Kansas Aviation Museum Damaged by Weekend Storms

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The Kansas Aviation Museum in Wichita is closed this week to clean up from damage it sustained during the weekend storms.

Museum director Lon Smith estimated the museum suffered between $100,000 and $150,000 in damage. But he says the main building was not seriously damaged.

The Wichita Eagle reports the copper roof on the control tower flew off and gouged the membrane on the museum building. Fencing and air conditioning units also were damaged.

Four of the museum’s 20 planes were damaged, with a Cessna 02B from the Vietnam era completely destroyed. Some planes were blown on top of each other when cables that held them down snapped.

The Kansas Aviation Museum opened in April 1991 at the former Wichita Municipal Airport.

Officials in Wichita have announced plans for helping residents dispose of tornado debris.

The EF3 tornado slammed the southeastern side of Wichita with winds of 136 to 165 mph, uprooting trees and damaging or destroying 100 homes in a mobile home park.

The city says people living in directly affected neighborhoods can leave tree limbs and brush at the curb for collection in coming days.

Four sites have also been designated for debris disposal — Brooks Landfill, CDR Landfill and two waste transfer stations. Regular disposal fees will apply to property owners.