I don’t see the need for every static exhibit to have to suddenly spring back into powered life, usually at great expense and effort which can be applied elsewhere on a project.
Dead aeroplanes are okay when displayed well. Cosford is a pretty good example of that.
On the other hand, I’d love to be able to see and hear something running firsthand rather than seeing it on youtube. I want to smell it running, feel it running, and be able to recall the sound for myself for years to come. Museums that take the desicions to make an aircraft ‘alive’ again are a great thing, whether the venue lends itself to running is immaterial. So long as there’s no chance of damage to aircraft or property, why the problem?
If no-one asked the question “Will it run?” or “Will it fly?” we wouldn’t have anything left running other than what is in service. So I think the question stands in most cases. I know where Peter’s coming from as I’m frequently asking the same question.
There’s no great need as such, but think of it in this way… Sit a five year old in a dead aeroplane, and their first question is going to be “Does it fly?” You will have a hard time then explaining why it won’t. They get bored very rapidly if nothing works, or if they can’t understand it.
Making things live again so that they can see it work, inspires them. The five year olds today don’t have the Battle of Britain to remember, or any of the 1970 and 80’s when the preservation scene was starting to come alive. They don’t even have a couple of good war movies… just CGI.
So how do you get him or her, age five, interested enough to take care of that aircraft when he turns twenty five? You make it run. You make it work. Get the excitement going.
It worked with me years ago, it works now, and it’ll work well into the future. Its the same reason kids make a beeline for gokarts. Because it moves, it works.
If it keeps the project going, and people volunteering years into the future, then starting it up was a damn good idea.
(in my opinion, of course….)
Regards,
Ric
Sign In
