Trans_23
June 28th, 2009, 16:49
I posted this over at the Transload forum and thought some of you might be interested here.
Last weekend I went to the shuttered Chanute AFB in Rantoul, Illinois. They have an air museum there and I took a few pictures of some of the wide range of aircraft they had on display. Most of aircraft were in pretty bad shape as they have been sitting outside for many years. Most of the aircraft were used for non-flying training well before the base closed in 1993. Other planes, like a P-51 and F-15 were being restored. There were many planes displayed in an old hanger and most of them were in better shape. It is obvious the museum runs on a shoe string budget as you could see water spots on the carpet and buckets placed strategically around the building. Non the less, it was very interesting and informative. They also have a section of the museum that just delt with the history of the Rantoul area. Many old artifacts like old wooden telephones and clothing, etc. I got in for the retired serviceman rate of eight dollars so it was definately worth it.
Chanute AFB opened in 1917 during WWI where they trained pilots to fly Curtiss Jennys. The base closed in 1993. For more information on the base just Google "Chanute AFB" and there will be many links from which to choose from. The Museum I went to was housed in Grissom Hall and is called the Octave Chanute Aerospace Museum.
Here (http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/Trans_23/Chanute%20AFB/?albumview=slideshow) is a link to my pictures on Photobucket.com.
Here (http://www.aeromuseum.org/index.html) is a link for the museums website including pictures of all their aircraft
Last weekend I went to the shuttered Chanute AFB in Rantoul, Illinois. They have an air museum there and I took a few pictures of some of the wide range of aircraft they had on display. Most of aircraft were in pretty bad shape as they have been sitting outside for many years. Most of the aircraft were used for non-flying training well before the base closed in 1993. Other planes, like a P-51 and F-15 were being restored. There were many planes displayed in an old hanger and most of them were in better shape. It is obvious the museum runs on a shoe string budget as you could see water spots on the carpet and buckets placed strategically around the building. Non the less, it was very interesting and informative. They also have a section of the museum that just delt with the history of the Rantoul area. Many old artifacts like old wooden telephones and clothing, etc. I got in for the retired serviceman rate of eight dollars so it was definately worth it.
Chanute AFB opened in 1917 during WWI where they trained pilots to fly Curtiss Jennys. The base closed in 1993. For more information on the base just Google "Chanute AFB" and there will be many links from which to choose from. The Museum I went to was housed in Grissom Hall and is called the Octave Chanute Aerospace Museum.
Here (http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/Trans_23/Chanute%20AFB/?albumview=slideshow) is a link to my pictures on Photobucket.com.
Here (http://www.aeromuseum.org/index.html) is a link for the museums website including pictures of all their aircraft