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American Airpower Museum at Republic opens The American Airpower Museum at Republic has opened its hangar doors to the public, marking a return of operational aircraft not based at the airport in nearly sixty years, including one of the last flight-worthy P-47 Thunderbolts built by Republic Aviation during the height of World War II. The museum’s arrival at what has become Long Island’s strategically important corporate airport is made possible as a result of the support of New York Governor George Pataki, the New York State Department of Transportation, LI Jet and Republic Airport management team. Museum President Jeff Clyman stated "Republic is perhaps the last remaining spot in our nation’s aviation history where we can still fly from the same runways that turned back the most dangerous threat our nation has ever faced. While it is now a vital business airport for Long island corporations, there is still no more appropriate place than here to create a museum that allows these aviation legends to take to the air." In a prepared statement, Governor Pataki reaffirmed his support for the museum and its role in preserving our heritage. "These aircraft represent every American veteran in every conflict we have been forced to confront during the last century. These aircraft represent our sacrifice and our ingenuity. They represent our efforts to pay tribute to the past and our faith in the future. There is no better place than here to remind us of our commitment to freedom or Long Island’s role in creating the shield that preserved our nation in times of war." Through a strategic alliance with LI Jet, a fixed base operator (FBO) at the airport, the museum has moved into an historic hangar and former control tower that, once upon a time, directed flights of thousands of P-47 fighters fresh from the factory and headed for war. Their collection of operational aircraft include a B-17 in the markings of the Memphis Belle, a B-25 Mitchell bomber flown by the general of the Army Air Force Hap Arnold, a Grumman Avenger, F4U Corsair, P-40 Warhawk and a T-6 Texan. Visitors will also meet members of the 533rd Living History Squadron who will act as tour guides as they brief the public on the aircraft in the collection and the static displays that include bomber turrets, airplane cockpits and briefing rooms that recreate the environment of American bases in England during World War II. An historically important part of the museum’s aircraft collection is the Republic built Thunderbolt. With only one of half a dozen in the world still flying, the museum intends to return it to the air for "special operations" throughout the year. Honorary Museum Commander, Colonel Francis Gabreski, Ret., of Dix Hills, the nation’s highest ranking living ace, secured the vast majority of his aerial victories in a P-47 Thunderbolt. "We called her the Jug because she was big, tough and able to take a lot of abuse. It was called upon to attack the Nazi Luftwaffe when it was still an enormously powerful and dangerous adversary. With the Jug’s firepower and its extraordinary ability to dive, we confronted the very best of the enemy at the height of their power and fought them to a standstill." Gabreski notes that no other American fighter could take hits like the P-47 and still come home. "The only reason why I am alive today is because it was a solid, reliable design with a big radial out on its nose that could take a lot of punishment." Some 15,579 Thunderbolts were produced by Republic during the war years with some 9,000 at Farmingdale. Initially charged with protecting American bombers attacking the Third Reich they became especially adept at attacking tough ground targets including ammunition trains and Luftwaffe airfield. P-47’s flew more than 546,000 combat missions in Europe and the Pacific and destroyed 11,874 enemy aircraft. Only 0.7 of the Thunderbolts sent into combat fell to the enemy thanks, in part, to the enormously tough aeronautical structure built into the Thunderbolt at Republic. With a wing span of just over 40 feet and a length of 36 feet, they enjoy a maximum speed of 428 mph, a service ceiling of 42,000 feet and a range of 925 miles. During war operations they were armed with six .50 caliber Browning machine guns. The American Airpower Museum’s arrival at Republic was the direct result of a strategic alliance with Republic’s fixed base operator, LI Jet. Its president, Bill McShane, offered low cost space and logistics support in historic hangars on the north side of the field. McShane stated, "Long Island Jet believes in the future of Republic Airport and, in doing so, we believe that one way to do that is to celebrate its past. When this museum concept was first presented to us we recognized immediately its crucial importance to our clients, this airport and to the history of Long Island. Our involvement became nothing less than a moral imperative and so we have supported this effort in word and deed." The museum is open four days a week, Thursday through Sunday from 10:30 a.m. through 4 p.m. Flight operations will be posted on its web site and inside the museum. The facility is located in two historic buildings at Republic Airport alongside New Highway, south of Conklin Avenue. Displays are in the field’s former five-story control tower and a final assembly hangar, both of which were completed prior to 1943 and are now managed by LI Jet. Visitors may arrive at the museum from the Long Island Expressway by exiting south on Exit 49, Route 110. Following the LIRR trestle, make a left on Conklin Avenue, proceed to New Highway and turn right. Pass two hangars and make a right hand turn into museum parking. The museum entrance is the red door at the hangar marked American Airpower Museum. From the Southern State, travel north from the Route 110 exit, make a right at Conklin Avenue following the Home Depot retail complex and make another right at New Highway.
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