Collings Foundation Aircraft Museum Expansion Blocked by local Council — news report

This page on the foundation site is even better!

Sounds much like what is happening in Santa Monica, CA.

Thank you Mike and DC Page for the info! The bit I had been going by was just what Legend Flyers had stated back in July, at which time they only said that it had a new owner, but didn’t mention who it was or that it was them. At that same time, they also mentioned that the Sakae engine was tied-up legally as to its ownership, and until that was settled it of course wouldn’t be available. The R-1830 is a fantastic engine and certainly makes very practical sense anyway.

Mike J, I believe you are correct about the A6M3 at Legend Flyers, I was just reading about it last night. It appears they’ve decided to go with a running P&W R1830 instead of the incomplete Sakae that they had, so that will probably speed up the process. Here’s the restoration update.

http://www.warbirdsnews.com/warbirds-news/legend-flyers-restoration-update.html

I understand that the Zero is now owned by Legend Flyers themselves, who will offer it for sale.

Now that they own more aircraft, P38, P40 and another B17, you can see why they want the space. Sounds like the local council have not heard of money, which they would get through increased visitor footfall. There are a few in this country too!

It sounds like they have a lot of the armored vehicles/tanks from the Jacques Littlefield collection still to make room for. Some of their heavy warbirds never are based at Stow (for instance, the tour aircraft are based in Florida during the time they are in for annual maintenance/inspection, and otherwise they are always on tour). They do have quite an extensive number of warbirds under restoration or pending restoration, not even including their recent acquisitions from the Evergreen Museum. Under restoration to fly right now, owned by Collings, are an Fw-190F (original), TF-51D, Spitfire Mk.IX, P-40B, Hellcat, and A-26. From the Evergreen collection, the B-17, P-38, P-40K, and Bf-109G have already been confirmed by Collings as having been acquired by them and will be readied to fly as soon as possible (with only some question as pertaining to the 109), and the Spitfire Mk.XVI TE356 is also registered under the same new name/title as those aircraft, but little to nothing has been said about it yet. It sounds like it is Collings’ intention to get the former Evergreen B-17 flying again by the end of next year, ahead of the 2017 Collings tour, so that it can temporarily replace “Nine O Nine” on the tour circuit so that “Nine O Nine” can receive some extensive maintenance/rehab (over a 1-2 year period) – the same plan they have for their TF-51D, to temporarily replace their TP-51C on the tour while it undergoes extensive maintenance. (The Evergreen A6M3 Zero was also sold, under restoration at Legend Flyers, but the new owner has yet to be identified – my own thinking being perhaps Collings or Yagen, since it would fill a void in their collections, as compared to several of the other flying collections in the US which already have a flying Zero.)

Not surprising, the entire state has its head up its a$$.

The Stow Board have made very disappointing decisions over some time. The latest view regarding the CF not being educational is absolutely farcical. The CF is a superb educational foundation. I am proud to be a volunteer. The Wings of Freedom Tour brings a working museum to the population. The Tour lasts over 10 months, 300+ days, visits approximately 110 cities, enabling people to get up close and personal to a B17, B24, P51 and B25. The Vets and their families have a great time and it is wonderful to see younger generations learning about the greatest generation. Home base at Stow is a great educational place with reenactment, speakers. Education is about fun as well as learning. When i was a kid, most museums were dull and boring. Those that brought history to life made learning and education fun. I hope the board will realise what a wonderful asset to Stow, its economy and US Heritage the CF is.

Now that they own more aircraft, P38, P40 and another B17, you can see why they want the space. Sounds like the local council have not heard of money, which they would get through increased visitor footfall. There are a few in this country too!