August 7, 2025, Press Release from the Armstrong Air & Space Museum:
WAPAKONETA, Ohio — Recently, the Armstrong Air & Space Museum announced a unique partnership between the museum, Neil Armstrong Airport, and Tri-Star Career Compact. The museum’s record-setting jet engine, part of the Learjet 28 Neil Armstrong used to set five aviation world records in 1979, is now on public display at the Neil Armstrong Airport terminal in New Knoxville. In addition to the displayed engine, the museum has donated the other non-record engine to Tri-Star Career Compact in Celina to help support engineering and aviation education.
“When we decommissioned the aircraft, we made a conscious effort to preserve the engines for potential historical and educational use,” said Logan Rex, curator at the Armstrong Air & Space Museum. “After exploring potential partnerships, we determined the airport was the ideal location for a temporary public display. We knew aviation enthusiasts visiting the terminal would truly appreciate the opportunity to view this piece of history up close.” Rex also noted that the terminal is open to the public, allowing anyone interested to stop by and see the engine for themselves.
The non-record setting engine, replaced on the aircraft in the mid-1990s, found a home with the Automotive and Agricultural Industrial Technology classes at Tri-Star Career Compact in Celina. The engine will be used as an educational tool for students pursuing a career in mechanical engineering and hopefully might spark an interest in aerospace technology. “We’re thrilled that this engine will help inspire the next generation of professionals right here in west-central Ohio,” says Dante Centuori, the museum’s executive director. “Being able to show how different mechanics work across technical fields will hopefully open doors to future career opportunities.”
The engines, General Electric CJ610 turbojets, were commonly used in the Learjet 20 series and deliver a maximum thrust of approximately 3,000 pounds-force (lbf). The aircraft was officially decommissioned in 2022 by Spectra Jet of Springfield, Ohio, who also cleaned and prepared the engines for display and generously donated the mounting stands.
