On Friday, the Lyon Air Museum at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, Calif., officially opens its doors to the public. The Orange County Register reported Tuesday that homebuilding magnate William Lyon, created the 30,000-square-foot, hangar-enclosed gallery initially to house his private aviation collection. The museum currently has five vintage military aircraft: an A-26, a B-17, B-25, C-47, and DC-3. According to the Register, this B-17 carried future president and then-Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower. The museum also houses vintage military vehicles and automobiles. (Lyon Air Museum Web site)
Every year, Congress and the military debate which combat assets should head to the boneyard and which have more life left in them. Lawmakers often opt to keep Air Force systems that bring jobs to their districts, which complicates matters as the service looks to modernize and ditch certain platforms.…