Warbird Information Exchange

Understand if you're on the other side of the country it's hard
to volunteer. On the subject of donating funds, the US Mail
runs every day. Mail the museum of your choice a check. All
are 501c3 institutions and it's deductable. I imagine most would
take a credit card number over the phone. Some museum
websites have the capability to take a card number right there.
It ain't hard...........

Most museums have a membership program where, for your donation,
you will receive a newsletter detailing what's going on. I think ours
starts at $25.00.

Outside of donations, research is also a large part. Help the museum find proper paint jobs for their aircraft. Smaller museums like the LEX and others may very well need help in that way. Heck even the big ones sometimes need help.

I do agree with Old man on one thing. If an airplane is in a museum, we should be able to depend on that museum to try their best. Not meaning the LEX on that one, just in general.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

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S.

I've never been to the 'Lex' - yet. But I have been to many other museums and so far what I've read on this topic seems like a valid point. But the biggest thing is budget, budget, budget. If I had all the money that I have given to museums over the years, I could pay off more than a few bills. Then again what would of happened had I not donated? Do I regret donating? Hell no! In fact, even with donating money I would most of the time purchase something from the gift shop. I'm sure that in this economy every museum is doing what they can with what they have. There is no way everyone will be satisfied, even if the aircraft wore the correct color someone would find something to complain about, what about museum aircraft outfitted with tires that are not original to that type aircraft? Don't focus on the little things, just focus on the fact that we get to still enjoy the aircraft.

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A&P/I.A., A.A.S./Aviation Maintenance technology
Warbird salvage/recovery
One day I'll get that P-40!

long time lurker here. I posted once or twice awhile back but this topic is actually something I know a little bit about. I was one of the first set of volunteers on the lex when she first came to corpus. I spent many, many hours on that ship working just on the aircraft. Most of the engine cutaways on deck were re done by my father. I redid the cougar cockpit and some others. The wife and I spent some time in the A-3 before we closed the cockpit off. I think I still have some tools inside.

When the first batch arrived they were barged in from P'cola and in fair condition. The head restoration guy was a former Intrepid guy and really excited about getting the planes to look right. So much so he butted head with the people in charge. He lost the battle and left the ship. The next guy up didnt have the same passion and a good chunk of us left after we saw their plans for the aircraft. Being authentic didnt really matter as much. I went ballistic on the stencils as they just look stupid. I said why not just do them correctly if you are spending the money anyway. I always got blank looks. The TBM when it was first painted looked decent, then the head paid guy for the aircraft went over and sprayed it with a can of clear coat and ruined the brand new paint job. That was the last straw for me. The plane had just got back on the ship and now it had a dripping, smeared mess.

So for me it wasn't a lack of trying or effort it was guidance that just didnt care. I moved away not long after and have only been back to corpus twice.

The USS Lexington Museum is one of the rare museums that truly does care. I'm astonished how people make comments about the donations not going to the correct people. Painting the airplanes "like pinatas"...seriously? You guys have reached an all new low.

Matt Jolley

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Listen Live!
www.warbirdradio.com

I'm just giving you my point of view, from one that was there in the beginning.

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S.

We tried. I know we tried hard in the beginning. At the time there were two options, both cost the same. Why they went the non-correct route I do not know. I was just told no, we are doing it this way. My dad would basically live up at the ship. There used to be a long display of cut away engines in the hangar bay. He did most of that all by his lonesome. I still have a scar along my knee from the banshee when we tried to lower the wings from the folded position.

awesome job for bringing her this far along, mate!

No worries.., I work in corp america as well. The Lex is a corporation.., trying to make money.., things do not always make sense.

Thank you very much for what you did! It is most, most appreciated.. and I can clearly see why you all left!

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S.

I am simply astonished at the number of off base comments that are popping up.

Matt - an all time low? Insinuating that I am insinuating that donated funds are being misappropriated? Where did you find that in this thread? What exact words lead you to believe that I am accusing Lexington folks of mishandling money? I would expect someone with a close tie to the warbird movement to actually read the post before making such a comment.

Pinata is a bit overboard (pardon the pun). Hammering it over and over is not warranted, the point has been made.

Dmil - thank you for your comments and insight. It explains a lot. Begs the question - if original volunteers, people directly associated with the museum and its efforts, are dismissed when it comes to guiding restoration and maintenance efforts, what would the museum's leadership response to 'outsiders' coming in and offering suggestions be?

To all - My original post pointed out that most of the aircraft in the museum are in bad shape. Almost all of them carry inaccurate markings. Those are facts, not opinion. I did venture forth the opinion that some of the rare birds ought to be moved to another location so that they do not deteriorate any further. You may not agree with that opinion. You are welcome to your own opinion - I am not on a campaign to swing you to my point of view.

What about this post is so controversial that it has people slinging internet lightning bolts at each other?

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S.

I don't think anyone has any issue with the thread or it's topic. This is what Matt and others are heated about and was replying to from the first page of this thread.

"I bet the money is being funneled into the wrong hands.., obviously.. or who ever is in charge of restoration work does not have a clue."

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

(meaning the wrong people are funded to make the wrong decisions)..,

was not implying 'theft'

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S.

DANG

Once again PAINT gets everyone riled up and way over the top.

Hard working volunteers get nice backhand from the WIX board. and another museum is alienated by the WIX crowd. WE look like idiots doing this kind of stuff.

We all know it's ok to disagree with how things are displayed or PAINTED but to bring it to the point of virtual foul language and veiled racist comments if beyond the pale.

It looks like this is the color that they were working towards....maybe they missed it by a tone or two. So what? Send them the correct paint chip or buy them the paint if it means that much to you...




Be glad it didn't end up like this....

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Zane Adams
There I was at 20,000 ft, upside down and out of ammunition.
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