AIR FORCE MUSEUM FEATURES NEW JBL VERTEC® LINE ARRAYS FROM WASHINGTON PROFESSIONAL SYSTEMS
DAYTON, OHIO – November 25, 2003 - Washington Professional Systems in Wheaton, Maryland recently completed a major new sound reinforcement system installation using JBL VerTec® speaker systems for the United States Air Force Museum located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. Due to the massive Museum’s special requirements, the project’s electro-acoustical design specified JBL VerTec for a full-size concert system as well as a smaller event system.

Greg Lukens, Vice President of WPS, commented “We chose VerTec line array elements to achieve high SPL levels in a compact, unobtrusive package that would provide a first class audio experience to museum visitors without impacting the visual presentation of the aircraft exhibits, many of which are suspended from the ceiling.”

The Air Force Museum is home to a wide collection of aviation memorabilia and over 300 historic aircraft. It is the oldest and largest military aviation museum in the world. Historic airplanes on display adjacent to the new JBL sound system include the B-52 Stratofortress, McDonnell-Douglas’ F-4 Phantom II, and Lockheed’s famed U-2. Over 1.5 million visitors from around the world visit the museum each year, seven days a week. The Air Force Band of Flight performs 60 to 70 concerts per year in the Modern Flight Hangar, a four-acre structure with an 80-foot overhead ceiling height. A semi-permanent flying system was needed to reinforce this 60-piece orchestra, and speaker array placement would be critical to allow proper coverage without undue reverberation.

“JBL’s modular VerTec rigging system allowed us to position each array’s coverage very accurately, and fine-tuning onsite was easy and repeatable,” noted Lukens. “We used eight JBL VT4888 midsize line array speakers and four JBL VT4880 subwoofers per side. We were able to put the sound right where we wanted it. The clarity and detail of the speakers is stunning, and really showcases the digital control accuracy of the system’s front end”.

The VerTec elements are driven using Crown MA-5002 and Crown MA-2402 amplifiers, fed by a Yamaha PM1D digital mixing system. “This is the most transparent and natural sound reinforcement system that I’ve heard. You can hear every instrument,” stated Master Sergeant Chris Ballard, soundmixer for The Air Force Band of Flight.

Electrical, structural and component installations needed to happen without disturbing the unique, fragile exhibits or interrupting the normal operations of the Museum. Careful planning was required by WPS to complete the design, procurement and integration of both systems in less than six weeks. Once the structural and electrical conduit preparation work was done, both systems were installed in just five days onsite.

The smaller event system is installed perpendicular to the concert system. It comprises eight JBL VT4887 speakers per side to support public speaking and recorded music at Museum events. Both systems were hung on multiple CM Loadstar hoists. The portable nature of the VerTec arrays will come in handy when the Museum staff moves the aircraft displays, as happens from time to time.

Washington Professional Systems can be reached at (301) 942-6800. Further details on the United States Air Force Museum can be found at http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum. WPS’ Paul Carter contributed to this feature.

Headquartered in Northridge, California, JBL Professional is the world’s leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of professional loudspeakers for recording and broadcast, musician, cinema, touring sound, commercial sound and contracting applications. JBL Professional is part of the Harman International network of professional and consumer audio companies. For complete product and company information, go to the JBL Pro website at www.jblpro.com.

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