Whats your dream museum?

[Zachary]

...I'd probably funnel a few mil into a certain Sea Wolf project...

I assure you, a completely pointless and utter waste of funds!

Well it wouldn't be a right and proper museum without wasting some funds, now would it?

[kalamazookid]

Walter A. Soplata Museum of Aviation. Static collection in northeast Ohio, based upon some of the relics rescued by Walt over the years. (Cannot happen as envisioned...but that's because several of the potential exhibits are now being restored to flying condition instead. Incidentally I once had a literal dream involving a thoroughly surreal version of this museum. So it's my dream museum in a true sense!)

I've actually thought about that too. Restore everything that's on his property right now, see if you can cut deals to have guest exhibitions by his aircraft that have become airworthy, and put it in a nice facility. That would definitely be something I'd be interested in going to.

The B-36 fuselage would make a cool walk-through exhibit the vehicle and aircraft collection would be eclectic to say the least, and there would be lots of random artifacts that could be displayed.

http://www.members.tripod.com/airfields ... s_IN_S.htm
Scroll down until you reach Madison Army Airfield.

That's exactly what I'd have in mind. Old buildings that could be restored, lots of ramp space, adequate runway length. If the museum ended up making money, I would consider adding a military vehicle exhibit and maybe building some smaller WWII style buildings, like a control tower or a barracks type building. Maybe even start an FBO or some type of restoration shop to bring business to the field.

Now I just need to win that $50 million...

[cott]

Let's see, 50 million....

25 million for purchase and refit of a 750 foot, retired iron ore carrier to be used in Lake Michigan. Refit includes removal of all deckhouses, and installation of a flight deck, arresting gear, and an island on the starboard side... Make it look like the Enterprise...

Then, two-seaters of a Corsair, Hellcat, Wildcat, SBD, and a TBM. Maybe some replica Japanese fighters based out of a hangar on the Michigan side of the lake, just for fun...

Then operate it as a floating/flying museum and sell the experience of landing a fighter on a carrier. Of course, I could probably use another 50 million for liability insurance! But, if people will spend 200K on a two-hour excursion into sub-orbital space, why not?

[Django]

It's a bit slow here today, so I'll play along...

With the first $10M... I'd buy up a factory farm out west of Chicago. Then I'd build an airstrip big enough for a B-29 so FIFI could visit. Then I'd build a historic looking hangar that could house the museum on one end, and the aircraft in the other end. Fill with artifacts, movie theater and a period dancehall for dances.

First 3 Aircraft.. $20M.
I'd buy one on of the H&P Privateers and redo it in a Tri Color scheme, probably as Accentuate the Positive or Impatient Virgin, and take it on tour. Hopefully Hal Olsen would still be living to paint the nose art.

Then I'd acquire a B-24 somehow and restore it to flight status as a NMF PTO ship.

Somehow acquire a B-29 and rebuild to flight status as Double Exposure.

$3M.
P-51 in PTO markings.

$10M for operating expenses.

$7M to invest and keep the doors open with the interest.

But to make it even more unrealistic, I'd like to add a P-61 to the roster.

[Rob Mears]

Planes of Fame in Chino....

I gotta admit, funneling $50M into that collection would certainly result in an absolutely astounding spectacle!! I figure they already have an example of just about every relevant warbird in existence. One knock-out facility to house it all, plus transforming a dozen or so more static display aircraft back into flyers in short order would be the warbird headline of the decade. Better yet, dump the $50M into smart investments, then feed the interest into the museum for the rest of time. Three or four million a year in extra, untaxable income would surely and radically transform their operation (or any operation) for the better.

[Bluedharma]

Mustang Driver, I can't help you with a lot of those, but as far as a Beech B-36 to do rides in, that I can furnish. It needs a new paint job, but flies good. I did 6 Young Eagle rides at the open house day at Boulder airport last summer. That's one of my favorite things.

One kid was a character, he was sort of afraid, and did not want to touch the controls, but I make em all fly, whether it is a kid in the Bonanza or an adult in the Spitfire, and I have never had anyone complain once we were back on the ground. So this little boy, perhaps 10 years old , takes the wheel and flies a few turns. As soon as we got back to our parking space and he climbed out onto the wing walk, he was like a different guy, and he was yelling to his friends that he flew the plane.

I think I remember that kid... not sure.


This one was a different kid when he got out!
The flight made his day!!!!!

The young eagle flights are always great for the kids!!!!

[Bill Greenwood]

Paul, great photo, that's the one. The boy flew for about 5 minutes, made a few turns and when we got back to Boulder he struck up that pose like he was Rocky!

Hey, I am coming over tomorrow am and will be in Boulder over the weekend.

Bill

[mustangdriver]

The Young Eagle flights are just great. That is how I got started as well.

[Bluedharma]

Paul, great photo, that's the one. The boy flew for about 5 minutes, made a few turns and when we got back to Boulder he struck up that pose like he was Rocky!

Hey, I am coming over tomorrow am and will be in Boulder over the weekend.

Bill

Cool!
I will see if I can give you a call. I have some Christmas shopping to do for the kids, but it would be nice to get out a bit.
Hey how about those Longhorns! Longhorns defeat Cornhuskers for Big 12 Championship, 13-12!!! Yeah!
Texas (13-0) wins its second Big 12 title in the last five years and matches the school record of 13

I remember that most of the kids that you gave rides to went on the aircraft one way and came off with big smiles!!!!
They were very happy!!!! The Young Eagle program is a great way to get the next generation excited about flying.
My oldest daughter is very excited about being 8 this year. She wants to give "Young Eagles flights" a try this next summer!
-Paul

[L. Thompson]

A flying museum built at Stead Field in Reno with three aircraft from the Unlimited collection pulled out and groomed for safe but competitive Gold, Silver, & Bronze racing each year.

Among the collection:

A recreation of the P-39Q Cobra II race #84.
A recreation of Charlie Tucker's P-63C #28 Flying Red Horse
The P-51K race #80 from Crawford Museum.
The #74 F2G-1 that Cook Cleland won the 1947 Thompson in.
The P-51D from the Evergreen Museum restored back to its deep bronze colors as race #37 Jay Dee, NX37492.
The P-51D, from its current storage, that Anson Johnson won the 1948 Thompson with, in its 1949 scoopless form.
A recreation of the #88 P-38 Flying Shamrock.
The now-Red Bull P-38 restored (I know, sacrilege!) back to race #25 Sky Ranger colors.
The YP-47M, race #42, NX4477N
A recreation of the race #7 P-51D Beguine.
P-51D race #8, N2869D, 44-84390 restored back to Chuck Lyford's 1967 "Bardahl Special" status..
Greenamyer's F8F-2 Conquest 1 in the colors of its August 1969 world 3km speed record.
Sea Fury N878M "Miss Merced"
Clay Lacy's P-51D #64 "Miss Van Nuys"
A recreation of the mighty #5 Red Baron Griffon Mustang.
The R-3350 powered Mr. Awesome Yak 11 with T-33 tail in 1989 pre-accident form.
Ed Weiner's #14 checkerboard Mustang.
Race 232 September Fury.
The Griffon-powered Precious Metal.
The rebuilt Tsunami.
and if my 50 million isn't already exhausted two personal nostalgic Reno favorites:
Mike Loening's old P-51D N5482V, race #2 "Miss Salmon River", and a re-creation of the Planes of Fame "All Coast Super Corsair".

Awaiting eventual donation: The former #80 Spitfire CF-GMZ, Rare Bear, The Galloping Ghost, Czech Mate, Strega, Dago Red, and last but not least, the rescued #51, NX4699N Kingcobra from that Arkansas barn...

[marine air]

Does anybody still believe in Santa Claus? Now would be a really good time for him to come through for all of us!

[jasonp51d]

My dream museum would be to purchase an old 8th AF base, Debden for example - knock down all the post war additions and restore its wartime look and feel.

Have wartime jeeps and trucks driving about the place with re-enactors in authentic uniforms.

Then I would encourage the B-17 Sally B to re-locate their and offer the owners of other 8th AF aircraft inducements to be based their.

I then would go about filling in the blanks by purchasing some aircraft - the following immediately jump to mind: -

P-51D Mary Mine (original 361st FG vet.)
P-51B/C Princess Elizabeth
P-47 Hairless Joe
P-47 G from the TFC
P-38
B-24 from Kermit Weeks

if i had change would then start thinking about Mk XI Spit in American PR Colours & possibly even a Mosquito or Black Widow - I could go on & on....

[Steve T]

LThompson--

You left out a couple...the reconstituted/newbuild F2G #94 and P-51C #7 "Beguine"...your museum sounds like the perfect place for me to place those two on indefinite loan after my movie about the '49 NAR wraps!

Oh, and you can have my recreated P-39Q #84 "Cobra II" also; no need to worry about doing that one yourself...they were having such trouble operating it off the turf at Geneseo anyway...

(This parallel-universe stuff is neat, but ain't it frustrating too, eh...)

S.

[Warbird Kid]

Then I'd acquire a B-24 somehow and restore it to flight status as a NMF PTO ship.

http://www.b24bestweb.com/queenofhearts-v4-1.htm

[SPANNERmkV]

One with clean bathrooms that the Wing Leader doesn't have to swab...
Maybe with electrically heated seats...

Freshly painted floors on the hangar...

And room enough for FIFI and Ol' 927 to come visit and not have to stay out on the ramp!

Merry Christmas all,

dp