The Museum...a few ideas..

[202]

What about the airframes in Dromod? I fully accept the bona fides of the lads there and the great efforts they have made in preservering the gear to date but while it is an ideal venue for rail or road transport equipment should the airframes not be repatriated to a more aviation themed environment. Also according to Ken Ellis' recent work on wrecks and relics, just published, there is still a Vampire airframe in Wexford, while the sorry status of the Fouga at Cork also bears consideration. Should they all be repatriated to Casement? And is there still a Chipmunk in Gormanstown and what is its status?

[GoneToTheCanner]

Sealion,please step away from the mind-altering substances!
202, the advantage of "outsiders" having ex-Air Corps equipment is that they are not bound by bureaucracy and have much more freedom.Dromod might not be a pillar of aviation life but it's better than nothing.It has the immeasurable advantage of being open to the public, right now, as opposed to some speculative time for the Don's Museum. As far as I know, the entire remaining stock of Chipmunk airframes and other items were relocated to the Museum. There are two derelict wings outside the main tech stores, in the grass.
regards
GttC

[202]

One way or another the proposed display in Collins Barracks will be far more accessible to the public, national and international, than anything that could be mounted in Casement and will be in the context of other Defence Forces equipment.

[Tony Kearns]

All Chipmunk aircraft and parts are gone from Gormanston. Collins Barracks Museum are only taking the Vampire and Miles Magister for display in their military section.
Tony K

[Historical-avi-irl.i8.com]

If The Air Corps Approve- I'll Design The Website For Free & I'll Give It Temporary Webspace On HASOI...

I'd Love To Get Involved & Keep Me In Touch, I Can Get More People To Help- You Are More Than Welcome To Start A Campaign In The "Campaigns" Section On The HASOI Forum...

Lets hope we can get atleast part of this proposal followed through.

aviheritage@eircom.net  '>

[Silver]

Quote (Tony Kearns @ 10 June 2005,11:06)

All Chipmunk aircraft and parts are gone from Gormanston. Collins Barracks Museum are only taking the Vampire and Miles Magister for display in their military section. Tony K

.....and an Alouette when (if!'>) they are retired.
(or so I read).

[Tony Kearns]

Just the Vampire and Miles Magister,
Tony K

[GoneToTheCanner]

Hi all
202, the Museum in Collins' Barracks has to reflect our national heritage and culture, even in the limited confines of the Military context, of which the Air Corps is only a comparatively small part.It is better that the Magister be housed in the protected environment of the National and it will probably recieve a better standard of preservation than it enjoys now.
regards
GttC

[Fouga23]

Shame that that Fouga is so detoriating. Give it to me, I'll take good care of it!

[Tony Kearns]

It is the Miles Magister that is going to the National Museum not the Fouga Magister and I cannot say that the Miles Magister is deteriorating in the hands of Mick Whelan at Baldonnel.
Tony K

[GoneToTheCanner]

Hi Tony et al,
With all due respect to Mick Whelan,the Miles is not in a good state of preservation.It is in a passable state, given that it lives in an ancient,bird-infested,non-temperature/moisture controlled atmosphere.It's casein glue construction material just "loves" that atmosphere.If it goes to the National and gets an indoor berth, it will be kept in the atmosphere it needs to ensure it's longevity.The only saving grace of it's present position is that it's out of direct rainfall and sunlight.Has it's engine been properly preserved? Have the metal fittings and instruments been protected? Mick can't do everything and be every where.A fairly urgent anti-corrosion programme is needed for all the items in the Museum, otherwise they'll deteriorate in short order.
regards
GttC

[Fouga23]

I agree. anti corrosion treatment is a must for all museum aircraft. I see it enough when I look at the aircraft we restore. Our museum doesn't have a hangar so they are all outside. We restore them and after a year or 2 they need a new restoration  '>

[Tony Kearns]

GTTC,
As a non technical (and I mean very non technical) person I  apperciate  your input and this explains a lot for me. The Magister has survived a lot, I remembere seeing it in the old TTS Hangar pror to its first restoration, Brendan O Donoghue was involved at the time and it was stripped down completely this was just before the late Col. Paddy Swan retired as OC. I thought that perhaps some protective work was undertaken after it came back to the museum from Engineering Wing recently. The pictures show it as it is at present (today). Unfortunately a pidgeon dive bombed the wing otherwise it still looks good.
Tony K

[Tony Kearns]

Sorry pictures will not load. Will try again
Tony K

[Tony Kearns]

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