Secret collections

If I were to ever acquire a historic aircraft, it is quite likely that, having read what is posted on this board over several years, I would specifically try to keep the news from reaching the posters here.

While many of you are excellent people who respect the wishes of others and only post what has been confirmed as true, there are a depressingly high number who see nothing wrong with posting random unsubstantiated rumors, info that has specifically been asked NOT to be spread about, or even bald-faced lies if someone annoys them.

All in all, this is not a place to talk about things unless you are willing to be abused and sabotaged, as well as being helped, applauded, and appreciated.

You could take your post to mean that it’s ok to use the forum to ask for info or if anyone has any parts but not to share what the parts are for……..

“We already reduced the number of military posts from 23,000 to 7,500, and eventually around 300 should remain.” That’s a quote from Russian defense minister Aleksandr Serdyukov in an Itogi Online interview on 10 October.

Whatever this means for Russian defense policy, it likely means a mass scrapping of gate guardians and, more important, all the interesting stuff that has been in crates or hangars since 1945.

Much as I admire our Russian friends pulling aircraft out of lakes, pulling them out of the grip of their own defense ministry may be more important.

What would your views be if for example a unknown collector had an aircraft of major historic value…. …or an airworthy type of aircraft which is the last known example left in the world and that includes static examples.

And they are stored in a Hanger/Container never to see daylight again for many many years.

Would you say they should belong in a Museum? Or should the collector keep them stored?

I suppose this is a bad time to mention my airworthy Stirling, Albemarle, Whitley and Whirlwind? :diablo:

I’m not letting anyone in my store to dribble over my Stirling…

Dammit, I thought mine was unique. :D:dev2:

Well, for a start, there’s Pancho Barnes’ Travel Air Type R

Which I just learned about while research an answer for a new poster here.

Also, Douglas “Wrong Way” Corrigan’s Curtiss Robin that he used to fly the Atlantic is still owned by his family.

Like the recent “barn finds” in the vintage car world (several of which were already well-known to certain groups),
it’s exciting to think what else might be out there.
I’d like to think some ex-Mustang pilot bought a plane in the 50s (when they were sold for a few thousand dollars) and stuck it in his barn so he could occasionally sit in it and remember…but I’m not going to hold my breath.

But as the older fellows move into retirement centers or pass away, more stuff will come to the surface.
A elderly local collector and friend just sold his easily airworthy Puss Moth, a couple of Moth fuselages and several Gypsy engine cores to a UK pilot.
The same man sold his WWI-era stuff, engines and a Thomas Morris Scout to an America collecter from the east coast.
While these aircraft were hardly secret or hidden, they hadn’t seen much flying the past decade or two.

Somebody local to me took me on a tour of his first world war collection in a massive bunker under his house.There a trench system with special effects,Hospital,vehicles and probaby 100 manekins in uniforms…….seldom seen.

Well, for a start, there’s Pancho Barnes’ Travel Air Type R

Well, for a start, there’s Pancho Barnes’ Travel Air Type R

O.K. guy, Maybe a few of you could list some of the best private collections around that are mostly off limits.

Someone asked what is a Greenham Common. Does any one here care to say.

Thanks

O.K. guy, Maybe a few of you could list some of the best private collections around that are mostly off limits.

Someone asked what is a Greenham Common. Does any one here care to say.

Thanks

For a monetary compensation, perhaps… but can they replace the item itself?

Which is, after all, the whole point of the collection… to have actual pieces of history, not a cheque for their estimated market value!

For a monetary compensation, perhaps… but can they replace the item itself?

Which is, after all, the whole point of the collection… to have actual pieces of history, not a cheque for their estimated market value!

I have various bits n pieces of my collection on display in the local history museum in Oswestry. theres staff constantly walking around and all the bits are in cases or high up on a wall and away from grubby paws.. anything goes missing or damaged is covered by their insurance.. 🙂

I have various bits n pieces of my collection on display in the local history museum in Oswestry. theres staff constantly walking around and all the bits are in cases or high up on a wall and away from grubby paws.. anything goes missing or damaged is covered by their insurance.. 🙂

Another thing to consider is that private collections are, in many cases, open to properly accredited researchers just as are the main collections held in storage by public museums. In both cases it is a justified policy as it protects valuable items from casual gawpers. If one is a serious researcher then a polite letter and reasons for wanting to view items backed up with a creditable research program will gain access. Used that several times myself. I can understand curiousity but considering costs, values both historic and financial etc. then it is best to ensure that items are protected. It is a very rare public display indeed that allows unfettered access to objects.

Another thing to consider is that private collections are, in many cases, open to properly accredited researchers just as are the main collections held in storage by public museums. In both cases it is a justified policy as it protects valuable items from casual gawpers. If one is a serious researcher then a polite letter and reasons for wanting to view items backed up with a creditable research program will gain access. Used that several times myself. I can understand curiousity but considering costs, values both historic and financial etc. then it is best to ensure that items are protected. It is a very rare public display indeed that allows unfettered access to objects.

I think that a natural location for secret collections is Russia. I was told, some 30 years ago, by someone who claimed to know, about a Soviet reserve collection that included one each of german and lend-lease aircraft, including an Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle that supposedly was seen when they were moving things around in a hangar.

I think that a natural location for secret collections is Russia. I was told, some 30 years ago, by someone who claimed to know, about a Soviet reserve collection that included one each of german and lend-lease aircraft, including an Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle that supposedly was seen when they were moving things around in a hangar.

I thought the WoGB ‘collection’ was less of a collection and more a case of aircraft being stored before they were sold, a bit like Courtesy aircraft brokers in the USA

I thought the WoGB ‘collection’ was less of a collection and more a case of aircraft being stored before they were sold, a bit like Courtesy aircraft brokers in the USA

Nice Surprises.

I don’t think there is any issue whatever. There is a lot of stuff to see, so many museums etc, we are rather spoilt in the UK.
This idea that there are all these disinterested parties hoarding and hiding old a/c (almost out of spite) probably applies to a tiny fraction of the a/c out there or more likely doesn’t exist. Added to that, these a/c are not going to be buried or cremated with the owner….! They all circulate in the end – they are far too valuable not to.
Rather, we should be happy that they are looked-after and properly stored for the future, which so many in the past have not been.
Security is a big issue and an additional cost to the storage and insurance. The fact that there are enthusiast who would like to see them is irrellevant. Better that they are safe.
In an ideal world, everybody could be trusted, but in any ‘special interests group’ there will always be those that spoil it for the rest.
I agree with the other poster who rather enjoyed the idea of these ‘mystery a/c’ materialising. Surprise presents are always so much more fun…:)