WIX Archives
Re: US Navy recovery story......
Posted by Graham Orphan on Tue Dec 04, 2001 06:53:51 AM
In reply top Re: US Navy recovery story...... posted by James D on Mon Dec 03, 2001 05:18:41 PM
James, you hit the nail squarely on the head. I thought exactly the same of Rasmussen's quote re his concerns over the future of aircraft in private ownership. As you say, in 50 years you'll have trouble finding any evidence of aluminium oxide.
Here we see the extent of what could only be considered paranoia, and he is not the only director of a national aviation museum to show this same raw fear of what the private sector has already demonstrated it can achieve. It's a tragedy that such valuable historic items should be relegated to guaranteed destruction by misguided public servants.
Rasmussen comments that would-be salvors don't like his offer to "maybe let you do it and then loan it to you". "But that's not attractive because they can't make any money out of it". What a load of piffle. The Lake Washington F4Fs were put back into the air at a cost of, I think, around US$800K each. I note that a number of USN aircraft have been loaned to museums who then spend the time and money restoring aircraft that remain the property of the USN museum. I think this says a little more about his motivation, and he has the hide to accuse private salvors/restorers of trying to make money. I remain totally disgusted! GMO