Historic day at Air Force base

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - History is made as NASA's Super Guppy lands at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Wednesday.  The massive aircraft was carrying the first crew compartment trainer or CCT-1.

"CCT-1 is where the rubber meets the road.  It's where the astronauts go in and they learn to operate the space shuttles," explains Col. Greg H Johnson.

For over 30 years the trainer was housed at the Johnson Space Center, but soon it's new home will be at the Space Gallery interactive exhibit inside the National Museum of the United States Air Force.

"Having this piece of training equipment here is the foundation of the larger exhibit that will focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as space history," Doug Lantry with the National Museum of the United States Air Force.

Col. Johnson is Fairborn native and Air Force Astronaut Pilot who has been on two space missions and spent a lot of time using the trainer.  He reunited with some of his former crew members Wednesday as they welcomed the machine.

"I haven't' seen them in awhile, we'll be laughing about this event," says Johnson.

He says while some people are upset the museum isn't getting a space shuttle, the trainer is a one of a kind asset.

"There are only a few of these bigger simulators around and still there are people that didn't get anything so I think it's a positive moment for this community.  I don't view it as a consolation prize," comments Johnson.

The trainer will be moved Wednesday morning to it's temporary home in the museum's Cold War Gallery.  That process will take about 3 hours.  

The public is invited to view it there Friday.

It's permanent home at the Space Gallery Exhibit is still being built and will be finished in about a year.