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Foundation Donor Provides New Tires For Museum Aircraft
Chris Hauff Sep 22, 2020A donation to the USS Yorktown Foundation is funding the replacement of 72 tires on 22 different aircraft at Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum. The $65,000 project also includes structures that will be built to support the planes and helicopters so that their full
Many of the planes had tires that date back to their arrival in the 1970s.
weight will not rest on the new tires.
Among the aircraft getting new tires are the museum’s F6F Hellcat, F4F Wildcat, F4U Corsair, SBD Dauntless, F-14 Tomcat, and CH-46. The tires that are being replaced have been on the planes and helicopters since their arrival at the museum, many date back to 1976 when Patriots Point first opened to the public.
The Hellcat is among the list of planes getting new tires thanks to the donation.
“Having new and inflated tires on these historic aircraft will do even more to bring them to life,” said Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum Executive Director Larry Murray. “We couldn’t be more thankful for the continued support of the USS Yorktown Foundation and its donors, especially during the current pandemic. Projects like these make an immediate difference to the visitor experience.”
The tires were purchased through Beck Tire International. The company spent the last few months locating proper tires for each aircraft across the entire country. The installation will last a least two months.
“The USS Yorktown Foundation supports the Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum by raising money for special projects, exhibit enhancements, and education,” said Foundation Chairman Chauncey Clark. “Thanks to a donor with a passion for aircraft, we are able to come in and really make a visible impact by replacing these tires. We hope this project may encourage others to support the museum.”