Warbird Information Exchange

Mike - I'm gonna throw in my bid for you to bring your TBM to Wendover when it gets done sometime in the future.

Tom P.

Is the NMUSAF an AAM (American Association of Museums) accredited museum? If so, why couldn't we start a campaign of sorts to eliminate the accredation? No museum that damages their historic artifacts in such a way that the NMUSAF has should be endorsed by the AAM.

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Taylor Stevenson

You have got to be joking right? Have you ever been there? And how is that going to help warbirds? I also advise you to read Mike's last post.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

This is getting way out of hand...

I have been there several times... nice museum, but it seems that their leadership's mentality is that there aught to be no flying warbirds. I am just angry at the way they have treated this artifact. If the National Archives cut the Constitution to fit in an envelope to be sent to DC don't you think people would be pissed? If the Smithsonian hired U-Haul to transport one of their priceless locomotives and it was damaged, don't you think that is reason to be angry? I understand Mikes post, but it just seems like there is this growing negative trend with these national avaition museums. I don't like it. Also, how does crippling the only A-25 out there help warbirds? Maybe a petition of some sorts or a letter to AAM could be the catalyst for change that I believe that museum needs. Just my thoughts.

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Taylor Stevenson

The change sounds more like you think they should be flying their aircraft. That is not what the museum is about. They have helped flying warbirds before. They did not keep the last A-25 from flying. It was never going to fly. It is for a static collection. It is the last of it's type there fore it shouldn't be flown. the things they did to take the aircraft and transport it were not right, but once again there have been alot worse. Give them some time, it is going to look great when they are done.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

I understand some airplanes will never fly again. But what IF someone down the road wanted to make some of the USAFM static aircraft flyable? Just curious.

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Shop the Airplane Bunker At
www.warbirdbunker.com

It does seem a bit odd that the museum has a policy of ensuring their aircraft never fly, but the guns on display only need a belt of ammo dropped in them to start firing. I know for a fact that the twin .30 brownings & the M2 .50cals on display work perfectly. I've fired them.

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Those who possess real knowledge are rare.

Those who can set that knowledge into motion in the physical world are rarer still.

The few who possess real knowledge and can set it into motion of their own hands are the rarest of all.

Well said Sasnak.

Clearly there were both physical and moral mistakes made by the museum that need to be set right.

They had the knowledge, capability and resources to do it it right and they did it wrong.

A public apology and a few dollars to Mike to fufill their obligations (Mike said he was willing to see the project to completion, the museum chose to take the aircraft back). I am sure it will be a fine display for everyone to be proud of - most certainly Mike.

To those who run the museum - be a man (ok, that's politically incorrect), do the right thing.

Most of the aircraft in the NMUSAF are left in flyable condition when able. The restorations are done to bring as close to fligh tready as possible for their time period. There are very few that can not be made to fly again. Keep in mind that we have them in static condition. SO no you can't just push it out and go. It would need further work to get the aircraft ready to fly, but the airframes are good to go.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Mike had posted some photos of the A-25 wrecks before and after recovery. I can't seem to find them now. Anybody....anybody??
Seeing the before would really help some folks who never saw them realize the level of what he accomplished.

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Don't touch my junk!!

I agree that Mike did a great job.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

thanks mustangdriver.

I realize that they just cant be pushed out and go but was just curious what would be if they wanted to make them flying.

tally ho,
Nathan

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Shop the Airplane Bunker At
www.warbirdbunker.com

I remember different pics also, but here are some others I just stumbled across:

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v288/ ... ELLDIVERS/

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

there you are. The starting point for the A-25 project. WOW!!
Thanks Zillarian whomever you are.

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Don't touch my junk!!