The new hangar at the National Museum of the US Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is set to open to the public June 8. The 224,000 square foot building—built with $40.8 million raised by the Air Force Museum Foundation—will display the VC-137C (SAM 26000) that flew John F. Kennedy’s body to Washington, D.C., the C-141C Hanoi Taxi, and the only remaining XB-70 Valkyrie, along with many other aircraft, vehicles, and artifacts, according to a May 17 release. Four galleries—presidential, research and development, space, and global reach—and three learning nodes will be housed in the building. A ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9:15 a.m. will kick off the opening, according to the release. Doors will open at 8:30 a.m., and the first 100 guest over the age of 16 will receive a $10 gift card that can be used at the museum. More activities are scheduled for the weekend of June 11-12.
The Senate Armed Services Committee this week released the full text of its version of the 2026 defense policy bill—often referred to as the National Defense Authorization Act—that would allow the Air Force and Space Force to spend billions of dollars more than the services had sought for next year.