MnGCA

Wayfarin Stranger · Geocacher Joined: 01 Apr 2003 Posts: 122

If anyone went out today to claim my virtual Blackbird today, I am sorry if you went out to the museum and it was closed. Due to the MNANG C-130 mishap on Thursday, the NTSB has secured the area to everyone until the aircraft can be moved to a hangar for a thorough inspection. After the accident the plane was moved to the museum tarmac because it is a bit more secure. Hopefully the museum will be available again within the next week after the plane gets moved. Again, I am sorry, but please keep in mind that this is an active military base and after 9-11 anything can happen with the security levels. Perhaps I should make the cache difficulty a level 5???

Wayfarin Stranger · Geocacher Joined: 01 Apr 2003 Posts: 122

Blackbird has been archived until further notice.

Arcticabn · Posted: Mon May 10, 2004 6:20 pm Post subject:

At least I got FTF on it before. Like I said, stealth and military persistance. Having a 4 year old walk it with me helped. Sorry to hear that it is being archived. I'm sure it won't be to much longer.

KC0GRN · Past MnGCA Board Joined: 22 Feb 2004 Posts: 1424

I'll go grab it when it becomes available. Hey KB! want to form a search party for this one? might come in handy if the military decides to start questioning why a lone person is out there.

15Tango · Posted: Tue May 11, 2004 3:04 am Post subject:

Dang!!! I was on base Thursday to bag the cache, get some tax-free gas, and see if the small PX had some tax-free stuff I couldn't live without--I got as far as through the gate when my wife called to tell me she had a flat, so I wasn't able to do anything I planned to do while I was on base. I guess getting onto military installations is something that I've taken for granted the last 17 1/2 years, and the most active duty I've done so far was my IOBC at Ft. Benning, GA, which was an open post (at the time--1992).
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There comes a time in every young boy's life when he gets an irresistible urge to seek buried treasure.--Mark Twain

King Boreas · Posted: Tue May 11, 2004 4:11 am Post subject:

What's IOBC?

Fort Benning is where I spent most of my time. It's not "open" anymore?

15Tango · Posted: Wed May 12, 2004 2:34 am Post subject:

Infantry Officer's Basic Course--I don't know if Benning is an open post any more or not--it was when I was there in '92, but a lot has changed since then.
_________________
There comes a time in every young boy's life when he gets an irresistible urge to seek buried treasure.--Mark Twain

Wayfarin Stranger · Geocacher Joined: 01 Apr 2003 Posts: 122

Blackbird is now again available to seek. The MNANG base commander has given the museum permission to re-open again, but keep in mind that the aircraft that caused me to temporarily archive the cache is still on the tarmac in front of the museum hangar and is off limits to the public. Photos are not permitted of the aircraft. If you have questions, seek out a museum volunteer.
Enjoy the MNANG Aircraft Museum.

rickrich · Geocacher Joined: 06 Jul 2003 Posts: 673

What are the museum hours? Any chance of popping over there on Saturday before or after the geo-event?

Wayfarin Stranger · Geocacher Joined: 01 Apr 2003 Posts: 122

MNANG Museum

KC0GRN · Past MnGCA Board Joined: 22 Feb 2004 Posts: 1424

So how do you get the info off the blackbird if you can't get close to it. Bummer also about the no pictures. I got several pics of a M-21 blackbird out at the museum of flight in Seattle. Course that wasn't on a active military base...

Wayfarin Stranger · Geocacher Joined: 01 Apr 2003 Posts: 122

This museum is the only one that I know of where you can go right up to an aircraft and take a good look at it. None of the planes are roped off in any way. There are certain times of the year the museum has "open cockpit" days where one can see what it looks like in the pilots seat. At times people are allowed to sit in the cockpit.

You can take all the pics you want, just not of the C130 that had the hard landing April 28. The tarmac in front of the museum where the 130 sits is off limits. One can get a view of that plane from inside of the museum where there are other displays. When anyone wants to log this cache, allow a couple of hours to see what we have to offer here. You won't regret it.

Kitch · Posted: Fri May 21, 2004 7:16 am Post subject:

Is the place only open on Saturdays 11am-4pm or is it available any other time???

Wayfarin Stranger · Geocacher Joined: 01 Apr 2003 Posts: 122

Before 9-11 the museum was open daily but the hangar was closed except on special days. The museum re-opened again on April 3 this year and so far it is open only on Saturday as far as I know. Perhaps one can find out by going on another day, hence the bump up to 4 on the difficulty level.