Randy Haskin wrote:
Maybe I'm just getting to the point where I don't need to read every placard on every airplane, but I have been able to see it all in one dedicated day.
It's an interesting point, how much time do you need to 'do' a museum?
I've been through some in very little time, thrown out of others at closing. On the other hand at the museum I volunteer at, and go in every week, I find something 'new' to me every time. Returning to a museum can also be interesting as your reactions might change to the displays and content - hopefully they will have changed too.
Personally, I rarely if ever read any placards, occasionally photographing them if the aircraft or object is really unfamiliar. The generally generic info about the type is of no interest to me; I'd want that specific to this airframe - some museums are better than others at that.
There was a survey which showed that something like 75% of the time people spent in museums was reading the labels rather than looking at the objects. I think it was an art survey; if anyone knows the accurate details I'd be interested.
As a writer and publisher I'll take dozens of photos of any new aircraft or version for future use; others might take one, others still not even want a camera.
Some write down all the serial numbers, but
why they do so remains an anthropological mystery.
We recently went to an exhibition where not only was photography forbidden, but sketching also. Lunatic.
Just some thoughts.