WAPAKONETA — A local museum celebrated the impressive legacy of the first man on the Moon with a new addition to their collection.
This year, being Neil Armstrong’s ninetieth birthday, the Armstrong Air & Space Museum in Wapakoneta will unveil their newest donated artifact, a Learjet 28 Longhorn which Armstrong set five world records in on its debut flights in 1979.
For years, the Armstrong Air & Space Museum in Wapakoneta has commemorated Aug. 5 as a day to give back to the community and to further educate the public on the importance of aviation and space travel.
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The Learjet 28 flew its final adventure from Allentown, Pennsylvania to Neil Armstrong Airport in New Knoxville, Ohio. The plane flew over the museum at approximately 10:00 a.m. for guests of the museum to watch and take pictures.
To further honor the arrival of the Learjet 28, the museum is taking 28% off Wednesday’s admission.
“This Learjet represents a piece of Armstrong’s history that is seldom talked about or mentioned,” says Museum Executive Director Dante Centuori.
“With this addition to the museum, our organization can finally complete the narrative of Neil Armstrong and his life-long fascination with aviation,” he added.
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For the jet’s concluding flight before officially being retired, it was flown by another Ohio astronaut, (Colonel USAF, RET.) Greg H. Johnson, who flew on Shuttle Missions STS-123 and STS-134. Johnson co-piloted the Learjet from its location in Pennsylvania to Neil Armstrong Airport.
Johnson has often cited Armstrong as a personal hero of his and was honored by the idea of being a part of this historic event.
Exhibit Specialist Logan Rex said, “After becoming the first man on the Moon in 1969, Armstrong lived another forty years and many guests of the museum are curious as to how he lived them. This aircraft can fill in some of those questions and show that, while he did retire from NASA quite early, by no means did he retire from the skies.”
After the jet is added into the collection and funds are raised for the construction of a permanent display, the plane will be moved onto the grounds of the museum for public display.
For more information on the events surrounding the museum on Armstrong’s birthday, please contact the museum at (419)-738-8811.