Belleville News-Democrat

Sat, Jun. 14, 2008

$1.5 million air park under way at Scott AFB; money still being raised to pay for it

BY JENNIFER A. BOWEN

News-Democrat

The first shovelfuls of dirt were turned Friday morning to begin the $1.5 million Scott Field Heritage Air Park project outside the Shiloh Gate at Scott Air Force Base.

"It started out as little more than a plan on the back of a cocktail napkin," said retired Col. Larry Strube, president of the Scott Field Heritage Air Park Committee. "This has been a journey since 1993 when the Air Force had an idea to put some airplanes on display here at the base. That idea has kind of ebbed and flowed over the years and we're now at the point where we can actually put a shovel in the ground and start on this project."

The air park will cover an 11-acre field on the public side of the fence near Scott Air Force Base. The site of the air park is just north of Siebert Road at the main entrance to Scott Air Force Base. The park will be open 24 hours a day and be open to the public. The land is owned by St. Clair County.

The park will feature static displays of aircraft used by the Air Force, including a C-9 Nightingale, C-140 Jetstar, C-141 Starlifter, KC-135 Stratotanker and a C-130 Hercules.

The Nightingale, Jetstar and Stratotanker are being flown or had at one time been flown by personnel at Scott. The Hercules and Starlifter were never flown by personnel at Scott but were considered an essential part of the air mobility mission of the Air Force.

One of the shovels used to ceremoniously start the construction phase of the project had been used at the groundbreaking of the Berlin Air Memorial in Berlin, Germany. Scott Air Force Base and the Air Force played a large role in the Berlin Airlift following World War II when Soviets cut off access to Berlin.

"We could not do the things we do every day at the base without the community support we get here," said Col. Alan L. Hunt Jr., commander of the 375th Airlift Wing. "It's the backbone of why we do what we can do. This is a historic day and it's a long time in the making."

So far more than $300,000 has been raised by the committee for the $1.5 million project.

"We are still in the process of raising money," Strube said. "We look forward to putting this air park together and hope to have some planes out here in time for the air show on Sept. 20."

The air park committee will be responsible for the initial restoration of the planes. Estimates are that restoring the aircraft to display quality, which includes painting, bird-proofing and ultra-violet protection, could range from $30,000 to $200,000 per plane. All of the aircraft in the air park remain the property of the National Museum of the Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.

For more information about the Air Park or to learn how to donate to the construction, visit www.scottfieldairpark.org.

Contact reporter Jennifer A. Bowen at jbowen@bnd.com or 239-2667.

Become an Initial Founding Member of the Scott Field Heritage Air Park!

Every initial founding member donation is essential to the completion of the Air Park. With each initial founding member donation to the Scott Field Heritage Air Park the members name will permanently recognized on a plaque that will be on display at the Air Park showing their outstanding support.

If you are looking for a unique and lasting retirement, promotion, birthday or gift for some other occasion, you can make a founding member donation in their name and have their names permanently displayed at the Air Park. In addition, the Scott Field Heritage Air Park is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, so all donations are tax deductible.

Although donations are accepted any time, the initial founding member donations will only be accepted until the ribbon cutting ceremony, so don't miss out on this rare chance to be permanently recognized for your support!