LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
Langley's last F 100-100 engine was brought to the Virginia Air and Space Center June 27, where it will be put on display with other historical Air Force items.
Throughout the last year, Langley maintainers removed the old engines, which were used on F-15 Cs and Ds here for about 32 years, and replaced them with the newer F 100-220 engines.
The 71st Aircraft Maintenance Unit began installing the new F 100-220 engines last May and finished the installations in February of this year - three months ahead of schedule.
More than 30 engines were shipped to guard units and the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center, also known as "the Boneyard."
"We had one engine left that we polished up and contacted the Virginia Air and Space Center to see if they wanted to use it as a display," said Senior Master Sgt. Scott Cloutier, 1st Component Maintenance Squadron propulsion flight chief. "I'm pretty excited that we're able to loan it to them. I'd hate to see it go to the scrap yard."
Langley loaned the F 100-100 engine to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, which then loaned it to the Virginia Air and Space Center through a loan agreement. Air Force items must go through the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, to be loaned out to other museums.
"Loans from the National Museum of the Air Force are renewed annually, but they are, for all intents and purposes, permanent," said Mr. Allen Hoilman, Virginia Air and Space Center curator and director of exhibits and collections.
The engine, which will be on display with other Air Force exhibits, will help visitors understand the F-15.
"We preserve and we interpret. We not only care for things to make sure they live forever, we want to tell the stories," said Mr. Hoilman.
The Virginia Air and Space Center has other items on loan from the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, including an F-4, F-84, F-104, and F-16 fighter aircraft, as well as uniform items.
The Virginia Air and Space Center, which also serves as Langley's visitor center, has more than 400,000 visitors a year and provides a way for people to connect to the military.
"It is critical for us to give the public access (to military history) that maybe in a time of war is harder to get for security reasons, but mostly to give folks a way of connecting directly to service men and fighting forces that are out there doing their jobs," said Mr. Hoilman.