Weisbrod Aircraft Museum asks county for $10,000 toward A‑10 transport and public fundraising

Jeanne Sandidge, president of the Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum, asked the Board of County Commissioners on July 17 for a $10,000 contribution to support transport and installation of an A‑10 Warthog the museum obtained from the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.

The museum said the aircraft was disassembled in Dayton, Ohio, and transported to Pueblo; the company that moved and reassembled the plane quoted a cost of $87,646. Sandidge said the museum had raised nearly $29,000 toward the effort and that the city had a pending $10,000 contribution to decide at an upcoming meeting. She invited county leaders to a September celebration and said veteran speakers would be present.

Why it matters: Museum leaders described the A‑10 as a historically significant aircraft and said permanent display would support tourism, education and veterans’ outreach. Museum materials presented figures for attendance, revenue and volunteer contributions and noted that the museum houses artifacts representing Pueblo’s military history.

Funding and context: Sandidge said the museum’s 2024 revenues were about $191,000 and that at the time of the presentation nearly all operating funds had been spent; she described a long history of city and county support for hangars and restorations going back to the 1970s and early 2000s. The museum asked the commissioners to consider a $10,000 sponsorship level and to help promote public fundraising.

Discussion vs. decision: The BOCC did not vote on a county contribution at the meeting. Commissioners expressed support and interest in the museum’s work and suggested further county outreach and publicity could aid fundraising.

What’s next: Museum leaders will continue private fundraising and asked the county to consider a formal contribution; commissioners suggested potential publicity and event collaboration to support fundraising.