AFA Chapter Sponsors Heritage Event for Hanscom AFB Community

AFA’s Paul Revere Chapter #178 in Massachusetts sponsored a heritage visit to the New England Air Museum on March 21, 2026, bringing together 27 members of the Hanscom Air Force Base community for a day of connection, learning, and reflection.

The group included active-duty Airmen, government civilians, retirees, and mission-support teammates from across Hanscom. The chapter funded transportation and admission to make the opportunity accessible, with a focus on engaging junior personnel and strengthening connection to the legacy of airpower.

Upon arrival, participants were welcomed by museum staff and volunteer guides—many of them retired military aviators and maintainers—who led small-group tours through the museum’s extensive collection. The visit included access to aircraft and areas not typically open to the public, including storage and restoration hangars.

A highlight of the day was the opportunity to climb into the cockpit of the B-29 Superfortress “Jack’s Hack.” For many attendees, it was a rare chance to experience firsthand the scale and complexity of one of the most iconic aircraft in U.S. Air Force history.

Equally impactful were the stories shared by the volunteer guides. One guide, a retired pilot who flew both the F-100 Super Sabre in Vietnam and the A-10 in Operation Desert Storm, offered personal accounts that spanned decades of Air Force history—from Cold War nuclear alert missions to combat operations. These perspectives provided a direct and meaningful link between the aircraft on display and the Airmen who operated them.

Beyond the guided portion of the visit, attendees had time to explore the museum’s exhibits independently, reinforcing the breadth of innovation and sacrifice that has shaped American airpower.

At the conclusion of the visit, the Paul Revere Chapter presented a $1,000 donation to support the museum’s aerospace history and STEM education programs, which serve thousands of students, families, and visitors each year throughout New England.

This event reflects the chapter’s continued commitment to AFA’s mission of educating the public, advocating for air and space power, and supporting the Air and Space Force community. By creating opportunities for Airmen and civilians to engage directly with the history behind the missions they support, the chapter helps strengthen both professional identity and appreciation for the legacy of those who served before.