FHC Collection anything taking place?

[Ed Likes]

Stuart Walton from what I gather is the new owner of the entire FHC Collection is this info correct? Anyone know if any of the aircraft are on the move to Bentonville Arkansas? Have not heard very much information on what is taking place thought I would ask my fellow Wixers? Thanks in advance.

[bdk]

By now all the aircraft are probably out of annual. Lots of paperwork as well I'd guess. Did anyone really think these planes would be on the move within weeks of the buyer being revealed on the internet? Think of it as a corporate buyout of another corporation. Due diligence and all that...

[JohnB]

The possible being out of annual is a huge point.
Did the collection keep on staff to look over them after the museum closed?
If not, assume the staff, and possibly the tools, manuals and parts were blown to the four winds.

It would take time, perhaps a lot of time, to build a team to travel to Seattle to get the aircraft ready to fly to their new home.
Add to that any manuals and parts...not an overnight process.

And you might not be able to call a specialist organization for quick help, after all they have their own aircraft to look after and it is the airshow/warbird flying season.

And that is for common types. The rare stuff would have to be dismantled for a trip (after all is anyone going to fly the FW-190 cross country?).

[Matt Gunsch]

The possible being out of annual is a huge point.
Did the collection keep on staff to look over them after the museum closed?
If not, assume the staff, and possibly the tools, manuals and parts were blown to the four winds.

It would take time, perhaps a lot of time, to build a team to travel to Seattle to get the aircraft ready to fly to their new home.
Add to that any manuals and parts...not an overnight process.

And you might not be able to call a specialist organization for quick help, after all they have their own aircraft to look after and it is the airshow/warbird flying season.

And that is for common types. The rare stuff would have to be dismantled for a trip (after all is anyone going to fly the FW-190 cross country?).

Just curious why you think the tools, manuals and parts would have disappeared ? The tools that belonged to the mechanics would have left with them, but the manuals, parts and shop tools belong to the museum. Not many mechanics have their own manuals, and heavy shop tools like jacks large enough for a 25 or Mosquito, most have basic hand tools and if they do sheet metal, sheet metal hand tools.

[JohnB]

No real reason for my comment, but the maintenance manuals (as opposed to restoration plans, drawings, etc) certainly could have belonged to the techs. I can see the collection hiring a warbird specialist who had his own set of manuals. Not saying it WAS like that, but based on what I have seen in various shops and collections, it COULD have been the case.

As far as parts, certainly some are in the collection stores, but if any new parts are necessary (if something went u/s during their long period of storage) , they would have to be obtained, possibly made, and with the many supply chain issues out there, who knows how long that might take.

Basically, what I was trying to get across, servicing these aircraft isn't like going to your Honda dealer.

In other words, it's not a case of simply calling pilots and say "deliver them".

[Jesse C.]

Hold the moving trucks!

https://warbirdsnews.com/aviation-museu ... useum.html

[hurricane_yank]

"Wartime History Museum plans to reopen FHCAM to the public, at its current location, within the next year and will share additional details when plans are finalized."

[ricusa]

Has the Me 262 and He 111 sold before the big sale? Did not see them in a listing of the collection.

[Lynn Allen]

Which 3 Mustangs does he own already before the purchase of the FHC?

TIA,
Lynn

[p51]

After reading through a lot of posts, I got that a new museum will buy the whole thing out, but is it just going to stay where it was, with just new signs?

[Mark Allen M]

My guess would be (and guess only) is that perhaps a lot of folks closest to the old owner and new owner agreed that until the new owner “is ready” to accept the collection at a new location that it makes sense to keep the collection where it is and at least open it back up. My conclusion would be “ why not?!!”.

Just a theory.

[JohnTerrell]

Which 3 Mustangs does he own already before the purchase of the FHC?

TIA,
Lynn

Hi Lynn, there are "just" two Mustangs that Steuart Walton owns personally, which are "Was That Too Fast" and "Red Dog" (both restored by Midwest Aero Restorations for previous owners). Those are in addition to the Super Corsair, Bearcat, Tigercat, Spitfire and Fieseler Storch that he also personally owns.

[ZRX61]

From the link:

FHCAM continued to operate following Allen’s death in late 2018 but like many institutions, the museum was closed in March of 2020 given the COVID-19 pandemic. Although artifact care and restoration has continued, the museum has remained closed, and its assets are now being sold consistent with Allen’s wishes.

WTF?

[marine air]

I hope the FW-189 Uhu will be the first project to be restored to flying. It seems to have been an amazing and unique design in the ISR role. Plus it did several other roles. Just like when they studied the Horten jet flying wing when designing the B-2, I believe there is a lot to be learned from the FW-189 for future aircraft designs.

[old iron]

Just like when they studied the Horten jet flying wing when designing the B-2

Huh? You think the Ho.229 had any secrets to give after all the research since then? That little TV-show study of a full size model at San Diego was likely as much or more pseudohistory than the real thing.