Visiting the NMUSAF in Dayton...

Wed Aug 22, 2007 6:51 pm

Any idea when the helldiver will be finished?

Thu Aug 23, 2007 6:21 am

Was there a couple of weeks ago and they still seem to be trying to save money by not turning on all the lights! Never have been able to take many good pix in all the times I have been there as my digi camera does not have a bright enough flash. Pretty disappointing to go in and take more than 200 pix only to get home and download them and not be able to see most.

Otherwise, a fantastic place to visit

Thu Aug 23, 2007 9:00 am

Be there on Friday when the doors open at 0900 and go directly to the information desk and ask to be put on the "restoration hangar wait list". Don't let any one get to the desk before you do. There are usually two or three late cancellations or no shows. Have made several unplanned visits in the past year or so and have been able to get on the tour each time. Good luck.

Thu Aug 23, 2007 2:17 pm

6trn4brn wrote:Was there a couple of weeks ago and they still seem to be trying to save money by not turning on all the lights! Never have been able to take many good pix in all the times I have been there as my digi camera does not have a bright enough flash. Pretty disappointing to go in and take more than 200 pix only to get home and download them and not be able to see most.

Otherwise, a fantastic place to visit

Whenever I'm in a dark museum, I don't use flash at all. I use a monopod or brace against something solid and then shoot away. When I get home I use PhotoShop to increase the lighting in each picture and most look like I was shooting in a well lit museum. I could send you some before and after examples if you'd like to see what I mean.

Dennis

Thu Aug 23, 2007 3:36 pm

Dennis Bergstrom wrote:
Whenever I'm in a dark museum, I don't use flash at all. I use a monopod or brace against something solid and then shoot away. When I get home I use PhotoShop to increase the lighting in each picture and most look like I was shooting in a well lit museum. I could send you some before and after examples if you'd like to see what I mean.

Dennis

Here's a picture taken using that technique. The problem in the museum is trying to get whole aircraft in the frame without people or bits of other aircraft getting in the way.

Thu Aug 23, 2007 7:31 pm

I spent years figuring out how to get good pictures in the museum. Back in the days of emulsion-coated celluloid (once known as "film") I would lock the camara on a tripod and open the shutter for 30 seconds to a minute! My current digital works better in darck conditions, but I still get my best results with a two or three second exposure ,

One thing a tripod is indespensible for, is getting pics of those inacessable nooks and crannies like cockpits, or overhead veiws. Just extend the legs out all the way, and use your remote timer. Unfortunately, you can't get as close to most of the planes as you used to (escpecially the warbirds) but sometimes if you ask real nice the volunteers will let you step behind the barricades to snap a few pics.

SN

Thu Aug 23, 2007 8:10 pm

Everytime I go to the museum I fill out a comment card asking that they brighten up the place. Obviously I carry alot of weight because its still way too dark. I'm sure they must get complaints from other people also.

Thu Aug 23, 2007 8:34 pm

coldflyer wrote:Be there on Friday when the doors open at 0900 and go directly to the information desk and ask to be put on the "restoration hangar wait list". Don't let any one get to the desk before you do. There are usually two or three late cancellations or no shows. Have made several unplanned visits in the past year or so and have been able to get on the tour each time. Good luck.

Thanks Greg, that is what I plan on doing (Posting from my hotel room now...)

I'll try my best to get some decent pics...

Fri Aug 24, 2007 5:48 am

Dennis...that is what I have done with all of the pix that I have taken there. Just seems like such a pain to have to manipulate all of my pix after I download them.

Pat...you are not the only one asking them to lighten the place up some!

I still love it there and am so jealous of the people who "work" there

Fri Aug 24, 2007 6:24 am

"We are the Keepers of Their Stories" ..... The museum motto.

In the next 10 minutes I will be heading to the museum for my morning volunteer stint ... and what I call hallow halls ... Many museums don't even allow photos to be taken ...

Every shift as I walk the gallery I think of my cousin who flew 35 missions in B-17's with the 381st ... my friends who never came back from Korea and those of Vietnam ... Desert Storm and now Iraq ...

Without wanting to cause a controversy .... enjoy the museum for what it is and what it is intended to be ..

The Cold War gallery painted black, wile hard to photograph, emphasizes the museum and it dioramas ... when one walks into the MOdern Flight which is all white, the overwhelming size of the hanger takes away from both the Korean and Vitenam exhibits ... while I can't say for sure, but the rumor is that it too will be painted black ..

So please do come ... come often ... but take the time to read the info as well as taking pictures ... The Doolittle Goblets, ... The return of the POW's from Vietnam ... The history of our country's aviation is there ....

Again .. no hurt intended ... God Bless ...

Fri Aug 24, 2007 1:11 pm

My personal opinion;

I thought that the museum was to celebrate the history of the USAF? A dark environment with black walls is hardly the best environment in which to show off the many excellent exhibits? I personally find the Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon and Duxford more enjoyable to visit, they are light enough to really see the aircraft in detail. A few examples at Hendon ....

Fri Aug 24, 2007 1:17 pm

"NMUSAF is mecca"- A volunteer at another air museum that was visiting our place.

Fri Aug 24, 2007 1:35 pm

Hey TAdan,
If you haven't left yet you HAVE to take the hangar tour. The XB-70 is one of the most awesome aircraft you will ever lay eyes on. There are many more aircraft of historical significance there worth seeing as well. Check out the X-3 Stilleto (sp?). I don't know why but I was very surprised to see that that thing flies with a yoke instead of a stick. The WWII mock control tower and barracks outside close 30 min before the rest of the museum. Don't forget to check it out too.

http://www.flygplan.info/images/50-talets_x-planes.jpg

All these planes are there in the hangar tour.

Fri Aug 24, 2007 8:43 pm

I like the Naval Air Museum over nmusaf. The nmusaf blocks there aircraft off. The nam lets you see the airplanes close up. I love looking in the gear wells of the skyraider and corsair. I know the nmusaf does this for reason but nothing like seeing them from whatever angle you want. Both museums are great and I kind of liked the low light in the nmusaf.

Last edited by Citabria86614 on Sat Aug 25, 2007 1:50 am, edited 1 time in total.

Fri Aug 24, 2007 10:21 pm

The trip was a success!

I am uploading 200+ pics now.

First of all...I was able to get into the Behind the Scenes Restoration Hanger tour! :lol:

I arrived at 8:45 and got some nice pics in the air park of the C-141 looking great in the early morning sun.

I then managed to be the first one to the information desk and got on the tour.

As far as lighting...the museum has done an awsome job improving the lighting. I was very impressed, the lighting is now focused on the individual a/c and does a great job helping the visitor focus on the planes. I was very happy with the pics I took. They also have done a great job laying out the aircraft, the "flow" in the galleries has greatly improved.

The staff was nothing but delightful and helpful!

I could go on and on. There is no doubt about it that this is one of the best museums out there, and they are continually improving it.

Well done NMUSAF.

Pictures soon!