junk yard planes

[Steve]

Does anyone know what this is

42,29.30.67 N 82, 57'02.00W

it is located just over the Wisconsin line on I-94

[Jerry O'Neill]

Looks like Russell Military Museum. I don't know if they sell anything.
Jerry

[Warbirdnerd]

I stopped into the Russell Museum last December. They were not open, but a really nice lady noticed me poking around and offered to open up for me. I gave the $10 addmission and had the place to myself for the next hour or so. This link should take you to my photos from that day:
http://s18.photobucket.com/user/Warbird ... 8786172716

[Pat Carry]

Does anyone know what this is

42,29.30.67 N 82, 57'02.00W

it is located just over the Wisconsin line on I-94

www.russellmilitarymuseum.com

[bdk]

I believe they do trade or sell stuff on occasion.

Note that they are now in Russell, Illinois and were formerly in Kenosha, WI.

Formerly known as the Kenosha Military Museum, they were chased out of Kenosha by eminent domain. The city wanted to take their property to build more outlet malls because they generated more tax revenue, property rights be darned!

Last edited by bdk on Wed May 29, 2013 10:31 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Fouga23]

How did they legally buy an F-16 in one piece?

[bdk]

Yanks has one in Chino. Yanks also has an F-14 and an F-15.

[wendovertom]

What amazes me is where the funding comes from to buy all that equipment! I know that those tanks on the open market in running order are worth a fair amount and yes, wow that F-16 is pretty cool.

Tom P.

[K5DH]

How did they legally buy an F-16 in one piece?

It's probably on loan to the museum from the government. VFM has three Navy-owned aircraft and several engines on display at our facility.

[bdk]

What amazes me is where the funding comes from to buy all that equipment! I know that those tanks on the open market in running order are worth a fair amount and yes, wow that F-16 is pretty cool.

Tom P.

The owner's dad was a long time military vehicle collector.

[bdk]

Ipad double post...

[P51Mstg]

I've been there a few times over the years. I'm pretty sure the F Anythings are on loan, probably the Skycrane too. They have about a dozen Hueys which I'm sure they own some of. The armor is "unrestored".... In short, most of it is junk. But its there. Mark Sonday that owns the place would probably sell about anything if the price is right. He supplied some items to the Littlefield Collection...

Not a bad guy but if you go there DONT TOUCH ANYTHING. He'll be happy to run outside and remind you of that in simple 4 letter words you can understand.

Mark H

[flightsimer]

How did they legally buy an F-16 in one piece?

even if you "Buy" a fighter you dont technically own it, unless it was approved by Congress (I believe).

We "bought" a F-15A 3-4 years ago from the GSA. It turns out when the state wanted to audit us, we found out that we dont actually own it. We just own the rights to the aircraft, but its still USAF property and they could come back and take it if they decided they needed it for some reason.

That is a very interesting collection. Sad to see a lot of parts missing off a lot of planes, but interesting none the less.

[ColeCash]

the F-15 and F-16 are pieced together. I'm pretty sure the main fuselage on the F-16 is the Thunderbird that was bellied in many years ago, and finally auctioned off last year. drove by there this morning. these 2 fighters are no where near complete. they were just saved from scrapping.

Cole

[JohnB]

I've been there a few times over the years. I'm pretty sure the F Anythings are on loan, probably the Skycrane too. Mark H

I'd think a Skycrane is worth some pretty good money, even a non-flying one.
I'd agree that it's probably on loan, I would have thought that the external lift outfits would have bought up (and outbid any casual buyers for) any decent restorable projects.

That would be interesting book, a good history of the Skycrane and follow the careers of the Army examples and the new build ones by Erickson (who now oen the ATC).