Swamp Ghost to be fully restored

[Shay]

But preserved within the confines of PNG (Sorry if old)

http://www.thenational.com.pg/042007/nation4.htm

Apr 19 2007

Report brands NMAG as ‘a national disgrace’

THE National Museum and Art Gallery has been described as a “national disgrace” by the Public Accounts Committee in its report tabled in Parliament yesterday.
The PAC in its 113-page Report on the Inquiry into the National Museum and Art Gallery (NMAG) and the sale and export of the Swamp Ghost aircraft, found that the museum was incompetently managed and ineffective in carrying out its statutory obligations to manage PNG’s cultural heritage, and failed to protect the property and fiscal interest of the State.
“In summary, a trustee of the NMAG described the museum to the committee as a ‘national
disgrace’, which this committee was inclined to agree,” PAC deputy chairman Dr Bob Danaya told Parliament yesterday.
The report stated that the NMAG had and still was subject to the considerable and improper influence of foreigners and foreign companies, which unlawfully obtained, exported and sold war surplus materials from Papua New Guinea.
It stated that the NMAG illegally entered a contract of sale for the Swamp Ghost and thereby breached the Public Finance (Management) Act, the National Museum and Art Gallery Act and the War Surplus Materials Act.
The PAC report recommended a thorough investigation and restructuring of NMAG by the Government.
The committee also recommended that the Swamp Ghost be fully restored and preserved within PNG.

We'll see I guess.

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

[ZeamerB17]

What a pant-load.

Dave

[mustangdriver]

you said it.

[Bill Greenwood]

I wonder how the work is coming along? Can WIX get photo updates of the progress like Gary Austin did with the B-24? One thing about scamers is they usually have a good story. I may be underestimating the people of PNG, but I think they have about as much interest in restoring the plane as OJ does in finding the real killer.

[mustangdriver]

That is about right Bill.

[B-29 Super Fort]

The key word in that press release is "recommended" regarding it's restoration rather a firm commitment to restore it with funding in place.

[Junkyard36]

It'll probably be "recommended" until enough $$ is coughed up as ransom, er, I mean donations...

[Jesse C.]

I can almost imagine some flaming Gilligan resto! Bamboo props, wicker seats, weaved fabric coverings!

Its enough to give you a case of the shakes!

[hang the expense]

When: "ALL PIGS FED AND READY TO FLY, SIR!.

[Nathan]

This is sad news to me. I was hoping it would come to the states.

They plan on restoring it? How? With jungle vines?!

[Former Member]

I wouldn't be surprised if they eventually cut her up and start selling pieces of her as souvenirs to tourists.

John

[Nathan]

I wouldn't be surprised if they eventually cut her up and start selling pieces of her as souvenirs to tourists.

John

Naa, they'd be affraid someone would buy all the peices and put them back together.

[tom d. friedman]

the key word to the statement is cultural heritage. it didn't become their claim till it hit their dirt. it wasn't a swamp ghost till then. many of these 3rd world countries are a bunch of corrupt money grubbers looking for the yankee buck. i think it's totally disappointing that foreign governments are increasingly copping this sh*t attitude.

[David J Burke]

'Many of these countries are corrupt money grubbers'

As opposed to former U.S fighter pilots who get paid by defence companies and go to jail for it or Vice Presidents who have close contacts
with companies given lucrative contracts in Iraq!

Corruption and backhanders are everywhere - it's just the sophistication
of it thats different.

As for PNG - the aircraft has only been there 57 years or so! How many of the people speculating on what PNG can actually do have actually been ther?

[mustangdriver]

In 57 years all they have managed to do was cut the grass. I stil say that they knew someone was recovering it, and waited to let them do the dirty work. And like I said all along if a plane crashes in my backyard, it doesn't make it mine.