Trip To Chanute Air Museum

[mustangdriver]

I had the day off so a buddy and I took a short hop over to the Chanute Air Museum that we have been talking about. Here are some pics of the aircraft that were discussed that the NMUSAF suggested they take back. There is a pic of the P-51H here as well which is not going anywhere.

[peter]

Nice pics, not trying to knock the museum but it looks like they could use a few extra hands to get some of the aircraft looking their best?

[ffuries]

Here's the F-15 in better days, this was taken around Mar/Apr 1986 when I was there for Aircrew Life Support Tech School. Won't tell you which young punk is me!

[Mudge]

I'm gonna' take a guess that you're the young Airman Deuce, standing on the left.

Mudge the visually acute

[ffuries]

Nope, sorry Mudge, that's Sgt Snyder one of our instructors!

[SPANNERmkV]

Chanute Air Museum was one of my favorite stops on tour last summer!

They are worthy of any warbird fans best support!

Yes, some of the airplanes outside need (lots of) TLC. But I would offer the opinion that they are no worse off than any number of pop-sicle airplanes or A/C parked outside of bldgs. on ramps currently under the Air Force's direct stewardship.

SPANNER

[Mudge]

Nope, sorry Mudge, that's Sgt Snyder one of our instructors!

A Sgt. with 2 stripes? Boy, it ain't like the old days. Back when I was a young airman, it was:
no stripe=A/Bc (You were an Airman Basic but you still had class. )
1 stripe=A/3c
2 stripes=A/2c
3 stripes=A/1c
1 rocker=Staff sgt
2 rockers=Tech
3 rockers=Master

Keep in mind, that was over 50 years ago.

Mudge the ex A/1c geezer

[mustangdriver]

I agree with much of what Spanner says. The museum needs help. It needs volunteers in the worst way. As far as the condition of the aircraft, some of them are in worse shape than even some of the ones I have seen on poles.

[Django]

Are they considering giving up that F-14 and the T-33? Would they let them to go to make room for some of the outside birds to come in from the weather? Seems like the indoor aircraft would be fine where they sit.

[mustangdriver]

The F-15 is one of the aircraft leaving. Once again I want to point out, that the NMUSAF requested nothing from them originally. The board at the Chanute museum decided they needed to give back some of their aircraft. In the loan agreement it is stated that the Chanute Museum is responsible to pay for transport back to the NMUSAF. The NMUSAF in an effort not to close the doors of the museum said they would write a letter requesting the aircraft back, which puts the Chanute museum off of the hook. The NMUSAF inspected the place and asked for 8 aircraft back, the museum voted and gave 15 airframes back.

[mustangdriver]

The folks at the museum are great. Just keep in mind there are only about 8 volunteers and 1 or 2 paid staff. They just need help. A donation would be welcome to them, but I also think that volunteers would be equally as welcome.

[Tiger Tim]

The museum needs help. It needs volunteers in the worst way.

That's true of a lot of museums and while a lot of people say that, not a lot go out and do anything about it (I'm not referring to anyone here at all, just the general public). If you do have a local museum, go give them some of your time. I'm sure you can free a little up, plus helping others will balance your karma.

As for the pics themselves, thanks for taking them. What unusual colours for a Jenny (in the background, behind the P-51), does anyone know if they're proper?

-Tim

[mustangdriver]

I don't think they are Tim. That Jenny is a replica. And what you say about volunteers are 100% correct. That was the main reason we formed Warbird Rescue. I don't think there are many museums or groups that couldn't use volunteers.

[whistlingdeath77]

Here's the F-15 in better days, this was taken around Mar/Apr 1986 when I was there for Aircrew Life Support Tech School. Won't tell you which young punk is me!

are you the black guy all the way to the right?

[PJ]

I guess the guy in the middle of the front row.


PJ
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