Warbird Information Exchange

Well, we spent the afternoon in the downtown NASM in D.C. Saw lots of beautiful, historic aircraft, crammed into tiny, badly-lit galleries. The crowds were just overwhelming, especially the totally out-of-control kids.

But the thing that really got my blood boiling was the treatment of "Flak Bait." I watched as obnoxious kids and brain-dead adults continually banged their knuckles on the fuselage and ran their hands over the original WWII paintwork. To me, that's like going to The Louvre and rubbing my grubby fingers over the Mona Lisa. That fact that visitors do it is bad enough, but the fact that the Smithsonian allows a priceless historic artifact to be subjected to that kind of abuse is downright criminal (and most likely a violation of the museum's charter.) The sooner they get her out of there and into Udvar-Hazy the better! I'd rather they'd left her nose in storage with the rest of her rather than just putting her out on the floor to be molested by idiots.

OK...I think I'm done. Sorry about the rant, but I needed get that out of my system. We're going out to U-H on Thursday..hopefully I'll feel a bit better after that.

SN

Think Wright Pat.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

I'd love to see her there. Visitors at NMUSAF seem to be a lot more respectful of the aircraft.

SN

I think you are going to see her moved.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

Hopefully by the crew that moved the Swoose and not the A-25 crew,but then they are prob busy tearing down a historic building on the base,

Hey Matt, there is alot in that post that you would be amazed to find out about.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

Moved to where? I thought that Flak Bait was supposed to be the first aircraft to be "restored" in the new restoration center at Udvar-Hazy, whenever that gets done.

Are you inferring that she is going to be moved some where else - like Wright-Patt?

Yeah, I think there is a chance. Remember year or two ago, Swoose was supposed to be the first through it according to the NASM. Not bashing them, they just have different aircraft they want out on display.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

Wow, I can't imagine that NASM would NOT want Flak Bait on display! That's quite shocking, considering her rarity on SO MANY LEVELS!

Obviously, there would have to be some kind of trade for this to happen. Any ideas on what the Air Force Museum would trade for Flak Bait?

I would assume that it will be B-26 for B-26.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

That would be interesting! With 2 B-17's now in the restoration cue, I'm guessing it would be quite some time before the Air Force Museum has the time to restore Flak Bait. I'm not complaing, though, as anything to get F.B. on public display before I die is a good thing!

Flak Bait will not be restored. I talked to some high brass at the museum that said "IF" it would come to the museum, it would be put together and not resotered, but left in it's original paint. So really it might not be as long as the B-17 restorations will take.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

Excellent decision! I wholeheartedly agree with that, if they decide to go that route! I just hope they can preserve the paint that's currently on it for long term preservation. I would be very happy with that decision!

Mustangdriver, let us know any more details as you get them and are able to publicly talk about them! Thanks for the info!

Anything that protects her from this kind of crap would be fine with me! I didn't even notice the kid in the second photo until I downloaded my camera.

SN

I won't even pretend to sugar coat this. The NASM should be ashamed.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director