Barnstormers Gems in the Rough

[51fixer]

Barnstormers has 4 F-106s FS in one AD
A couple below it is the F7U Cutlass in Washington FS
Not ones you see everyday available.

[Mike]

A real shame that the Museum of Flight have lost interest in their F7U restoration and put it up for disposal, I was really looking forward to seeing it.

[StangStung]

What, what, what?!?

Details please on MoF losing interest in their Cutlass! Everytime I head up to Seattle I drop by and check it out...and it's been taking up a lot of space over a lot of years there in the restoration hanger. It's such a wild looking beast that even if it's a bit of an aviation footnote, it's certainly eye-catching.

[Mike]

Unless there's another one in Washington State that I never knew about, it must surely be the MoF's example that's up for sale for a rather optimistic $210k

[JohnB]

Unless there's another one in Washington State that I never knew about, it must surely be the MoF's example that's up for sale for a rather optimistic $210k

General comment/question...

We know the planes is not going to fly again, so it's basically a static ship.
So why in the world do people/orgainzations ask stupid money for them. It eliminates the chances of some private guy giving it a good home (like me).
I'm also thinking about the F-89 that was for sale...and some warbird parts for types no longer airworthy and never will be.
Sure the govt paid $XXX for a part, but since there are no flying aircraft to use it why are you asking stupid money for what is basically a piece of den/hangar art for a "buff"?

[StangStung]

I've often wondered the same thing. Often, I think it's a reflection of the owner's gradiose expectations (ever seen Pawn Stars?). I've had conversations about artifacts like these that go something like this:

Me: How much is this nifty, but rather dusty buggy whip?
Owner: That'll be one bajillion dollars.
Me: You want a bajillion dollars for that buggy whip?
Owner: Yes, because it's the only one in the world and I have it.
Me: But I'm probably the only one in the world you've ever seen walk through your door in the time it took 50 years of dust to build up on that thing. You still want a bajillion dollars, or the two bucks it's worth to me to have as a conversation piece in my man cave?
Owner: I believe it's worth a bajillion dollars.
Me: I an see you're a hard bargainer and a saavy saleperson. You're clearly right to keep it. I'll send my grandkid around to buy it from your estate in fifty years.

But the MoF isn't some dingy backwater antique shop. Is it an accounting thing? I dunnow, but I'd be interested to find out.

[AirJimL2]

Or maybe the sale has nothing to do with the MoF because it isn't their airplane?

Jim

[Speedy]

I was under the impression that Tom Cathcart owned the Cutlass personally...but since he's head of restoration for the MoF, it was stored there and it was kind of being restored as time permitted on his own.

At least that's what I remember from when I worked at MoF...but I could be wrong.

[PinecastleAAF]

I've often wondered the same thing. Often, I think it's a reflection of the owner's gradiose expectations (ever seen Pawn Stars?). I've had conversations about artifacts like these that go something like this:

Me: How much is this nifty, but rather dusty buggy whip?
Owner: That'll be one bajillion dollars.
Me: You want a bajillion dollars for that buggy whip?
Owner: Yes, because it's the only one in the world and I have it.
Me: But I'm probably the only one in the world you've ever seen walk through your door in the time it took 50 years of dust to build up on that thing. You still want a bajillion dollars, or the two bucks it's worth to me to have as a conversation piece in my man cave?
Owner: I believe it's worth a bajillion dollars.
Me: I an see you're a hard bargainer and a saavy saleperson. You're clearly right to keep it. I'll send my grandkid around to buy it from your estate in fifty years.

But the MoF isn't some dingy backwater antique shop. Is it an accounting thing? I dunnow, but I'd be interested to find out.

I'm not sure but I feel like a cool breeze just blew through here. Thank you sir.