Plane Was Moved Intact To The Prairie Aviation Museum

After a nearly two year delay due to construction of an interstate highway, state police and other authorities Sunday escorted an F-100 Super Sabre nearly 50 miles from Chanute Air Museum in Rantoul, IL to its new home at Prairie Aviation museum in Bloomington, IL.

F-100 Super Sabre File Photo

The early morning move was done with the airplane intact, which is unusual for such a transfer. The Pantagraph of Bloomington reports that the aircraft's 39 foot wingspan spread across the entire westbound lane of the town's Empire Street as it made its way to its new home.

The airplane was to have been returned to Wright Patterson Air Force Base as surplus, but a year and a half ago,when the Bloomington museum learned it was to be shipped out of state, it made the request for the transfer. Construction on I74 along the route between the two museums delayed the move by 18 months. "This is part of our nation's aviation history," John Ohler, restoration coordinator for the Bloomington museum told the Pantagraph. "We wanted to salvage it," he said. "If we hadn't found a home for it, it would have been scrapped."

F-100 Super Sabre File Photo

The F-100C Super Sabre was the first jet fighter to break the sound barrier in level flight. The F-100 series served in the U.S. Air Force and National Guard units from 1954 to their full retirement by 1979.

The Super Sabre was the widest load ever permitted for transport on Illinois roads, according to the DOT. It is now on permanent loan from the U.S. Air Force to the museum.

FMI: www.prairieaviationmuseum.org