Warbird Information Exchange

Croweater,

the RAAF Museum "Pegasus Project" is a plan to create large open span high roof infill construction in between the existing RAAF Museum Bellman Hangars to create additional display space and in particular display space for large airframes such as the Catalina, Neptune, Hercules, C-47, Bristol Freighter and HS748 that are too large for the 33M span and 6M high Bellman Hangars.

Regards

Mark Pilkington

_________________
20th Century - The Age of Manned Flight
"from Wrights to Armstrong in 66 years -WOW!"

Thank you for the explanation.

Regards Croweater

I must agree with K Gaff re the Lincoln project at Moorabbin. While it goes with out saying that Moorabbin is one of the stand out aviation museums in Australia, one must wonder why take on such a daunting project while there is so much that needs to be done there as it is. The museum is bursting at the seems, and with the aircraft parked out side the basic maintenance is far beyond the current workforce. I often wonder why they collect huge aircraft that nobody else wants, more is not always better. For those who have not viewed the Lincoln first hand, it is a very tired, very corroded and very incomplete air frame. Yes it is an example that Australia did manufacture and operate and it is a good thing that this type will one day be displayed, but i feel that this project is well beyond the means of the dedicated crew at Moorabbin. I hope that it will find a new home with a willing restoration force something akin to the chaps with the Liberator, with some assistance, well lets be honest a lot of assistance, the facilities to complete this project would need to be on a near commercial scale, where will the money come from? It could be restored in the very long term and given to an appropriate museum to display. Unfortunately it's size alone would limit it to a Pt Cook or AWM size organization, It would be great to see Moorabbin grow to the size that can display these huge aircraft under cover, but money is tight in all quarters in the private sector anyway, but we can only live in hope. If and when it's restored it should never go on display out side, that really defeats the purpose doesn't it. so a huge hanger would be required, now where would we find one of those not being used? I hope that Moorabbin can find suitable off site storage for this monster as it seem that they need every square inch of space for display as it is. Good luck Moorabbin, i hope that you have not bitten of more that you can chew.