RS700
A few points if I might:
I believe RS700 was offered for sale via an advertisement in Trade-a-Plane. If this is so, the whole aviation world had a chance to bid on the aircraft, regardless of country. What more open forum for aircraft sales exists?
It is hard to imagine that the Director and Trustees of the Museum would not have considered the impact of the sale, both positive and negative, and come to a conclusion that in their opinion was best for the Museum as a whole. They are both Canadian and serious aviation enthusiasts. Why would they knowingly do something harmful to their home town and elected passion (and possibly their jobs)?
Having visited the Museum a number of times over the past two years, and having talked with the Director, the Curator, and many of the volunteers, they have not the time, manpower, or space, let alone the money, to restore the aircraft to static condition. Once restored, their limited indoor display space would have required the all wood aircraft to remain outside, like the Lancaster does now. Not a good option.
I believe with good authority that the sale price is/was significantly higher than that speculated. They are not dummies. On the contrary, they are smart people trying to do the best job in an arena of limited resources.
The buyer, whoever he or she may be, is taking significant risk. It may turn out to be a pile of somewhat worthless wood, if in fact it is intended to fly (I agree with you Bruce).
If the aircraft remains unsold, and in dry storage for the next ten or twenty years, possibly because of “public outcry”, who wins?
The Director, Trustees, volunteers, and most of all the City of Calgary have a fine museum. They should be encouraged to get on with the many tasks at hand, not hampered by opinion and speculation.
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