On May 7,  2004, Colonel Mike Moeller, 2nd Bomb Wing commander kicked off the 'Adopt-a-plane' program at Barksdale AFB, LA. Managed by the late Harold D. "Buck" Rigg, Eighth Air Force Museum director, base units adopted an aircraft or vehicle from the Eighth Air Force Museum and had to maintain it. Completion of Phase 1 and 2 took place on September 30, 2004. The units had to inspect their asset monthly and performed cleaning/maintenance as required. FB-111A 68-0284 had been under the care of MSgt Mike Kaplan, through the 2nd Communications Squadron. who adopted the bomber. After more than 300 hours spent on the aircraft, 68-0284 was ready for the Acceptance Ceremony. Markings on the jet still had to be applied. An exhaustive search of photographs allowed Mike to accurately duplicate the SIOP paint scheme worn by the jet in 1979. In fact, his discovery of a key photograph resulted in the repainting of the vertical stab, after he had already painted it! Mike spent 14 years maintaining the Flight Control and Instruments systems on the F-111 series of aircraft, and had been the "crew chief" of 0284 since his first arrival at Barksdale in 1996. FB-111A 68-0284 was assigned to the 380th Bombardment Wing in Plattsburgh AFB, NY. until July 10, 1991 when the jet made its final flight to Barksdale AFB, LA. to become part of the Eighth Air Force Museum. 
In 2004, MSgt Mike Kaplan was the Base Multimedia Manager at Barksdale AFB, professionalizing his photography hobby that has greatly benefited the FB-111.net and F-111.net websites. Mike was also the secretary/treasurer of the Eighth Air Force Museum Association. The museum is now called Barksdale Global Power Museum Association.