Warbird Information Exchange

The National Museum of the United States Air Force is worried about the ability of the Chanute Museum to care for their aircraft. They have asked for voluntary multiple release of aircraft to be relocated. This is according to a letter I received for the museum saturday. They did not say which aircraft would be leaving.

I just checked out the Chanute Museums aircraft list and couldn't believe how many aircraft they have on display there. I need to get over and see them.

aeroeng

I wonder which aircraft they are looking at. I fear that this is just around the corner for Grissom if we don't get more people motivated. What is the current status of the museum out there?

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

thats sad

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" I am a nobody in aviation, but somebody to my family."

Sad news indeed, Reminds us all that big brother always has the upper hand. Wonder what vision the directors of the Great Airforce Musseum have in mind for all the repo aricraft. Hope the aluminum smelters don't get going again.Oh well the program was good while it lasted. There are a many display aircraft that really need a lot of care. In most cases only one or two locals are interested in the care of the hometown display. One volunteer goes out to the aircraft site mows the weeds and preps the display and returns on Veteran's Day for the same process, Thank goodness for the one or two dedicated individuals that keep most Memorials together.
Phillip

Many museums and display aircraft have a problem of becoming stagnant. There was an attitude for a while at our museum of, "Those planes belong to the NMUSAF so why should we have to paint them." That was actually said in many meetings early on. I can't blame the NMUSAF for atleast looking into the matter whether it be our museum or another. I hate to see it, but I understand it. The NMUSAF looks at a few things. What level of care is it getting now, and what level of care is it going to get in the future if it stays here. It is something that scares me when it comes to our own museum.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Thanks for the heads-up, jotomp.

Let's all keep a close eye on this. It was less than four years ago that Gateway in Kenosha was given the official USAF okily-dokily to scrap the F-84 there.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=10463&hilit=gateway&start=45

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

Here is list of their aircraft on display...
Attack
A-4A "Skyhawk"
A-7D "Corsair II"

Bombers
TB-25N "Mitchell"
B-52D "Stratofortress" Cockpit/Crew Compartment
B-58A "Hustler"
XB-47 "Stratojet"

Cargo
C-97G "Stratofreighter"
C-130A "Hercules"
C-133A "Cargomaster"
VC-47D "Skytrain"

Civilian
American Aerolight "Eagle" Ultralight
Foose "Tigercat"
Mong "Sport" Biplane
Piper "Tri-Pacer 135"

Fighters
F-15A "Eagle"
F-84A "Thunderjet"
F-84F "Thunderstreak"
F-86A "Sabre"
F-100C "Super Sabre"
F-100D "Super Sabre"
F-101B "Voodoo"
F-104A "Starfighter"
F-105B "Thunderchief"
F-105F "Thunderchief"
F-111A "Aardvark"
P-51H "Mustang"

Helicopters
UH-1B "Iroquois"

Missiles
AGM-28A "Hound Dog"
LGM-30A "Minuteman I"

Observation
O-2A "Skymaster"

Reconnaissance

RF-4C "Phantom II"
WV-2/EC-121K "Warning Star"

Replicas
Chanute 1896 Glider
Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny"
Wright 1903 "Flyer"

Search and Rescue
HU-16B "Albatross"

Trainers
AT-6B "Texan"
T-33A "Shooting Star"
T-38 "Talon"
T-39A "Sabreliner"

I kinda' see both sides here. If the NMUSAF is saying, "You're not maintaining these a/c properly, we want them back so we can give them the care they need." I'm OK with that. If they're merely looking for some a/c that they don't now have and just want to "round out" their collection with a few more a/c that are just gonna' sit and rot, I've got a problem with that. They can "sit and rot" where they are. I hope it's not a case of someone at the NMUSAF just flexing his muscles. (Not that they'd EVER do that, he says, sarcastically. )

Mudge the cynic

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Land of the free because of the brave

I have photos of the aircraft at Chanute over here, if anyone would like to see them....

http://www.cdsg.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=163

I wonder if this is just a "shot across the bow" to rattle some cages. In this economic climate, there can't be many (if any) other museums that are actively seeking more aircraft, especially ones that are going to need a lot of TLC. Most static museums are just getting by these days, and it's all they can do just to maintain their current collections. As for the NMUSAF using poor condition as an excuse to snag aircraft for the Dayton museum, I don't see anything on that list they don't already have (except maybe the P-51H, but that has just recently been restored, correct?)

SN

I know from my time at the Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins, GA, that the AFM does inspect the aircraft that have been loaned out to insure that proper care/maint. is being performed and will pull from museums that aren't living up to their agreement. They also "Loan" the aircraft with the intent on having them return to Dayton at a future date. Same is true with the Smithsonian. We had a P-47 that was on "Long-term" loan that went back when the new building opened up and they had room to display it.

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Cheers!

Lance Jones

I know the gentleman in charge of this, and can tell you there is no muscle flexing going on with him. He is a good guy.
Many museums are doing all that they can, however many are not. Our museum included.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

WOW! the have a B-58 Hustler.I would love to see on in person.what a fantastic plane.

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"WHAT ME WORRY?"

I would think the letter is referring to the outdoor aircraft, not the indoor aircraft like the B-58, B-25, P-51H, F-4, etc. They are indoors afterall. The outdoor aircraft are looking haggard for sure.

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Sure, Charles Lindbergh flew the plane... but Tom Rutledge built the engine!

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