A-12 on Intrepid

In article , Keith Willshaw
wrote:

The alternative to that aircraft going to Intrepid was more likely
the scrapyard, thats where most went after all.

Bull. Not one single Blackbird has been scrapped since the
program was shut down and the Blackbirds sent to museums. This
are historically significant aircarft, and they deserve to be
treated as the museum pieces that they are.

I sympathise with your concerns but frankly Intrepid loses
money as it is, the only admission charges dont cover maintenance
costs and without the money from those banquets the museum
would go bust.

Well, if the Intrepid cannot take care of this historic aircraft,
then they should give it up to someone who can. There are dozens
of musuems that would love to have a Blackbird.

-john-

--
================================================== ==================
John A. Weeks III 952-432-2708
Newave Communications http://www.johnweeks.com
================================================== ==================

On Tue, 05 Aug 2003 19:24:36 -0500, "John A. Weeks III"
wrote:

In article , Keith Willshaw
wrote:

The alternative to that aircraft going to Intrepid was more likely
the scrapyard, thats where most went after all.

Bull. Not one single Blackbird has been scrapped since the
program was shut down and the Blackbirds sent to museums. This
are historically significant aircarft, and they deserve to be
treated as the museum pieces that they are.

That A-12 went to Intrepid long before 1990. Don't confuse the A-12s,
which were distributed to museums first, with the SR-71s, which were
distributed after the deactivation.

You do know there's an SR-71 buried over by the Edwards AFB dump,
don't you? I think it would be more correct to say that no intact
Blackbird has been scrapped.

Folks, not all Blackbirds survived intact. A pretty fair number were
written off. Check the list in Crickmore.

Mary

--
Mary Shafer Retired aerospace research engineer

"John A. Weeks III" wrote in message ...
In article , Keith Willshaw
wrote:

The alternative to that aircraft going to Intrepid was more likely
the scrapyard, thats where most went after all.

Bull. Not one single Blackbird has been scrapped since the
program was shut down and the Blackbirds sent to museums. This
are historically significant aircarft, and they deserve to be
treated as the museum pieces that they are.

I sympathise with your concerns but frankly Intrepid loses
money as it is, the only admission charges dont cover maintenance
costs and without the money from those banquets the museum
would go bust.

Well, if the Intrepid cannot take care of this historic aircraft,
then they should give it up to someone who can. There are dozens
of musuems that would love to have a Blackbird.

-john-

Intrepid's corporate atmosphere and it's CEO/PR/ finanical/ officers
are ALL making from 90,000 to 6 figure salaries. Everyone of them.
They spend virtually NOTHING on exhibits, rely on former crewmembers
and vocational schools and volunteers to support the museum staff, and
they spend nothing on the flight deck and hanger deck exhibit aircraft
excerpt for the occasional house pain that they use to paint the A-12.
there is NOT ONE curator or historial on the staff. However, there are
plenty of PR people. John is right. There are lots of museums that
would LOVE to have that aircraft! However, due to "politics" they will
never have the chance.

Jeannette

"Jeanne" wrote in message
om...
"John A. Weeks III" wrote in message
...
In article , Keith Willshaw
wrote:


Intrepid's corporate atmosphere and it's CEO/PR/ finanical/ officers
are ALL making from 90,000 to 6 figure salaries.

Please provide a cite to substantiate the claim that the Intrepid museum CEO
draws a 6 figure salary from that organisation

Everyone of them.
They spend virtually NOTHING on exhibits, rely on former crewmembers
and vocational schools and volunteers to support the museum staff, and
they spend nothing on the flight deck and hanger deck exhibit aircraft
excerpt for the occasional house pain that they use to paint the A-12.
there is NOT ONE curator or historial on the staff. However, there are
plenty of PR people. John is right. There are lots of museums that
would LOVE to have that aircraft! However, due to "politics" they will
never have the chance.

Jeannette

Hmm their website lists the following recently completed
capital projects

Allison & Howard Lutnick Theater
The Museum has installed a new, state-of-the-art 245 seat theatre.

Visitor Center
The Museum has constructed a modern, inviting facility as the Museum's new
Visitor Center

Crew Mess Area
In May 2001 the Museum opened the Crew Mess Area to accommodate school and
tour groups and other Museum visitors.

Full-Access Elevator
A new elevator, funded by the Disabled American Veterans, allows complete
access to the Intrepid's Flight, Hangar and Third Decks

Flight Deck
A Congressional appropriation allowed for the replacement of the Intrepid's
old wooden flight deck, which had seriously deteriorated over time, with a
new steel surface

HVAC System
A new air conditioning and heating system has been installed in the Museum's
Hangar Deck.

Exhibit: Defending Our Future
Defending our Future is an interactive exhibit showcasing our nation's
latest military technology and equipment

Exhibit: Mission Control
Mission Control teaches about the history of America's exploration of space,
from the first space flights to today's international space station

Amongst their planned projects is

Hangar Facility
The Museum will construct a hangar building to accommodate the restoration
of the aircraft on display at the Intrepid Sea Air Space Museum. Students
from the College of Aeronautics in New York will restore the aircraft under
the supervision of faculty members of the College in a credit-bearing course
in aircraft restoration. These students will work within the new hangar
building, which will feature large windows on one side to allow Museum
visitors to view the work in progress.

I note further that your portrait of Zachary Fisher is rather
different than that in a back issue of Navy News

Quote
NEW YORK (NNS) -- The Presidental Medal of Freedom Award, the
highest honor that can be awarded a United States citizen, was
presented Monday to Zachary Fisher by President Clinton in a
private ceremony at the Waldof Astoria hotel in New York City. The
ceremony was attended by Mrs. Clinton, Secretary of Defense
William S. Cohen and the heads of all five branches of military
service. Fisher was awarded the medal for his steadfast and
generous support of the U.S. military.

snip
In 1978, Fisher founded the Intrepid Museum Foundation to
save the historic and battle-scarred aircraft carrier Intrepid
from scrapping. Through his efforts the vessel became the
foundation of the Intrepid Sea Air Space Museum, which opened in
New York City in 1982. Since that time, Fisher has contributed
more than $25 million to the establishment and operation of the
Museum, a tribute to the thousands of military men and women who
have served and continue to serve our country.
snip
In addition to founding the Intrepid Museum, Fisher and his
wife formed the Zachery and Elizabeth Fisher Armed Services
Foundation to provide contributions to families who survive the
death of a loved one in the armed service. These began with a
$10,000 contribution to each of the families of the 238 victims of
the bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut in 1983. Since then,
the Foundation has sent more than 600 checks of more than $10,000
each to the families of other military personnel who have been
killed.
snip
The Foundation also provides scholarship funds to active and
former service members and their families. Since 1987, more than
700 students have received scholarships of between $500 and
$2,500. In 1990, the Fishers began the Fisher House Program,
dedicating more than $15 million to the construction of 28 comfort
homes for families of hospitalized military personnel. The houses
are designed to provide all the comforts of a "home away from
home," and to allow families to support one another through their
difficult times.
In similar efforts, the Fishers provided $1.4 million for the
establishment of a child care center at Camp Pendleton Marine Base
in California, and led in supporting the CAMP program at Lackland
Air Force Base which serves disabled children of military
personnel.
snip
/Quote

Politics is doubtless an issue but it seems you do protest too much.

Keith