B-17's waiting to fly?

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Wed May 14, 2008 12:48 pm

AirJimL2 wrote:

mustangdriver wrote:

For the record, we don't get funding from the Government. No tax dollars are used in the museum either.

You are kidding right?

The Air Force Museum Foundation website states:

Quote:

The National Museum of the United States Air Force is an Air Force facility funded by the Air Force for normal Operations and Maintence costs.

Of course tax dollars are used for the Museum, that is simple common sense. Unless of course I missed the memo and the United States Air Force became a private corporation recently. All USAF funding comes from the government and tax dollars. To state otherwise is just silly.

Jim

I'll say it again. We get no tax dollars. We also get no help in the form of cash from the USAF. They do help us out with other things though.

Mike · **Joined:** Tue May 04, 2004 8:54 am **Posts:** 3332

From the Museum Foundation's website http://www.afmuseum.com/

"The National Museum of the United States Air Force is an Air Force facility funded by the Air Force for normal Operations and Maintenance costs."

I find the claim that the museum recieves no tax dollars to be totally ridiculous. It states quite clearly here that it is funded by the Air Force.

The Museum Foundation, a support organisation for the museum, is self-funding. The Museum itself is funded by all of us taxpayers.

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Wed May 14, 2008 1:10 pm

Well I can tell you that no tax dollars have gone into aircraft restorations or the buildings. So I am not sure what they are giving us money for. The museum tells the tour guides to make sure they know that no tax dollars are spent on the museum. If we get help from the USAF it is in the form of moving aircraft like the XC-99.
So let me ask you guys. What does this all have to do with B-17's other than the fact that some of you guys love to bash the NMUSAF. Oh that's right you find a way to do that in any threas you like.

AirJimL2 · **Posted:** Wed May 14, 2008 1:24 pm

mustangdriver wrote:

I'll say it again. We get no tax dollars. We also get no help in the form of cash from the USAF.

Just because you say it again, doesn't make it true.

Do some reseach. H.R. 5122 (2007) which after being passed by Congress became Public Law No: 109-364 states in Title III Operation and Maintenance, Section 322(d):

Quote:

(d) National Museum of the United States Air Force- Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated by section 301(4) for operation and maintenance for the Air Force, not less than $3,000,000 may be available to the Secretary of the Air Force for the acquisition, installation, and maintenance of exhibits at the facility designated by the Secretary as the National Museum of the United States Air Force. The Secretary may enter into a contract with the Air Force Museum Foundation for the purpose of performing such acquisition, installation, and maintenance.

Jim

CAPFlyer · **Posted:** Wed May 14, 2008 1:29 pm

Jim,

All fine and well, but that appropriation only APPROVES the expenditure of funds by the USAF on a contract basis with the NMUSAF for not more than $3million per year. This does not in any way mean that even a single penny was actually spent. If you want to find out if the USAF actually put any money into the NMUSAF, look at the USAF's budget submission for last year or make a FOIA request via the Air Force Public Relations department requesting a summary of expenditures relating to the NMUSAF by the USAF.

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Wed May 14, 2008 1:33 pm

I only know what I am told from the museum. When I do my time there. I don't get into the whole numbers thing other than the over 300 aircraft that are on display there. But remind me once again, what doeas all of this have to do with B-17's?

ZRX61 · **Joined:** Tue Jun 14, 2005 10:16 am **Posts:** 2309

I know that the aircraft I worked on for the museum didn't have any tax *dollars* spent on it, They traded airframes for work.

gary1954 · **Posted:** Wed May 14, 2008 1:41 pm

Jesse C. wrote:

So, I take it the Swamp Ghost is out of the running? :roll:

As for the "Movie" Belle, yeah, it should be repainted to represent a different bird.

Just my crazy thoughts

I for one, would like to see a B-17 dressed up as a member of the 385th BG 550th BS in the air, but then, it would cost a bundle to make the Movie Belle look like a G Model. *snap* :roll:

gary1954 · **Posted:** Wed May 14, 2008 1:46 pm

Okay guys.. :shock:

..Pull back on the throttles and adjust the pitch in your Hamilton Standards....

this thread is regarding the B-17. if you want to creat a new thread and trade shots about the funding of the USAFM, then start one. I would like to continue to read about the -17 flyables and projects, and ever so elusive Swamp Ghost. I am done now

AirJimL2 · **Posted:** Wed May 14, 2008 1:55 pm

mustangdriver wrote:

So let me ask you guys. What does this all have to do with B-17's other than the fact that some of you guys love to bash the NMUSAF.

I'm not bashing the NMUSAF, just stating facts.

What does this have to do with B-17s? You brought it up. (See your quote in my first post.) Apparently it was an acceptable point at that time. Is it now off limits because you are wrong?

Jim

gary1954 · **Posted:** Wed May 14, 2008 1:59 pm

gary1954 wrote:

Okay guys.. :shock:

..Pull back on the throttles and adjust the pitch in your Hamilton Standards....

this thread is regarding the B-17. if you want to creat a new thread and trade shots about the funding of the USAFM, then start one. I would like to continue to read about the -17 flyables and projects, and ever so elusive Swamp Ghost. I am done now

Let it go Jim and anybody else who desires to dicuss the Air Force Museum, and lets get back to bombers

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Wed May 14, 2008 2:05 pm

6trn4brn wrote:

I don't understand if the good general has the backing of the US Gubmint behind him to strongarm anyone blaspheming The Belle, wouldn't that mean if he needs funds for anything he can get those funds from Uncle Sugar? How lucrative can the trinkets, baubles and beads sales at the museum gift shop be? Where do the owners of The MOVIE Memphis Belle get their funding from? Here is an idea: see if the good general can get funding from Uncle Sugar to just repaint the entire MOVIE Memphis Belle and be done with it :roll:

Only problem with that is how many of us have seen The MOVIE Memphis Belle in person and loved the way it looks...all war-weary lookin with the faded paint and oil drippings?!?

Just one more example of "I said so and that's good enough" mentality. Never question authority comrade :roll:

I believe that answers your questions. If you want to continue do it in another thread. Hearing national museums getting bashed time and time again gets old.

gary1954 · **Posted:** Wed May 14, 2008 2:08 pm

****YAWN****

L. Thompson · **Posted:** Wed May 14, 2008 2:23 pm

The B-17 project that is "not public yet"... would a WIXER have to assume a PNG airframe here, or maybe Bolivia, or Greenland, or ...????

Where ever it originates from I'm just glad to hear there is another.

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