Warbird Information Exchange

I just read on the swamp ghost website that the PNG government(for lack of a better term) has decided that Swamp Ghost is not going to be leaving the country(big surprise). So instead it will continue to fall apart until there is nothing left of it due to a corrupt government that has a motto of "We have all of these wrecks that we are going to do nothing with, but you can't have them either." They also put a ban on removing any war relics ever.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

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"Everyone wants to live here (New Jersey), evidenced by the fact that it has the highest population per capita in the U.S..."

What good's a little power if you can't abuse it?

What a bunch of maroons

Mudge the disgusted

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Land of the free because of the brave

Do we have any warbird folks in higher office here who could plead the case with the PNG? Trade them something for it?

Heck, we got New York for some shiny trinkets!

BTW, Happy Easter Everyone!

Take a letter:

"Dear Government of PNG Bureaucrat-in-Charge,



Sincerely yours,

etc, etc"

wow..... I guess it shouldn't be shocking, but at the same time, it's really pathetic how a government can do that.

You've got to wonder.... "Why is the PNG gov't doing this? What are they gaining out of it, other than being able to flex their tiny muscles???"

Any idea what the PNG gov't wants to do with it now that it's all crated up and knowing it will "never" leave PNG?

An artifact like Swamp Ghost should be preserved. I figure the best place to have it preserved would be in the USA or Australia (or any other warbird supporting countries), rather than left to deteriorate in a country that didn't seem to care much about it until someone else showed interest in it.

I have my fingers crossed that they make an effort to restore it and display it in PNG. That would be the only possible "Happy ending." If not, the airplane should be stolen (really crafty like... ) and properly looked after. It could be done... with a little bit of sneekiness, right? Maybe while nobody's looking it could be loaded into the back of a leased Antonov or something, then quickly flown to a better place.

anywho, I'm at work and should get off of WIX... darn addiction.

-David

I feel the same way. I don't care where it goes, but just so it is saved. Right now it is not safe by any means.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Good point Jesse,

I forgot all about trying to play fair and jumped straight into theivery.

I sure wish our governments could communicate and reach a deal on what's best for Swamp Ghost.

Then again, maybe it should still be stolen.... then our governments will talk and reach a deal. Sometimes it's easier to take, then ask forgiveness, than it is to ask permission in the first place.

-David

Buy I thought the plane had already been spirited away and was enroute to Australia!????

Did I miss the post saying that it was a hoax?

http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... hp?t=12018

That was a different airplane according to the guys that shipped it. I would love to know what airplane that was.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Yeah, I'd like to know what plane it was too. I imagine it wasn't a war relic though, considering their new fancy law prohibiting it.

-David the addicted

Knowing how bureaucracies work would lead me to believe that the right person hasn't been offered the right amount of $$$ yet.

Mudge the cynic

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Land of the free because of the brave

I think you may be correct. Right now it's a pawn in a money game until the PNG probably receives the incentive (i.e., $$$$) they are looking for.

Am I correct in that part of the initial protest was made by someone who was making money taking tours to the Swamp Ghost? Or was that a rumour started by someone who was just being malicious to a pro-"stay in the PNG" individual?

Would it be possible to get a National Museum like the NMUSAF to take an interest? The recovery is done, the disassembly is done. All it would take is some money, or trade goods.

Don't get me wrong, I feel very badly for the team that spent all that time and money and effort in recovering it. And; hate to see them losing all of that. But; I still feel it would be better to get it out of there and into a national museum than to let it rot there.

Finally is there a way that we can do something to influence public policy? We are a very diverse group. With many connections. If we could come togeather on a policy and work towards implementing it. Say; like getting a national museum interested in it. And; then writing to our represenitives to come on board with this ( it being close to an election year).

Hell, get the troops to help build their ( PNG) national museum. The Army does that sort of thing all the time. Building stuff in other countries. That plus a little donation....... who knows.

Joe

What really gets me is that the government waited until the aircraft was recovered to step in. They didn't stop them right away, they let them do the dirty work, and now they have a fully recovered B-17. Corrupt-yes, dumb-no.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager