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Article featuring Michelle Brown who volunteered on Midway...
The San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum will educate and entertain visitors starting June 7
By Barry Schwartz Downtown News
A pilot has just finished a combat mission in the rain, flying 150 miles per hour toward a ship that is moving up, down and sideways as much as 50 feet. He must hit one of three cables in a space the size of a tennis court to avoid plunging into the ocean.
Thousands of naval aviators have accomplished just that on the deck of the USS Midway during its 47 years of active service. The public will be invited to board the floating city to experience what those pilots felt as the San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum opens June 7.
A recent tour of the ship with a group of event planners from around the country provided a chance to see the ship. The interaction between the group members was also indicative of the future visitors. Two men found out that they served in the same area and time in Vietnam, when Midway made perhaps her biggest impact.
A crew of 4,500 occupied the ship at sea, starting on Sept. 10, 1945, two weeks after the end of WWII, up until it was decommissioned in 1992. Many of the 225,000 Americans who were stationed on board will want to return to her decks to show loved ones where they spent so much time.
Even though turning a carrier into a museum has been done before, (Lexington, Intrepid, Hornet and Yorktown) this will be the first one in a city with as much tourism and naval history as San Diego. The organizers have models to follow, but are still battling unique challenges.
“This is a 60-year-old warship, we’re still trying to figure out which outlets work,” said Midway Public Relations Director Scott McGaugh. “The toughest thing for us to do is get all the people in here that want to have events.”
More than 300 volunteers have been helping the aging 70,000-ton beast get ready for her coming-out party. Countless gallons of paint have to be applied to every surface, much the way sailors would have coated the metal on a regular basis while in service. Some of the helpers have been active military, those who want to give back, as well as see a part of U.S. Naval history up close and personal. “I wanted to see an older ship,” said ABE-II Michelle Brown from North Island. “I’ve only been on CVNs (nuclear-powered carriers) and I thought it would be cool to see what this was like.”
Brown has already worked on painting the flight deck for four weeks, and has no plans of stopping until the ship is ready to show both kids and adults what life was like aboard this 1,000 foot vessel. Of the estimated $4.5 million annual operating budget, more than $1 million is slated for maintenance such as painting.
Overall, there is 80,000 square feet of space available for public use, 50,000 on the flight deck and the rest in the two hangars directly below. Because it is a functional warship, aesthetics are not a concern, with exposed wiring and pipes jutting out all over the place. Some concessions have been made, such as adding restrooms and running a new sprinkler system. There is a functional fire system in place, but it was designed to be used in conjunction with the 4,500 man fire crew while at sea.
“We’re not going to put in drop-ceilings and make the rooms into a Southwest motif,” McGaugh said. “This is a naval warship and we’re damn proud of it.”
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Story (http://www.sdnews.com/DTN%20Folder/dtnd.html)
The San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum will educate and entertain visitors starting June 7 = That is a true statement!!
Boarded with my wife, an 8 year old son and a 6 year old daughter and had a blast! Stayed an extra day in San Diego just so Dad could visit the Midway.
We were worried about the kids interest level, but the MP3 player with buttons to push took care of that. Kids love to find things and then to do things based on their findings. So the hunt for the next Audio Stop was the fun competition of the day. You may want to put together a hunt and find sheet (75% = passing grade) for kids that they can turn in at the end for a aircraft sticker or some small item (even a local discount coupon or history/facts of the Midway might be fine).
I loved the Cinema room where the video was playing, but I wished it had been a real person talking about life aboard. I know there are many who would love to answer questions (and many did a great job with our questions) but it was pretty crowded and so the docents/tour guides often had to weigh time for questions against capacity needs. The cinema room was a nice place to relax for a few crowded minutes. The post office area was very crowded, so maybe the machine room can be opened up soon for a better flow.
My only concern was for a medical emergency in the Bridge or PriFly area. It seems like any one injured would have to be lowered via a basket. The lights were out going down from the bridge and it is really dark in there on the second and third level. Some one had turned the wrong knob and killed the lights but that was quickly fixed by safety personnel who were very helpful. There may need to be a warning for parents that this is not a rubberized playground and small children should not be allowed to climb around. Even some of the "captains" chairs had sharp metal footrests that could cut a small child climbing into them. Kids love to climb and explore. Sorry to be so safety conscious, but I want the Midway to be open for my grandkids too.
I used to work at Disneyland so I know that some of the best areas are hidden away from guests. There were a few areas that seemed to be open that were not ready for guests (Washroom near mess hall near ladder to hangar deck?) Maybe someone opened a door or maybe it was as it should be. It is fascinating that there are areas yet to be explored. I've poked around the Queen Mary for years and look forward to doing the same on the Midway.
Sorry for the rambling, but I see so many educational opportunities onboard that I just want to ramble off my first impressions. The audio tour was so good that I hope there is an advanced audio tour or a live guided tour that one can pay for in the future. The group computer flight game seemed too hard for many to master, so an entry level game may be necessary to lessen frustration.
I was amazed by the overall condition of the areas open to the public and would love to see local restaurants sponsor "fake" cooking displays/demos but I know all these details are being covered by a good leadership team as evidenced by the current state of readiness for the public.
I will post more later when I get time. The static aircraft displays were awesome and well positioned. I can't imagine being onboard with over four thousand people and limited flight deck access as that place was really hopping with the thousands onboard just that one day.
Atta-boys to all involved and full steam ahead!!
Ross
P.S. You had no patches to sell (ran out?), but loved the cafe's brownies!
The San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum will educate and entertain visitors starting June 7 = That is a true statement!!
Boarded with my wife, an 8 year old son and a 6 year old daughter and had a blast! Stayed an extra day in San Diego just so Dad could visit the Midway.
We were worried about the kids interest level, but the MP3 player with buttons to push took care of that. Kids love to find things and then to do things based on their findings. So the hunt for the next Audio Stop was the fun competition of the day. You may want to put together a hunt and find sheet (75% = passing grade) for kids that they can turn in at the end for a aircraft sticker or some small item (even a local discount coupon or history/facts of the Midway might be fine).
I loved the Cinema room where the video was playing, but I wished it had been a real person talking about life aboard. I know there are many who would love to answer questions (and many did a great job with our questions) but it was pretty crowded and so the docents/tour guides often had to weigh time for questions against capacity needs. The cinema room was a nice place to relax for a few crowded minutes. The post office area was very crowded, so maybe the machine room can be opened up soon for a better flow.
My only concern was for a medical emergency in the Bridge or PriFly area. It seems like any one injured would have to be lowered via a basket. The lights were out going down from the bridge and it is really dark in there on the second and third level. Some one had turned the wrong knob and killed the lights but that was quickly fixed by safety personnel who were very helpful. There may need to be a warning for parents that this is not a rubberized playground and small children should not be allowed to climb around. Even some of the "captains" chairs had sharp metal footrests that could cut a small child climbing into them. Kids love to climb and explore. Sorry to be so safety conscious, but I want the Midway to be open for my grandkids too.
I used to work at Disneyland so I know that some of the best areas are hidden away from guests. There were a few areas that seemed to be open that were not ready for guests (Washroom near mess hall near ladder to hangar deck?) Maybe someone opened a door or maybe it was as it should be. It is fascinating that there are areas yet to be explored. I've poked around the Queen Mary for years and look forward to doing the same on the Midway.
Sorry for the rambling, but I see so many educational opportunities onboard that I just want to ramble off my first impressions. The audio tour was so good that I hope there is an advanced audio tour or a live guided tour that one can pay for in the future. The group computer flight game seemed too hard for many to master, so an entry level game may be necessary to lessen frustration.
I was amazed by the overall condition of the areas open to the public and would love to see local restaurants sponsor "fake" cooking displays/demos but I know all these details are being covered by a good leadership team as evidenced by the current state of readiness for the public.
I will post more later when I get time. The static aircraft displays were awesome and well positioned. I can't imagine being onboard with over four thousand people and limited flight deck access as that place was really hopping with the thousands onboard just that one day.
Atta-boys to all involved and full steam ahead!!
Ross
P.S. You had no patches to sell (ran out?), but loved the cafe's brownies!
Hi Midway fans
Glad you enjoyed your visit as a volunteer I enjoyed helping bringing it to you.
Phase two of the restoration is underway and will be completed soon. Please watch this forum for the opening of phase two. you will hear about it first here from Buzz, Bill, or Myself
:thumbsup:
If your not having Fun Just go tour the Midway!
Thanks for all the kind words
I road the Amtrak Surfliner down with my sister and friend. The morning train gets to San Diego at 10:AM which is perfect for getting to the Midway early. We headed up to the Bridge and PriFly first thinking it would be crowded later. The new tour route (PriFly to Bridge without going back down to flight deck) seemed much better. I was told it also offered shade in the afternoon to those waiting on deck. I don't know what can be done with the PriFly ventilation as it was hot & stuffy by 10:15 in the morning. The bridge seemed much less crowded also as the PriFly briefing limits the people flow.
Spent a half hour on the Bridge. Too bad so many kids have to be told to not touch the knobs. I guess the term MUSEUM has to be emphasized to the kids and parents. The close proximity to the gear makes it hard for youngsters to not touch. Maybe certain gear can be identified (known replacements on hand) for the kids (and adults) to touch. I'm sure the guides also get tired of having to remind kids and parents of the rules.
Since the Midway was a warship, which is a vessel for work not for comfort, maybe some demos can be developed to show how each piece of gear was used. Are their any films of Bridge operations on the Midway or on any aircraft carrier? Can we bring life to this technology. We live in a technology age and so for many computer nerds it would be interesting to see how all this gear worked together. Or just how people interacted with it and what its capabilities were.
This time I did the tour out of order by wandering around and I still found it plenty interesting. If one likes to watch people then there is a whole day of fun, but my sister and friend were ready to go by 1:30. It was quite crowded by then and I remember that the attendance peaked at Disneyland around August 15, so it may yet get more crowded.
I noticed that some areas that I had wondered about being open were locked tight this time.
I'll be down with my three nephews soon.
Keep up the good work,
Ross
P.S. Just because 76 is coming to town doesn't mean she's the Queen of San Diego! Midway is still Regal!
Hi Rox and Welcome! Excellent report.
... I don't know what can be done with the PriFly ventilation as it was hot & stuffy by 10:15 in the morning.
One of the docents (NavyBob) thought they might be able to get some portable AC units working up there. Don't know for sure or when.
Too bad so many kids have to be told to not touch the knobs. I guess the term MUSEUM has to be emphasized to the kids and parents. The close proximity to the gear makes it hard for youngsters to not touch. Maybe certain gear can be identified (known replacements on hand) for the kids (and adults) to touch. I'm sure the guides also get tired of having to remind kids and parents of the rules.
I saw problems with this on opening week. Kids had been pulling on the makeshift miniguns on the Huey and by Friday they were loose. I don't think it's a problem that can solved. Kids are going to be kids and I can't blame them for wanting to put their hands on the gear. I just hope they do it in a curious way and not to be malicous.
Since the Midway was a warship, which is a vessel for work not for comfort, maybe some demos can be developed to show how each piece of gear was used....
Excellent suggestion. There is one video station down in the weapons control station on the mess decks. I believe more are in the works. Part of my plan for Ready Room 5 includes video monitors showing plat lens video (flight ops) and one showing Attack of the Intruder.
I noticed that some areas that I had wondered about being open were locked tight this time.
A lot more areas are in the works for opening to the public. Most require specific funding like ready rooms, medical, the brig, etc. Sometimes the money comes in fast, sometimes it trickles.
I'll be down with my three nephews soon.
Keep up the good work,
Excellent and Thanks!
Hi Midway Fans :)
The USS Ronald Reagan arrived in San Diego Today escourted by a small flotilla of privately owned yaghts, cabin cruisers and personal water craft. 3 Tug boats lead the procession with a huge spray of water. The Reagan rounded the north side of NAS North Island at about 0916 and headed for pier "K" , Just to the right of USS Nimitz. More than 10,000 lined both sides of San Diego Bay to watch The USS Ronald Reagan CVN76 sail past. All Local television and radio stations covered the event and some of those will have live programing to night from the Flight Deck of the Former USS Midway.
I went onboard the Midway this morning and snaped a few pics of the preparations. Eneryone at tonights dinner and recieption will get a small glass container of Jelly Bellys (President Reagans Favorite candy) and a pictoral booklet of pictures taken of the the USS Reagan. The evening will finish with a fireworks display around 10pm pacific time.
:thumbsup:
Hi Midway Fans :)
The USS Ronald Reagan arrived in San Diego Today escourted by a small flotilla of privately owned yaghts, cabin cruisers and personal water craft. 3 Tug boats lead the procession with a huge spray of water. The Reagan rounded the north side of NAS North Island at about 0916 and headed for pier "K" , Just to the right of USS Nimitz. More than 10,000 lined both sides of San Diego Bay to watch The USS Ronald Reagan CVN76 sail past. All Local television and radio stations covered the event and some of those will have live programing to night from the Flight Deck of the Former USS Midway.
I went onboard the Midway this morning and snaped a few pics of the preparations. Eneryone at tonights dinner and recieption will get a small glass container of Jelly Bellys and a pictoral booklet of pictures taken of the the USS Reagan. The evening will finish with a fireworks display around 10pm pacific time.
:thumbsup:
7/24/04
Hello again Midway Fans :)
Not having an invitation tom the gala events on board, I had to watch it on television as local station KUSI 9/51. KUSI carried much of it live from the Flight Deck of USS Midway. They showed a documentary of the Reagan Presidency and video clips of his most important statements. The Reagan Presidential Library produced the video. Local TV newsman, Dave Scott was able to interview Actor Cliff Robertson (of PT109 Fame) and Actor Tom Selleck who was the Master Of Ceremonies. At about 10PM a $70,000 fireworks display started that was one of the best fireworks shows in San Diego in many years. Having only to watch on television, it was very Red-White-Blue and was timed to music produced by local Radio station KOOL 99.3. The fireworks company paid for the entire fireworks display. :thumbsup:
For those who are Midway Veterans, you can be extremely proud of your ship. Midway was all decked out for the evening. The Navy uses the Midway for events like last night and the local people have received the ship and all the history it represents well. :D
The Navy Has Not Forgotten USS MIDWAY!!!!! :thumbsup:
:thumbsup:
If Your Not Having Fun; Just go visit the Midway!!!!!
I posted some great photos from Ramón Purcell (http://www.cv41.org/gallery/ramon_purcell01) and Chuck Cavanaugh (http://www.cv41.org/gallery/cc_USSReagan) of the USS Reagan's arrival. Chuck sent a really cool 6 photo panoramic pic and Ramón also sent pics of the fireworks that night with the Midway in the background. :thumbsup:
Hi Midway Fans :)
Saturday July 26th I went to the Aircraft Restoration Hanger, to meet the new Boss there, Aubrey Brittain, Lt. USNR Ret. Aubrey, Frank Warren and I were the only three to come in. I learned from Aubrey that more of the Hanger Volunteers have moved on other things and that leaves the Restoration process dragging.
Frank and I both worked on the C-1A. The tail fin is now mounted and corrosion work still continues.
The new arrival, the T-2C Buckeye is in the spot outside that was once occupied by F-4 #2. The F-4 has not yet gone inside the hanger. Not sure when it will yet.
The T-2C Main fuselage is mostly complete. The wings, tip tanks, vertical and horizontal surfaces have been removed and are lying on pallets next to the fuselage.
The F-4 external wing tanks are just about ready for paint. A center line tank is just now coming into restoration.
The SH-2F Seasprite Helicopter is looking better all the time But still lacks curved glass panels. The Museum may just end up using plexi-glass to make our own. That remains an open issue. Still trying to exhaust every commercial resource.
On the 26th a crew of 8 volunteers began washing all the aircraft onboard Midway. This is the first washing many of these aircraft have had since they were loaded onboard.
:thumbsup:
If Your Not Having Fun; Just go visit the Midway!!!!!
Wes-Powell
08-27-04, 12:12 PM
Have any of you guys ever seen that movie about the ship that had all-gay sailors?
I think it was called "All Hands On Dick." It's pretty good if you are into that sort of thing.
[QUOTE=eagle3]Dismissed.[/QUO
How come Wes doesn't have any thing better to do tthan to go watch a movie about Gay Sailors? I was unfortunate enough to see a couple of real life shorts, where those of us in the T V lounge witnesses two guys crawl into the same rack at the same time onboard the USS Ranger CV61. We Called the MAA office and they were both taken to the office to explain they're actions. I was told that the ships XO was there also, asking a few questions of his own. :Peck: :confused:
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