Illinois Air Museum Plans to Close Over Finances

RANTOUL, Ill. (AP) — An eastern Illinois museum that catalogues the history of a long-closed Air Force base and houses dozens of planes plans to close at the end of the year.

Nancy Kobel is the president of the Chanute Air Museum board. She told The News-Gazette in Champaign that the museum on the former Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul can’t afford to stay open. Rantoul is about 15 miles north of Champaign.

The museum has been open since 1994. It has been getting financial help from the Village of Rantoul.

Rantoul officials say the town can no longer afford the bills.

Curator Mark Hanson says the 30 military planes at the museum are on loan from the federal government. He said the military will try to find them new homes.

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