Rodney Dangerfield coined the phrase, “ I can’t get no respect.” I find that the AMC Museum at Dover AFB seems to fall into that same category.
Many of falsely assume that the museum is government funded. This is true only fractionally.
The government obviously supplies the aircraft. When they need maintenance (as they always do as they sit out in the elements), some parts can be acquired through military and the National Museum of the US Air Force.
Still, these are vintage aircraft and many supplies are not available. The AMC Museum Foundation was set up as a 501{c)3 non-profit to fill this void. It has no affiliation with the military and raises private funds for the incidentals needed by the museum when no other means is available. Often, the foundation contracts private companies to manufacture unique parts such as a bubble observation window for a KB-50 tanker.
Currently the museum has been offered the rare chance of getting one of the “Air Force Two” aircraft. The only stipulation is that the museum must have a hanger big enough to enclose this national treasure. The government is not going to fund such a venture and the Museum Foundation is in the process of acquiring those funds through gifts, grants, and donations. The construction of a modern facility containing conference rooms, theater, banquet halls and classrooms will take millions of dollars that must be raised by the foundation.
So you can imagine my shock on Feb. 10 to see that the Delaware Department of Tourism decided that the Dover Motor Speedway, a private, for-profit venue would be given $1 million to pay for their maintenance of a racetrack that’s used only once a year. On Feb. 11, insult was added to injury as the Department of Tourism then presented $4.1 million to DE Turf, for a domed stadium. DE Turf is another private for-profit entity. Over 5 million dollars to private groups who charge entry.
The AMC Museum is a non-profit museum. It is one of a very few museums who not only do not charge an admission fee, it has unpaid, volunteer tour guides to accompany small families up to and including tour buses around the museum grounds. Even the parking is at no cost to visitors. It’s just bothersome that the state Department of Tourism didn’t deem it fit to share their largess
George Roof
Member, Air Mobility Command Foundation Board of Directors
