Worrying news re Brussels Air Museum

“Brussels Sprouts W(h)ole Over Christmas”

Remember this sad thread……

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=71284

Something you have to see to understand Belgium:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ceg6NQKHd70

I knew it was complicated………..

Something you have to see to understand Belgium:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ceg6NQKHd70

Interesting…..and yet, no mention of chocolate sprinkles? :confused:

Something you have to see to understand Belgium:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ceg6NQKHd70

Aircraft that were given to them and are there just because they have them

I have enquired about purchasing their civil Proctor V 00-ARM formerly
G-AHZY they seem more interested in letting it rot away in their damp storage facility rather then let her move on

I wonder whether these gifts were unconditional or it might be the case that if the museum decided to relinquish such an aircraft, the terms of the gift would mean that it would revert to the donor? Whilst I doubt that anyone with actual knowledge of the Belgian museum posts on this forum, I’d be interested to hear from others – with actual knowledge of the situation pertaining to aircraft donated to museums – whether conditional gifts, with disposal reversion clauses, are common and whether some museums have a policy of declining such conditional gifts.

I think your hopes of them releasing it would be in vain. The only time I know of them releasing an airframe was for an exchange against another airframe. Other then that, they rather let it rot in Vissenaken. A former Army barracks infested with birds, vermin and leaky roofs.
You can however try to get it on a loan basis. But that usually means you have to arrange special transports, insurance,… And they can come at any time they want and take it back without reason.
There are a few good people in the museum who really want to do good, but the Belgian governing structure doesn’t make it easier on them!

I have enquired about purchasing their civil Proctor V 00-ARM formerly
G-AHZY they seem more interested in letting it rot away in their damp storage facility rather then let her move on. She was originally displayed in the museum, complete and an excellent basis for rebuild to flight. Since moving out she has deteriorated and is now a shadow of the fine example she was when first displayed. The museum has a Mk 4 on display and the lovely Gull.
The Mk 4 is a former Belgium air force example so correct for the museum and their policy of displaying airframes relevant to their history the Mk V was a civil machine only. Do we have any forum members who have contacts with the museum and could argue the point in the hope that the collection would see sense and release ARM for restoration?

Short answer: no.
You are talking about Belgium here. Probably the least aviation-minded country in Europe.

Where they just decided to close the last airport in my county.
Where I have to drive to the Netherlands (as in Holland, another country!) to find the nearest gliding field. (Gliding was forbidden at my now (closing) nearest airfield because it made too much noise(!) for the birds.)
Where most regional airports constantly face lawsuits or are in danger of losing their license.
Where two language groups are constantly fighting against each other, making anything on a national level (like Zaventem national airport) a nightmare to govern.

To sum it up, most people rather see aviation go away over here then support it. If something like a Duxford should open here, I’m sure it’s license would be withdrawn within a year. That is if they could get one in the first place!

I’ve only visited the Brussels Air Museum once – around.26 years ago. A fascinating if rather dusty WW1 collection and even then rather cramped for space.

Is there any chance of opening a Belgian equivalent of Duxford where the less relevant (to Belgium) airframes and larger aircraft that don’t fit easily into the hall could be displayed and renovated?

Regards

Chris

I would like to see them keep the foreign aircraft that have a connection to the Belgian Air force or Belgium. This includes said MiG-21, WWII aircraft,… However, there are some aircraft that have no connection at all to Belgium in the collection. Aircraft that were given to them and are there just because they have them. These are taking up space for relevant airframes that are now in storage.
I think every museum needs a clear collecting policy. You can’t collect and display everything. Keep in mind that this is the official museum of the Belgian armed forces. I don’t see the RAF museum displaying a Belgian Fouga, Swedish Saab or Hungarian Hind?

They DO need to sell some of the non Belgian collection.

Is this a policy that you would advocate for all Belgian museums? Should public art galleries in Belgium sell their works by non Belgian artists? Would you go further and commend the British national aviation collections to dispose of aircraft held by them that are not of British manufacture or operation? Whilst I can understand the sentiment behind the comment, I fear that, as a general statement of policy, it is a dangerous road down which to go.

Try this link Peter… 😉

Cheers
Peter D Evans
LEMB Administrator

Broken link??

They DO need to sell some of the non Belgian collection. They need the space for Belgian aircraft that are now in storage. It bugs me too see foreign aircraft that have nothing to do with our country in the museum.
Ouragan? G-91? Delfin? Draken? Vampire? Be gone!
I can understand a MiG-21 as it’s what we were up against in the cold war. They have a HUGE museum reserve that deserves to be displayed.

It was re-opened today. Only a small part of the building is still closed for the public.