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Naturally, I'm all for it.. But...

Posted by bdk on Tue Jan 06, 2004 09:41:39 PM

In reply top Aircraft parts posted by Rob Rohr on Tue Jan 06, 2004 08:52:30 PM

What is the incentive to the museum?

You take their already restored airplane, take good parts off and replace them with corroded or bent pieces of junk. Knowing NASM's restoration standards, would they do this?

Why not just offer to swap two fiberglass replicas for one good airplane? You might just stand a better chance. At least that way it looks like the museum would have more display aircraft. Maybe swap a TBD Devastator replica and a Brewster Buffalo relica to the Navy in trade for a Lake Michigan Wildcat? :-)

Also, how long would their airplane be off display while swapping spars? What guarantee would the museum have that the airplane would look the same when you were done? What reputation do you have for them to rely on?

I think you would stand a better chance of swapping a restored static with the museum's static plus cash- at least then they would know what they were getting, and they would swap right then, not at some time in the future all the while HOPING that you actually come through with what you promised.

All the risk with this proposition falls on the museum, none with you. Until the museum sees some major benefit to them, I don't think that they would want to mess around with your offer.

I'm not trying to discourage you, it's just that you have to offer the museum something. Most museums don't care whether or not YOUR airplane flies, only that they have something to display. They need paying visitors and donors. A little bit of money combined with lots of risk and hassle for them won't have them jumping up and down when they hear about your deal.

: Mainly what I was thinking is that taking the spars from m
: useum planes and switching them with projects that have no
: n-airworthy one.
:
: I can think of at least five Corsair that will never fly b
: ut still have airworthy or close to airworthy spars.
:
: Along with this thought Scott, Tulio and I were talking ab
: out this Sat. how some Museum could take airworthy parts a
: nd sell or trade them. I would like to know what the rest
: of you think especially restorers and museum owners.

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