Museum Visitor FAIL

[RickH]

I don't think that's a child. I believe that is an adult who should know better.

[mustangdriver]

Maybe he just knows static airplanes are a waste of time and effort.

[k5083]

No doubt he would be quick to sue the museum if he fell off and broke his fool neck.

August

[Mudge]

No doubt he would be quick to sue the museum if he fell off and broke his fool neck.

August

That had occurred to me too.

Mudge the litigant

[RickH]

Maybe he just knows static airplanes are a waste of time and effort.

I'm very glad the statics are out there. I view some of them as the next generations of flyers !

[The Inspector]

I don't think that's a child. I believe that is an adult who should know better.

Rick, keep that thought in mind in afternoon rush hour traffic, very few 8 year olds drive to work and most commuters drive like 8 year olds.

[StangStung]

I Think the child didn't have any idea of the cost or man hours it took to get this bird back to current condition. Somewhere in the museum there should be a break down of what the cost in money and man hours to do a restoration. Still someone would not care and do what this child did. An adult would respect the artifacts and not touch! Just my two cents.

I think the breakdown of cost is a stellar idea. While those here all know the value is priceless, if the unfamiliar saw actual dollars associated with an artifact, they may think twice about touching (much like I do when I'm pawing on some sports car at the local hot-rod shop-but I digress!). It's an unfortunate fact that some folks can't/won't/were never taught that some items are worthy of respect simply for what they are intrinsically. In an society where everything is measured in dollars and cents, this might be a real eye-opener.

[StangStung]

Maybe he just knows static airplanes are a waste of time and effort.

Best

Insider

Wix-joke

Evah.

...now, let's talk about some paint!

[corsair166b]

I'm sure a lot of the Texas warbird crowd...and maybe some others.....like my self have heard the famous story (true or not I could'nt tell you, but I would lean towards 'true') of a famous Texas warbird collector with his own strip...and some aviators passing over head who saw his strip and a few vintage planes on it and who swooped down on the strip, exited their plane, and began climbing all over the vintage planes parked near the strip.....and the owner of the vintage planes who, unbeknownst to the trespassers, had snuck up onto the wing of the trespasser's plane and began yelling 'Hey lookit me! Lookit me!" or some such thing and began jumping up and down on the wing, and when told by the offenders to 'get off the plane, you can't do that!', this warbird collector stopped and looked at the trespassers and yelled "That's funny, I was about to tell you the same thing! Now GET THE HE11 OFF MY PROPERTY!!"
Funny how some folks think the rules just don't apply to them but to everyone else.

Mark

[gregv]

here's an idea; adapt a pet Scat Mat to work on an entire airframe, post clear "do not touch the exhibits" signs on all sides and then see what happens. I'm sure a mild shock would convince people to not touch things they've been asked not to. Could work on the static line at airshows as well.

Just a thought.

greg v.

[bdk]

If only he could take the whole thing, just leaving the data plate behind and a cardboard airplane cutout, and make it into a flyer?

[Mark_Pilkington]

smiles,

"Wow!!! a Pearl Harbour veteran - now thats a rare thing to behold, not something you see every day, let alone get to climb in and fly pretend missions in!"

"It deserves to be restored, preserved and kept for future generations in a National Museum, (woops, it already is!)"

"but I cant see what the problem is officer, its a museum and these planes arent ever going to fly so I cant break it, and if I do they can just fix it up again.

I'm sure they said the museum was full of interactive displays, and in anycase I'm a taxpayer - I've paid for, and own these darn aircraft anyway!!

Besides - If they didnt want me to climb on it and have a look inside, why did they put that walkway on the wing, have painted labels on it explaining where to "step" and "do not step", and leave the canopy open for me as well."

At least he had appropriate Australian safety boots on, to avoid injuring himself.

Museum's try to make these exhibits as accessible to view as possible and pose them in ready to fly positions and remove the wire mesh or rope barriers from the views and camera shots to make the experience as interesting as possible, but then some goon steps over the line, and into the cockpit, and ruins it for everyone.

regards

Mark Pilkington

Last edited by Mark_Pilkington on Mon Sep 10, 2012 3:52 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[Zachary]

Somewhat amusing story about people crossing the barriers and touching the planes and artifacts - must have been about 2003 or so and I was still fairly new at the EAA AirVenture Museum. It was the week before the convention and I was walking through the museum dusting airplanes and checking tire inflation when I see this guy across the way messing with the mannequin on the RLU-1 Breezy prototype. I walked over to the guy, who had his back to me, and started to say something along the lines of, "Sir, please do not touch the aircraft" when the guy turned around and it was none other than Carl Unger himself. Carl was one of the designers of the Breezy and for years and years gave Breezy rides during convention. The mannequin he was messing with was actually a depiction of him! He said, "They have my hat on the wrong way and my tie was crooked." He then spent about 15 minutes pointing out cool details about the prototype and telling some flying stories.

Every so often you find that its acceptable for someone to cross the barriers...

Zack

[Rob Mears]

One of the more amazing displays of poor airshow etiquette that I remember witnessing was at the 1987 Wings Over Houston airshow. I had just walked up to Buck Ridley's F4U-4 on the flight line when a large red headed man-boy literally ran up and bellyflopped onto the wing in a vain attempt to mount the plane. He promptly slid back down with only the friction of his now exposed belly to slow his descent. After a painfully long and very pronounced skin squeak, he regained his footing on the apron, promptly adjusted his wardrobe and positioned himself for another run. A young gentleman who I believe was Ridley's son appeared out of nowhere and bellowed a sharp command that immediately sent the jolly chump skedoo'ing down the flightline.

I honestly believe some folks just have trouble divorcing their fantasies from reality when it comes to warbirds and such. This guy was honestly stunned that someone called him out on what was apparently intended to be a professional display of proper aircraft mounting. I felt a moment of pity thinking about the poor girl who would eventually take him as a husband.

[RickH]

Rob, he has since learned the proper way to mount a warbird. The owners at WOH still do not appreciate him humping THEIR particular warbird !