It seems there are no need to bomb the dam.

From Wikipedia:

“In February 2008, the lake is currently at 50.44 percent of its capacity, threatening to make the Las Vegas valley’s primary raw water intake inoperable. Though the small rise since last year has eased the current crisis, if the lake doesn’t receive enough inflow this spring, problems may arise later this summer.[1] Arrangements are underway to pipe water from elsewhere in Nevada by 2011, but since the primary raw water intake at Lake Mead could become inoperable as soon as 2010 based on current drought and user projections, Las Vegas could suffer crippling water shortages in the interim.[1] Lake Mead draws a majority of its water from snow melt in the Western Colorado Rockies. Since 2000 the water level has been dropping at a fairly steady rate due to less than average snowfall. As a result, marinas and boat launch ramps have either needed to be moved to another part of the lake or have closed down completely”

Just sit back and wait. In a few years you can walk to her.

If Lake Mead is man-made, presumably there’s a dam at one end. Why not let all the water out, walk in and pick it up?

Just my tuppence;)

John

Best idea yet :p

Bring a few engines and you could fly her away.

IMHO The F-84 in Randers is not worth the bother. It has been used (as you say) for fire and rescue training.

Unless you are looking for just an airframe display (maybe a gateguard), its really too much work, considering that the F-84 is not rare.

I’m have recently become a member of a Danish aviation museum, and will hopefully begin working with them soon. They are well connected with the Danish air force and the Danish arms collection museum. I will ask around to see whats stored around the country.

They might want to know a few things before even looking at allocating a stored aircraft. Would you mind answering these questions, and maybe fill in any other information you find important to mention. You can do so in a PM if you like.

What would be your future plans for such an F-84?

What museum are you affiliated with?

I found these in my “wreck and relic” folder. I THINK those were published along with the describtion mentioned above. If anyone know different, please post.

Of all the planes disposed by the US armed forces after the war. Some were purchased with the intend of salvaging usefull equipment and fuel. Most would have ended in the big old melting pot, after having been stripped, but maybe some slipped through.

As you said, we are not talking about B-17’s and other large aircraft, but fighter size birds, that would sit quietly somewhere on the farm.

This process of disposing of surplus war material, was not only a US thing. Besides the allied inventory, they also destroyed the full Luftwaffe inventory ( 1100 Aircraft in little Denmark alone). Is it unlikely that some thrifty soul got his hands on some?

I have seen pictures of RAF/USAAF bombers being dismantled by local scrapmerchants, after they had ditched in shallow waters, or landed on fields due to damage. There might no longer be a whole aircraft, but maybe someone kept a gun-turrent, a cockpit, or something else as a souvenir.

In post-war Europe, I can easily see “dirty” deals taking place. Some allied officer selling equipment to a local, who then stash it away for later use. Again, maybe not whole aircraft, but engines and spares. If such things exist, they are likely to come into the light of day soon, as unfortunatly such dealers are getting quite old.

Does anyone know about engines and equipment, that have found their way to the warbird community, after years in storage?

I just had a quick browse on Google Earth and came up with this:

F-86D at Aalborg Air Base (decomissioned 1964)

RF-84F at Karup Air base (decomissioned 1974).

F-104 at Karup Air Base (decomissioned 1986).