During AirVenture 2013 the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) announced eight final locations under consideration for the home of the new CAF National Airbase. The search for a new headquarters began in May of 2013 with more than 25 interested and viable locations. After careful consideration of each potential location, the CAF Board of Directors has narrowed the list to (alphabetical by airport):
· Alliance Airport, Ft. Worth, Texas
· Collin County Airport, McKinney, Texas (Dallas Metropolitan)
· Dallas Executive Airport, Dallas, Texas
· Ellington Field Airport, Houston, Texas
· Lackland/Kelly Airport, San Antonio, Texas
· New Century Airport, Kansas City/Olathe, Kansas
· North Texas Regional Airport, Sherman/Dennison, Texas (Dallas Metropolitan)
·
Smyrna/Rutherford County Airport, Smyrna, Tennessee (Nashville
Metropolitan)
"Each of these eight locations has the potential to help propel the Commemorative Air Force to a higher plane of awareness and national impact," said CAF President/CEO Stephan C. Brown. "Our mission is Education - such that Americans will value and support the contributions of military aviation in assuring our nation's freedom. In order to reach and impact the largest audience possible, the CAF is in need of a strong location that offers a significant permanent population as well as a thriving tourism opportunity."
The CAF National Airbase facility will feature a year-round aviation attraction, house Headquarters staff and member-volunteers who will organize and execute an annual warbird Airshow and fly-in, and be a base of operations for some of the CAF's most significant flying vintage military aircraft. But according to Midland news reports, the CAF Airpower Museum's Board members say the museum will stay and undergo improvements.
-FiFi with GunFighter, image Scott Slocum-
Over the next few months, the CAF Board of Directors will conduct an extensive investigation, proposal and negotiation process to further narrow the potential sites and ultimately select a new location."
At the CAF Annual General Membership Meeting in October 2013, the CAF membership will vote to give the CAF Board of Directors the authority to select the location of the National Airbase from the list of finalists. While the members will not directly vote to select the final location, CAF members will authorize their member-elected board of directors to make the best decision for the future of the CAF. The formal voting process will require three-fourths approval of the voting membership. At the conclusion of an externally-audited vote, the CAF Board of Directors will begin the next stage of the selection process.
-B-25 Devil Dog, Scott Slocum image-
Brown said the CAF Board of Directors envisions this new National Airbase as the pinnacle of the organization's 60 existing facilities currently spread over 28 states and maintained by the CAF's 10,000 member-volunteers.
"The CAF National Airbase will house and serve as a stage to share a rotating group of the most significant military aviation assets in history," Brown concluded."For more than 55 years we have been restoring, maintaining and operating the world's largest fleet of flying vintage military aircraft and we expect this Airbase to become a premier destination for the chosen host city."
For more information, visit www.commemorativeairforce.org or call (432) 563-1000.