediately following. The theatre will charge a reduced price of $4 per person, and tickets may be purchased at www.afmuseum.com/attractions/reservations.

During another unique experience on Friday, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Force Support Fitness is hosting the 5K Fun Run: Glow in the Dark Edition on the runway behind the museum. A 1-mile kids’ race begins at 8 p.m., and then at 8:30 p.m. 5K participants can run or walk through a scale version of the solar system. The pre-registration entry fee is $25 and includes a t-shirt. Race day registration is $30, but a t-shirt is not guaranteed. Registration forms for both races are available athttps://endurancecui.active.com/event-reg/select-race?e=8136253.

Finally, a free star-gaze with telescopes will take place at 9:30 p.m. Friday near the museum’s Memorial Park. Miami Valley Astronomical Society members will set up telescopes and be available for questions and answers.

On Saturday, May 17, visitors will find a variety of free, interactive and fun space-themed activities for all ages, including special appearances by astronauts, a chance to see the museum’s new Space Shuttle Exhibit, space shuttle computer simulators, model rocket building and launching, a 35-foot tall inflatable space shuttle model, indoor planetarium, solar viewing, “Picture Yourself in Space” photo booth, a space pop culture collection, 3D printer, and even special costumed characters.

Visitors can listen to presentations by current Astronaut and Army Colonel Douglas H. Wheelock, who spent nearly six months on the International Space Station in 2010, and former Astronaut Dr. Donald A. Thomas, a veteran of four space flights during the 1990s with more than 1,040 hours in space. The two will sign autographs at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Space Shuttle Exhibit. Then, Wheelock will speak at 1 p.m. and Thomas at 3 p.m. in the museum’s Carney Auditorium.

In addition, Dr. Doug Lantry, museum curator and Space Shuttle Exhibit project manager, will talk about space suits at 2 p.m. in the STEM Learning Node, located adjacent to the Space Shuttle Exhibit.

Popular space-themed music will echo through the museum galleries as two area groups perform space-related musical numbers to entertain visitors. The Troy Tones Show Choir will perform at 10 a.m. near the Space Shuttle Exhibit. At noon, the U.S. Air Force Band of Flight’s Wright Brass ensemble will play in the museum’s second building.

The first space trivia contest will be held at 10:30 a.m. in the STEM Learning Node. This contest will take place 130529-F-DW547-005prior to the Dayton Challenger Learning Center’s presentation of one of “Christa’s Lost Lessons,” which are based on the lessons NASA Teacher in Space Christa McAuliffe was developing at the time of the Challenger disaster. Additional trivia contests will take place at 12:30 p.m. and at 2:30 p.m., before the astronaut presentations in Carney Auditorium. All three trivia contests are open to visitors of all ages, and prizes will be awarded.

Younger visitors will have fun on the inflatable Space Shuttle Slide and Space Camp Bounce House, which will be set-up in front of the museum (weather permitting). Children will also enjoy storytime, offered by the Greene County Public Library from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and face painting from noon-2 p.m.

The museum is partnering with more than 20 other organizations to provide activities throughout the day, including the Air Force Research Laboratory, AIAA Dayton-Cincinnati Section, Air Force Institute of Technology, Air Force Museum Foundation, Armstrong Air & Space Museum, Cincinnati Museum Center, Cincinnati Observatory, Columbus School of Model Rocketry, Dayton Challenger Learning Center, Engineers Club of Dayton, Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, Greene County Public Library, KinderCare, Mars Society – Ohio Chapter, Miami Valley Astronomical Society, NASA Glenn Research Center, National Aviation Hall of Fame, R2-D2 Club, SWFTEC, Team Ohio Rocketry Club and WPAFB Force Support Fitness.

In addition, the Air Force Museum Theatre will show Hidden Universe at noon and 2 p.m. Saturday as part of its normal schedule. Reduced rates of $6 will be offered for those showings of Hidden Universe. The interactive flight simulators and Morphis Movie Ride Simulator will be open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. A reduced rate of $3 will be offered on the Morphis ride, and visitors can request the spacewalk ride.

The Valkyrie Café, Refueling Café and an outdoor grill will have food available for purchase, and the museum store will be selling event t-shirts in addition to their aviation- and space-related items.

More information about the event, including a complete schedule, is available on the museum’s website,www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/spacefest.asp.

The National Museum of the United States Air Force is located on Springfield Street, six miles northeast of downtown Dayton. It is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day). Admission and parking are free. For more information about the museum, visit www.nationalmuseum.af.mil.

This article by by Sarah Swan
National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

24 Hour Sale Kicks Off Registration for Air Force Marathon

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The_Latest_InformationMake your New Year’s Resolution and save some money by registering for the 2013 Air Force Marathon on January 1.  New Year’s Resolution discounts are valid only for 24 hours on January 1.

The 2013 Air Force Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K will be held on September 21, 2013.  The Start and Finish Lines are at the National Museum of the United States Air force, 1100 Spaatz Street, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433. Start Time is 7:25 a.m. for the Wheeled Division Race and 7:30 a.m. for the Full Marathon and10K. The Half Marathon‘s start time is 8:30 a.m.

The 5K Race hosted by Wright State University is held on September 20, 2013.  The Start and Finish line are at Wright State University’s Nutter Center, 3640 Colonel Glenn Highway, Dayton, Ohio 45435.

Registration for the 2013 Air Force Marathon will open on January 1, 2013. Runners who register on January 1 get a $10 NMUSAFdiscount off the full and half or $5 if they register for the 10K and 5K. Prices will go back up on the next day. Check their  site for more information and details on registration. Click here for prices!

All runners will be required to pick up their bib, T-shirt, and goodie bag at the Sports & Fitness Expo at Wright State University’s Nutter Center on Thursday, September 19, or on Friday, September 20.

Race set for Saturday, September 21, 2013

The 2013 Air Force Marathon is set for the third Saturday in September. Find more information about the races on our FAQ page. We sold out in the beginning of May in 2012, so sign up early before you miss out on one of the best races in Ohio!

New in 2013: Course has changed!

The race team is  very excited to début a new course in 2013! They’ll  still keep some of the favorite features from past courses, including the spectacular finish line experience at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.

The C-130J Super Hercules will be our featured aircraft in 2013. The C-130J is a transport plane from the Hercules family, which has the longest continuous production run of any aircraft.