Warbird Information Exchange

I got to visit the NEAM last month on my way home from Boston. I was only able to stay for an hour and a half (I wanted to stay all day!).

This was probably the nicest "small" museum I have ever visited. The facilities were immaculate. The exhibits were up to date, and plentiful. I'd have to give this museum an A+. The staff was incredibly friendly too!

Heres some pics (The rest are still on the camera...)

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Glad you enjoyed your visit!
I use to be an Associate Curator there about 15 years ago and still do special things for them occasionally.
Your comment about "small" is funny, as NEAM is somewhere around the 5th or sixth largest aviation museum in the US. Back in the early 80's were were about 3 or 4 in the ranks, but several have "passed" by our numbers!

The Director, Michael Speciale, has made incredible strides in the museum's presentations and facilities since coming to the museum in the Spring of 1985. He really has been the spark that brought it from just a hanger with just aircraft on display to where it is today.
Jerry

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

I knew that would get a comment. After visiting NMUSAF in Dayton every year... they all look kinda small

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n/m

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Nice pics. I notice looking at the Hellcat that you do the same thing I do when photographing museum aircraft..shoot one with flash, and one without.

SN

You are certainly right about Dayton!
EVERYTHING else is small by comparison!
But remember, goodthings do come in small packages!
Jerry

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

I found somewhat the opposite, I was there on an open cockpit day back in October. My feelings, still reflected in your photos but likely made worse due to the events that day, is that there is just too much stuff placed everywhere. Take your shot of the Corsair, I count at least five signs in the photo. The day I was there the Corsair and TBM where pushed so close to each other with so much crap in front of them you couldn't get a clear shot of either, or the B25. Most of the displays outside are in bad shape, and the restoration hangar was not accessible due to the open cockpit day event, something that was not stated on either the website or a simple sign upon entering the museum. I wrote an email to the museum with my concerns and never heard back from anyone. I know the museum was hit with bad luck years ago, but I was very disappointed with my visit. I had expected my visit to take several hours and I left after about one hour.

Bill.

Steve Nelson: I was using my g/f's camera...so I wasnt sure which picture would work best. So like you said i just took one with the flash and one without.

Jerry: I did really enjoy the museum and hope to go back one day when I can devote a full day to it.

Bill: It sounds like we liked and disliked it for the same reasons You are right there are ALOT of artifacts and displays to take in. It is a very "Dense" museum. Everywhere you look there is something to study.

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No question about the density of the museum displays.
Some of you may have noticed there has been less and less aircraft on outdoor disp[lay. You really can't expect aircraft in places like New England to be displayed out doors. They've brought as many in as possible and many of the display aircraft that use to be part of the museum, are now with other collections. (ie; B-47, F-8, AD-4 etc.)

Better to see them restored elsewhere than rot at a location that was expected to preserve them.

Hard to get good photo opportunities around the aircraft, but at least they are inside. More buildings are planned and that should help shift the displays around and free up some more space.

One of the most often thing visitors requested in the past was more signs with information and more smaller artifacts. They've certainly done that, but at the expense of "clutter".

It's a hard business to be in and even with the concerns mentioned, it's still one of the oldest and largest museum's in the US.
Jerry

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

I am planning a trip there at the end of this summer. I can't wait to see it.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

No pictures of the B-29?

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"Everyone wants to live here (New Jersey), evidenced by the fact that it has the highest population per capita in the U.S..."

I have more pics, dont worry They are on my g/f's digital camera. I just need to get them uploaded onto my computer.

Highlights include... The B-29, SV-44, and the Blimp Gondola.

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Okay! I read all the way through before commenting on whether or not you took any of the bit Sikorsky. I do warbirds at Lone Star but flying boats are still my first love.
Canso42

The B29 would be better photographed from the balcony area however that was roped off for some reason.

Bill.

Hmmm,
We were there for a EAA WB Sq. 7 gathering a few years back and a bird flew into a ceiling fan above the B-29, That was a pretty memorable trip.
We also did a WIX get together and the Col. brought Moxie, and Don gave out F-89 Scorpion T-shirts to everybody. That was right about this time of year.

Where did we go for dinner that day?

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