Any News out of Galveston ?

Rob Mears · **Posted:** Tue Sep 16, 2008 9:13 am

It's questionable whether any airframe submerged in salt water is going to be 100% salvagable for the very long haul, short of a complete replacement of all its metal. The potential for corrosion begins at the molecular level, and every microscopic imperfection in that metal serves as a trap for salts and intergranular corrosion. I'm not saying certain planes haven't survived saltwater immersion to fly another day, but the truly long term effects have yet to be seen in some of the more high profile cases IMO.

I wish the museum the best, and given their location, I think they deserve to be congratulated for having the wisdom to maintain the cream of their collection in "travelling" condition. That said though, I figure insurance alone isn't going to be enough to save the remaining airframes from the longer term cancer that most likely awaits them. That's my doom & gloom post for the day. :wink:

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Tue Sep 16, 2008 9:39 am

Trae,

If/when you get more information about LSFM members as well as recovery efforts, please let me know. There's a possibility that some of us from SA might be interested in a workday expedition to help out.
If you have any more contact with folks at Scholes can you try and find out if the have any 100LL in the tanks still available? Right now it's sounding like the only way to the island would be via aircraft.
Just talked to one of the CAP guys flying over and he said it looked like a real mess.

Ryan

Elroy13 · **Posted:** Tue Sep 16, 2008 9:55 am

RyanShort1 wrote:

Trae,

If/when you get more information about LSFM members as well as recovery efforts, please let me know. There's a possibility that some of us from SA might be interested in a workday expedition to help out.
If you have any more contact with folks at Scholes can you try and find out if the have any 100LL in the tanks still available? Right now it's sounding like the only way to the island would be via aircraft

Ryan

Thanks Ryan for the offer! Im not sure what the reg's are for coming into the airport. I wouldnt count on anything happening for weeks to come. Soon as I hear something I will try and keep everyone posted. As far as 100LL, I doubt it but who knows.
Right now everyone(member/volunteers) are still trying to make ends meet for their own families. Lots of power still out (including me). And if you find a gas station open, be prepared to wait in line for a few hours. Also ice is a highly prized commodity!

Harry came out ok with just some trees down and debris everywhere. Remember him?
So far most of the active member/volunteers have all checked in with each other. Some left for San Antonio, Dallas, Waco and other surrounding areas.

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Tue Sep 16, 2008 10:49 am

Elroy13 wrote:

Thanks Ryan for the offer! Im not sure what the reg's are for coming into the airport. I wouldnt count on anything happening for weeks to come. Soon as I hear something I will try and keep everyone posted. As far as 100LL, I doubt it but who knows.
Right now everyone(member/volunteers) are still trying to make ends meet for their own families. Lots of power still out (including me). And if you find a gas station open, be prepared to wait in line for a few hours. Also ice is a highly prized commodity!

Harry came out ok with just some trees down and debris everywhere. Remember him?
So far most of the active member/volunteers have all checked in with each other. Some left for San Antonio, Dallas, Waco and other surrounding areas.

Yeah, I still remember Harry. Glad he's ok. The offer (if things were to work out and I could get all the ducks lined up) isn't just for the museum. If there are temporary repairs or other kind of things that could be done for members, etc... I'd like to at least know about it so if someone here is able to help, they could be aware of it. FYI right now we're having a 100LL shortage ourselves and the prices are going up on what's available, so that's one reason we'd have to look at the situation before making a decision. Wouldn't want to get there and then be stuck and an additional burden!
Looks like CAP is relocating to Houston shortly for their missions.

Ryan

Elroy13 · **Posted:** Tue Sep 16, 2008 11:11 am

Ok thanks Ryan! Will advise if I hear anything.

Bill Greenwood · **Posted:** Tue Sep 16, 2008 11:15 am

ABC news last night had a spot from on the ground at Bolivar Peninsula, and many of the houses were completely gone down to the slab, and almost all damaged along with the bridge, road etc. The was also a picture of a part of Galveston, which was a trailer park, except this was a MOBILE home park, with the emphasis on mobile. The buildings had been floated or blown off their pads and into a fence line.

BCalmes · **Posted:** Tue Sep 16, 2008 12:05 pm

The Galveston Railroad Museum has a slide show on their website that includes photos of the air museum as well. You'll have to wait a bit to get to the air museum.

It isn't pretty.

http://www.galvestonrrmuseum.com/grrm_081.htm

Elroy13 · **Posted:** Tue Sep 16, 2008 12:24 pm

BCalmes wrote:

The Galveston Railroad Museum has a slide show on their website that includes photos of the air museum as well. You'll have to wait a bit to get to the air museum.

It isn't pretty.

http://www.galvestonrrmuseum.com/grrm_081.htm

Thanks for finding that!

tulsaboy · **Posted:** Tue Sep 16, 2008 12:49 pm

I went through the posted slide show from the Railroad Museum and found these. Am I to guess this is the museum interior?

I sure hope you guys are okay, and that the museum gets back on its feet asap!!!

kevin

Elroy13 · **Posted:** Tue Sep 16, 2008 12:49 pm

I was just emailed 11 pics from inside of the museum....words cant even describe what it looks like in there! The Texas Aviation Hall of Fame is completely wiped out, NOTHING!! Just two small model aircraft hanging from the ceiling. Someone was asking about the N3N its in there too! There is even a boat inside! Several walls were breached by the surge and pushed in.

tulsaboy · **Posted:** Tue Sep 16, 2008 12:56 pm

Trae- check your PMs.

kevin

Django · **Posted:** Tue Sep 16, 2008 1:20 pm

Uggh. That's horrible.

snj-5 · **Posted:** Tue Sep 16, 2008 1:25 pm

Rob Mears wrote:

It's questionable whether any airframe submerged in salt water is going to be 100% salvagable for the very long haul, short of a complete replacement of all its metal. The potential for corrosion begins at the molecular level, and every microscopic imperfection in that metal serves as a trap for salts and intergranular corrosion. I'm not saying certain planes haven't survived saltwater immersion to fly another day, but the truly long term effects have yet to be seen in some of the more high profile cases IMO.

I think the trick is to disassemble the aircraft and get it/them
submerged in fresh water ASAP!

I know of a Harvard IV that was ditched in salt water years and
years ago. It was recovered quickly, dis-assembled and the large
pieces were submerged in a (private) swimming pool. The aircraft still
flies today....

Bela P. Havasreti

Second Air Force · **Posted:** Tue Sep 16, 2008 1:25 pm

Kevin, to answer your original question, yes that is the Museum.

Scott

Elroy13 · **Posted:** Tue Sep 16, 2008 1:26 pm

I wish I was able to transfer the pics, but being at the office I cant upload them. Maybe Steve S, Canso or Tom Crawford can post them.

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Any News out of Galveston ?

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