Tour of Westpac

[Lightning]

Howdy All

A little background info and footage on the National Museum Of WW2 Aviation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWrkQQOP ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=en ... urpek&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5je--av7AbI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpgISPSxWWE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAMS8PT1UmM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtnKICgniSg

http://www.koaa.com/news/remembering-ww ... ower-grow/

http://www.koaa.com/news/remembering-ww ... -aviation/

http://www.koaa.com/news/remembering-ww ... e-a-pilot/

http://www.koaa.com/news/remembering-ww ... for-women/

Lightning

[BenG]

How many P-38's are currently under active rebuild? White 33 for Feenix Partners and the ex-CAF P-38 for Paul Allen/FHC?

[rwdfresno]

They are calling themselves a "National Museum", and presenting themselves as such. This should surely give them much more of an obligation to visitors than a what you are calling a "private operation opening up for tours."

Well you have got to do what you got to do for you man. It's a shame to deprive yourself of seeing this amazing facility. Not many places where you can see 5 P-38s, a Tigercat, 2 B-25s, 1.5 Hellcats and, and a couple of Thunderbolts in various states of restoration/preservation/flying condition all in one facility (I count zero others).

Ryan

[bdk]

Someone I know got yelled at for taking pictures of Swamp Ghost on the public ramp in front of Aero Trader, so I'm not surprised they cautioned you about taking pictures inside.

[Mike]

And after all, its a private museum, so its their rules.

How can a National Museum be a private museum at the same time?

I visit many private restoration facilities. Some allow photos, some don't, some allow photos for private use only, at some I don't even ask. I have no problem with any of that.

But a 'no photography' policy at a National Museum, that I have a problem with. How would most visitors feel if the same policy was adopted at Dayton, Pensacola or in the Smithsonian. All these are also 'National Museums'.

[51fixer]

And after all, its a private museum, so its their rules.

How can a National Museum be a private museum at the same time?

I visit many private restoration facilities. Some allow photos, some don't, some allow photos for private use only, at some I don't even ask. I have no problem with any of that.

But a 'no photography' policy at a National Museum, that I have a problem with. How would most visitors feel if the same policy was adopted at Dayton, Pensacola or in the Smithsonian. All these are also 'National Museums'.

National Museum is a part of their name but it isn't a part of the Gov related Museums as you listed. i.e. having a tie in to any arm of the military or being a part of the NASM.
Their is also another National Warbird Museum I hope you won't support as a major part of their collection has a no photography allowed restriction.
That is at Midland TX and a part of the CAF collection. In the Nose Art collection gallery they have copyright restrictions and photography isn't allowed by the visitors. If you want photos you need to purchase books with them in them.

[Jesse C.]

I will respect all the rules to have access to some pretty cool stuff! I will even keep my hands in my pockets!!

"National" is almost a generic term these days. You have the U.S. Nationals in Indy every year and it is only called that because it is the most prestigious in the NHRA race series.

National Rent A Car, National City, National Bank, etc, etc,.....

[51fixer]

And after all, its a private museum, so its their rules.

How can a National Museum be a private museum at the same time?

I visit many private restoration facilities. Some allow photos, some don't, some allow photos for private use only, at some I don't even ask. I have no problem with any of that.

But a 'no photography' policy at a National Museum, that I have a problem with. How would most visitors feel if the same policy was adopted at Dayton, Pensacola or in the Smithsonian. All these are also 'National Museums'.

National Museum is a part of their name but it isn't a part of the Gov related Museums as you listed. i.e. having a tie in to any arm of the military or being a part of the NASM.
Their is also another National Warbird Museum I hope you won't support as a major part of their collection has a no photography allowed restriction.
That is at Midland TX and a part of the CAF collection. In the Nose Art collection gallery they have copyright restrictions and photography isn't allowed by the visitors. If you want photos you need to purchase books with them in them.

I reached out to a friend who is out their.
The no picture rule only pertains to certain A/C and parts as dictated by contracts with the owner of that specific A/C. Their isn't a universal policy of no photography.
Currently that only applies to certain P-38 parts in the process of restoration.
Their is no restriction on photography on any other A/C or parts in the Westpac portion of the tour. This currently includes the F7F and Joe Tobul Corsair in the Westpac facility.
On the Museum side their is isn't any restriction on photography.
The museum is one of the newer WWII Museums in the country and has a growing number of volunteer workers. In fact all the workers currently are volunteers and they have built all the displays. The docents giving the tour have their instructions to follow and if they have instructions not to allow photos they are only doing their job.
If any journalists or photographers with special needs wish to they can contact the museum directly prior to visiting and you could make your case.
This is a great facility with a fantastic restoration shop connected although a private company. Sounds like a great place to visit.

[Noha307]

I'm confused, why does their Avenger have "USS Carl Vinson" painted on the tail? I double checked just to make completely sure, and I was correct - there's only one USS Carl Vinson and it's a nuke carrier. Unless the military had worse budget problems than I thought, there's no way that TBM would have been stationed on that ship.

2:42-2:44 in this video: National Musem of World War II Aviation

[k5083]

"National" museum is not just fluff, it is a Congressionally bestowed title and we discussed it in connection with this same museum in this thread:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=47393

The short version of what I posted there is that the Westpac museum is not really a National museum, but it is trying to become one and has decided to go ahead and call itself one.

August

[Warbirdnerd]

I'm confused, why does their Avenger have "USS Carl Vinson" painted on the tail? I double checked just to make completely sure, and I was correct - there's only one USS Carl Vinson and it's a nuke carrier. Unless the military had worse budget problems than I thought, there's no way that TBM would have been stationed on that ship.

2:42-2:44 in this video: National Musem of World War II Aviation

Several "Warbirds" including this TBM, a B-25 and a Bearcat (?) were hoisted aboard and later took off from the USS Carl Vinson in the early 90s (I think that was the time frame)...

[Warbird Kid]

I'm confused, why does their Avenger have "USS Carl Vinson" painted on the tail? I double checked just to make completely sure, and I was correct - there's only one USS Carl Vinson and it's a nuke carrier. Unless the military had worse budget problems than I thought, there's no way that TBM would have been stationed on that ship.

I believe it has that name because of this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnXIsX7LxS8

[Mike]

I'm confused, why does their Avenger have "USS Carl Vinson" painted on the tail? I double checked just to make completely sure, and I was correct - there's only one USS Carl Vinson and it's a nuke carrier. Unless the military had worse budget problems than I thought, there's no way that TBM would have been stationed on that ship.

2:42-2:44 in this video: National Musem of World War II Aviation

Maybe the TBM was not stationed on the Vinson whilst in service, but that doesn't mean it hasn't flown from the ship!

[Noha307]

I'm confused, why does their Avenger have "USS Carl Vinson" painted on the tail? I double checked just to make completely sure, and I was correct - there's only one USS Carl Vinson and it's a nuke carrier. Unless the military had worse budget problems than I thought, there's no way that TBM would have been stationed on that ship.

2:42-2:44 in this video: National Musem of World War II Aviation

Maybe the TBM was not stationed on the Vinson whilst in service, but that doesn't mean it hasn't flown from the ship!

You're close. I don't know why I didn't think of it before, but I just googled "Avenger Carl Vinson" and found this:

John Carson, who had flown TBF (TBM) Avengers during WWII, hunting U Boats in the Atlantic, bought BuAer 91453 in 1995 and went to sea again on the Nuclear Carrier Carl Vinson, CVN 67, to participate in the 50th Anniversary of the end of WWII Celebrations at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. John did not get to fly off the Carl Vinson with the other vintage aircraft, but his Avenger stayed onboard to adorn the hanger deck for the celebrations and banquets. John Carson’s name remains on the aircraft to commemorate his service to our country. Chris purchased the Avenger in 1998, along with Bill Klaers and Alan Wojciak of WestPac Restorations, and flies it at airshows throughout eastern and central USA.

[51fixer]

I'm confused, why does their Avenger have "USS Carl Vinson" painted on the tail? I double checked just to make completely sure, and I was correct - there's only one USS Carl Vinson and it's a nuke carrier. Unless the military had worse budget problems than I thought, there's no way that TBM would have been stationed on that ship.

2:42-2:44 in this video: National Musem of World War II Aviation

Maybe the TBM was not stationed on the Vinson whilst in service, but that doesn't mean it hasn't flown from the ship!

You're close. I don't know why I didn't think of it before, but I just googled "Avenger Carl Vinson" and found this:

John Carson, who had flown TBF (TBM) Avengers during WWII, hunting U Boats in the Atlantic, bought BuAer 91453 in 1995 and went to sea again on the Nuclear Carrier Carl Vinson, CVN 67, to participate in the 50th Anniversary of the end of WWII Celebrations at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. John did not get to fly off the Carl Vinson with the other vintage aircraft, but his Avenger stayed onboard to adorn the hanger deck for the celebrations and banquets. John Carson’s name remains on the aircraft to commemorate his service to our country. Chris purchased the Avenger in 1998, along with Bill Klaers and Alan Wojciak of WestPac Restorations, and flies it at airshows throughout eastern and central USA.

The SNJ-5 #23 in the Hangar here participated on the cruise and features the name USS Carl Vinson on it as well. It had a few takeoffs from the ship as a part of Hawaii launch as well as ceremonies on its return.
Bill and Alan were some of the people that arranged the event to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of hostilities in WWII. They flew their B-25 off the carrier USS Carl Vinsonb as well as previously flying off The carrier USS Ranger from San Diego several years earlier to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Doolittle Raid in 1992.