It's an historic day at Willow Run Airporton two fronts Thursday. The airport is re-dedicating it's re-built runway 5R/23L, and the Yankee Air Museum is closing on its purchase of a section of the former bomber plant for its new home.
Yankee Air Museum Executive Director Kevin Walsh says the re-opening of the runway will mark the first new runway at Willow Run since the airport was built.
Add to that a milestone in the history of the museum, and you've got a couple of good reasons to celebrate.
"We are officially signing the documentation to make the portion of the bomber plant we were able to preserve ours, and part of the museum," Walsh says. "So it's a piece of history being saved, and history being made."
The first plane to take off using the re-constructed runway will be the Yankee Air Museum's B-17 bomber, the Yankee Lady.
In addition to closing on the bomber plant purchase, the museum plans to announce the new name it has chosen to carry it into the future.
The events are not open to the public, but WEMU's Bob Eccles will be there, and you'll hear his reports Thursday afternoon during All Things Considered.