Air Force Museum to open fourth building

The $40.8-million, 224,000-square-foot building will have four galleries—presidential, research and development, space, and global reach—with three science, technology, engineering, and mathematics learning facilities.

The fourth building will house the VC-137C Air Force One (SAM 26000), used by eight presidents; the only remaining North American XB-70 Valkyrie strategic bomber; the Lockheed C-141C Starlifter Hanoi Taxi, which airlifted the first U.S. prisoners of war from North Vietnam in 1973; and the 96-ton Titan IVB space launch vehicle.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be at 9:15 a.m. Doors open at 8:30 a.m., and the first 100 persons to enter will receive a $10 Air Force Museum Foundation gift card.

A special weekend of family activities will take place June 11 through 12, including educational demonstrations, performances by the U.S. Air Force Band of Flight, and interactive displays.

The museum is located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio. Admission and parking are free. For more information, see the website.