130 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1958 
Minor repairs were made to a number of aircraft and models on 
exhibition. 
REPAIR, PRESERVATION, AND RESTORATION 
Tt has been a year of activity at the Suitland storage facility in re- 
spect to improving equipment and facilities and in preservation, 
restoration, and warehousing. The proper warehousing of stored air- 
craft, engines, and parts was completed. Five aircraft were cleaned, 
preserved, and restored, awaiting exhibition. Twenty engines were 
cleaned, preserved, and stored. Four aircraft were preserved for 
outdoor storage. 
Water and electrical connections were installed for Building 10, and 
a concrete ramp was placed in front of the building. The heating of 
Bay C of this building was improved and the insulation of Bays A 
and B was begun. Other improvements in progress include roof re- 
pairs, the installation of a paint booth and equipment, a wash pit for 
aircraft and engines, and an engine hoist. The storage of miscel- 
laneous reference material in Building 2 was improved by boxing and 
warehousing. 
Considerable long-range planning was done in preparation for the 
major job of restoration and preparation of aircraft for exhibition in 
the proposed new building. 
ASSISTANCE TO GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS 
The National Air Museum had occasion to serve many Government 
agencies during the year. Among these were the Department of Jus- 
tice in connection with patent litigation; the Department of Health, 
Education, and Welfare with relation to rocket information; the 
Voice of America in connection with material for its programs; the 
Department of State with reference to early aviation history informa- 
tion; the Department of the Air Force; the Department of the Navy; 
the Department of Agriculture; the Civil Aeronautics Administration 
of the Department of Commerce; and the Post Office Department. 
PUBLIC INFORMATION SERVICES 
As previously indicated, furnishing information to the public is 
a very active function of the Museum and requires an increasing 
amount of staff time. The requests for information vary from “pic- 
tures of airplanes” for school children to highly technical information 
required by scientists and research workers. The requests come by 
telephone, mail, and personal visitation. The following examples 
will illustrate the diverse nature of this information service: 
The Chance Vought Aircraft Co. and the Douglas Aircraft Co. 
were furnished photographs for their publications. 
