Comments on: Saving Jenny

By: Richard Stalter

Richard Stalter — Thu, 17 May 2012 22:38:40 +0000

Wish I could have seen who did this; they would have had their skin roughed up. It’s so sad that people have this much disrespect for national treasures. I did notice the clear plastic cover over the leading edge of the wing on the Northrop Gamma – so idiots cant touch it. It’s good that the museum takes these precautionary measures. About the Jenny – I was at the museum downtown last week and was wondering why it wasn’t on display their – now I know why. I wish it were back in the America by Air gallery. The museum could hang it where the Extra aerobatic plane is. I was wondering why the Extra is there in the first place; seems out of place. The Jenny could be suspended there and be out of reach of disrespectful visitors.

By: Steve N

Steve N — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:42:44 +0000

Sadly, I can’t say I’m surprised. When I visited the NASM downtown in the summer of ’08, I was appalled to see literally dozens of visitors rubbing their hands all over the original WWII paint on the B-26 Marauder “Flak Bait.” There are several spots where it has been rubbed down to bare metal.

I want to take this opportunity to ask the museum staff to PLEASE put that aircraft completely behind glass, before the original paint is gone forever (or some idiot decides to etch their initials into the metal!) I understand the plan is to eventually reassemble the aircraft and display it as-is at Udvar-Hazy. The sooner this happens the better.

By: Robert Powers

Robert Powers — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 18:18:08 +0000

Wanna know about Jenny? “We” by Charles Lindbergh

By: Dan Budde

Dan Budde — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:23:29 +0000

It is a misfortune that your Jenny was damaged but actually it’s quite amazing that a fragile old tube and rag plane like your Jenny has survived this long without a mishap. I have a tube and rag ultralight and after building her stuck a screw driver through the side by accident while working on a wing strut. When you re skin your Jenny do you use original type materials or modern? I wish I could have been around when these were available after WW1 to purchase for a song. What a golden age this Jenny represents.
Thanks for keeping our aviation heritage in good shape.

By: Jim Petty

Jim Petty — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 04:08:23 +0000

Last week I was at the museum with my wife, daughter, and her husband. I was a little disturbed to see kids throwing French fries off the upper deck at kids below. Their parents were no where in sight, and I made a comment to them to stop. I was not able to find anyone around to report this but apparently my comment to drop them off the second floor had a much better effect. The folks there do a great job preserving world aviation history, and it is a shame that there are some who show so little respect for these folks hard work and do not understand the importance of these aircraft. I hope this does not develop into a trend that is going to deprive us of seeing these aircraft in the future. One of my major reasons for visiting that day was to see my old Huey from Vietnam on display there. I only wish I could have crossed that line to touch her again, but I fully respect the need to keep people from doing that. It was a great day, and my thanks to the folks who work there to keep these birds on display.

By: Mark Blackburn

Mark Blackburn — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:03:48 +0000

What disturbs me is other people, around these “idiots”, must have seen what was happening & did nothing about it. All it would have taken was to report them to someone. I have seen people attack aircraft at airshows. They were rudely interrupted & swiftly removed from the scene. It bothers me why these people see a need to do such acts & are very upset when confronted.

By: Steve N

Steve N — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 08:30:17 +0000

By: JAYBIRD

JAYBIRD — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 07:30:14 +0000

Never would have happened if she had been properly armed!
A couple of Marlins would have done the job.
Some people’s kids just don’t have any respect.
Keep in mind that this is a National Trasure/International Treasure and should be treated accordingly.
Just my opinion as I find it very frustrating and worse than discourteous.

By: John Granlund

John Granlund — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 16:44:06 +0000

Has there been any attempt to identify who may have done this? Unbelievable, what next? Graffiti on the Lincoln Memorial?
Sad…

By: Rodney L. Wright

Rodney L. Wright — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:34:49 +0000

I don’t know about longer term plans for restoration, but the Jenny is now on the floor at the Udvar-Hazy Center safe from all but the most determined attacks. No one will be able to go to a higher floor to drop anything on it. Even the staff and docents are enjoined not to enter the area where it is presently located because of its fragility.

Still, it not fully reassembled as the wings are not mounted. I don’t know when it will be setup for more effective display but it appears the NASM is moving in the right direction to protect it for long-term preservation and display.