Tour - The Willow Run Bomber Plant

AIA Huron Valley is pleased to host a tour on Thursday June 14th of the historic Willow Run Bomber Plant that will be the new home of the Yankee Air Museum. Dennis Norton, founder of the Yankee Air Museum, will host the tour. 

Location: Start at the Yankee Air Museum at 4 PM, on D Street, off Beck Road, East Side of Willow Run.  We will spend 30 minutes touring the museum, then caravan over to the west side of the airport where we will spend 30-45 minutes touring the 145,000 SF of the Willow Run Bomber Plant, and then can walk over to the hangar to see the B-17, B-25, and C-47 historic aircraft that are still flying. 

Parking: At Yankee Air Museum

PPE and Other Gear Required: No special gear required

Continuing Education: This tour will be accredited for 1.5 LU/HSW continuing education credit. Course No. AIAHVCE105

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss the history of Ford's Willow Run plant, the heart of the Arsenal of the Democracy, which turned out 8685 planes within a mile long assembly line of 4.2 million SF, designed by Albert Kahn in 1941.

• Tour the structure with Dennis Norton, who founded the Yankee Air Museum in 1981 and has led the efforts to establish and fundraise for the museum, most recently to spare the bomber plant from total demolition. The museum was destroyed by a fire in 2004 that destroyed one hangar and many documents and artifacts.

• Review the structural analysis done for the salvaging of the Roll Out Hangar portion of the factory when this portion was left with 2-1/2 walls after the north and west sides were demolished.  Discuss the salvaging of the mezzanine area with second and third floors for use for offices and viewing the future museum below.

• Review the preservation/restoration in progress:  power washing, closing the open roof hatch, steel reinforcement of the open walls, structural analysis of the condition of the steel itself, enclosing of the structure, and plans underway for future use as the Yankee Air Museum.

Cost: FREE for AIAHV Members, Associate Members and Students, $25 for Non-Members

Questions? Contact: Theresa Angelini, tangelini@angeliniarchitects.com

Please register soon as spaces are limited!