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Post by mumbles on Apr 25, 2010 17:43:35 GMT 12
Beagle, no he does allow photos to be taken (though i didn't take any). However he asks that people respect his wishes not to publish photos of his aircraft anywhere, they are for personal use and enjoyment only. So that is why one of the rules of this forum is no photos taken at his place are to be posted here, to respect his wishes. I find it sad that he has perhaps been driven to feel that way. Having never had the opportunity or privilege, and having heard for many years about the extent of the collection, I and I am sure many others would be grateful to see even a few images (note this is an observation not a request). Forgive me for sounding cynical, and with no disrespect intended, but it begs the question of why things are preserved if only a relative few are ever allowed to see them, even indirectly. While respecting that this is a private collection, the photograph publication ban seems a little over the top. Again, just an observation.
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Post by lumpy on Apr 25, 2010 18:05:15 GMT 12
Forgive me for sounding cynical, and with no disrespect intended, but it begs the question of why things are preserved if only a relative few are ever allowed to see them, even indirectly. While respecting that this is a private collection, the photograph publication ban seems a little over the top. Again, just an observation. I could be wrong , but I suspect that when John aquired the aircraft , he probabally didnt forsee the time when they would be quite as popular as they now ( they really did have little value at the time ) .He probabally got them just for his own enjoyment , and never considered that one day his privacy could be affected .I guess he just wants to maintain that privacy , which is understandable . ( Just my opinion )
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Post by aeromedia on Apr 25, 2010 19:18:35 GMT 12
Bottom line is guys, . . . its his private property, his private collection, his private business. If he let absolutely no-one on to his property he'd be completely within his rights. Theres a bit of an attitude with historic aircraft/warbirds that they are "ours". No, they are his. He collected them when no one else wanted them and whatever he chooses to do is completely within his rights. He is a lovely guy, . . I have met him, I did treat him with respect, and I didn't go profering ideas and suggestions on "what he should do." I was just grateful that he welcomed me and that I had the priviledge to spend an hour or two with the man and his collection and , . . . . . it was surreal, .... magic !
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Post by Damon on Apr 25, 2010 19:19:04 GMT 12
Everyone who enjoys vintage aviation has heard of John Smiths collection at Mapua.He's an enthusiast whos managed to save exmilitary aircraft when everyone else couldnt wait to scrap them( exception Charles Darby ,John Chambers and a very few others). John enjoys the noteriety I think but gets his nose tweeked when others say what he should do with his aircraft. Go see his aircraft,conditions of entry ..dont be a tell all prick .Take some pictures but dont post them on the net or other medium.Dont like the conditions .Dont go.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 25, 2010 19:35:01 GMT 12
I believe you are right on the money, Grant. The very reason why Mr Smith asks specifically to not have any photos published is to maintain his privacy. He gets people turning up several times a week, people even from the other side of the world. He does not know which ones of them are genuine enthusiasts he can trust and which ones might be aiming toi do his collection harm or offer to buy his aircraft. I have been told that he literally has offers on a regular basis, which completely annoys him as he has no intention to sell his aircraft to someone who just rocks up at his house. He also has no time fr people who try to tell him which museum his aeroplanes should be in, which I fully understand. The more publicity his collection gets the worse this is for him. He already seems to get people turning up every week expecting to see his collection as if it were their right to do so because they've travelled a long way, etc. I feel really sorry for him, he's constantly expected to take time out of his day to show his collection.
I only got to see his collection through a mutual friend of his, who lives there, and I was quite prepared to walk away seeing nothing if need be. I was lucky. It was also a long time ago and nowadays I would not want to bother him again to be honest.
He has made it clear to most visitors that photos are not to be published and that wish is what this forum adheres to. The rule has been up there for a long time, no-one has commented about it before...
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Post by mumbles on Apr 25, 2010 21:43:49 GMT 12
I believe you are right on the money, Grant. The very reason why Mr Smith asks specifically to not have any photos published is to maintain his privacy. He gets people turning up several times a week, people even from the other side of the world. He does not know which ones of them are genuine enthusiasts he can trust and which ones might be aiming toi do his collection harm or offer to buy his aircraft. I have been told that he literally has offers on a regular basis, which completely annoys him as he has no intention to sell his aircraft to someone who just rocks up at his house. He also has no time fr people who try to tell him which museum his aeroplanes should be in, which I fully understand. The more publicity his collection gets the worse this is for him. He already seems to get people turning up every week expecting to see his collection as if it were their right to do so because they've travelled a long way, etc. I feel really sorry for him, he's constantly expected to take time out of his day to show his collection. He has made it clear to most visitors that photos are not to be published and that wish is what this forum adheres to. The rule has been up there for a long time, no-one has commented about it before... None of which I disagree with. What he does with what he has is up to him and no-body else. Frankly I wouldn't bother to go there personally at all unless it was explicitly clear that I was both welcome and invited. And while it would be nice if some photographs were out there, that's his decision too. Tough bikkies. I respect that, even if I don't entirely agree with it. I certainly do not think it is mine or anyone else's 'right' to see anything there, or that preserved aircraft are somehow a collective 'ours', regardless of private or public ownership. I'm not going to add any more to this since I feel I'll just be restating things.
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Post by Damon on Apr 25, 2010 21:53:24 GMT 12
Thanks for your point of view Mumbles.Nice to discuss it .
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mgmike
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 78
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Post by mgmike on Apr 25, 2010 22:24:12 GMT 12
Prior to my visit I had been advised not to ask him about the future of the aircraft, as he prefers not to discuss it. So we chatted about Mossies and their war record and he talked away happily for quite some time. He is an absolute encyclopaedia of information - he was rattling off specs about the Mossie off the top of his head with no trouble!
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Post by corsair67 on Apr 25, 2010 23:23:22 GMT 12
I'd like to met the guy someday, if only to shake his hand and thank him for having the foresight to save these wonderful aircraft from complete destruction, at a time when no one else gave a damn. I also admire him for sticking to his guns and not just flogging these aircraft off to the person with the most cash to offer, as I understand there have been plenty of offers over the years, and there must have been times when it would be tempting to have a few million in the Bank, if only to keep the Bank Manager happy! Like flyernzl, I do worry what may happen to this collection when John passes on, but I assume he has taken that into consideration. I guess his "no photographs to be shown in public request" may seem a little strange to some people, but then if that is his condition on being able to view his aircraft, I think it is only fair to respect that request. Really, it's no different to some restoration hangars that I have visited, which have also allowed me to take photos for my own enjoyment, but have asked that they are not put up on the internet or published elsewhere. John Smith - I salute you!
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Post by Richard Wesley on Apr 25, 2010 23:48:31 GMT 12
Interesting discussion.
I visited John a long time ago as a teenager having hitch-hiked down from Auckland just to find the ‘long lost complete mosquito’. It was dream come true just to find his place for me. I really enjoyed chatting about the aircraft and sitting in the Mosquito of course, but although I would love to go back. I think that I’ve had my one visit. I can certainly understand his want of privacy.
Being young may have been a bonus - no chance of me offering to buy anything, and at 16 everybody lives forever, so what happens to the aircraft was also not a question that occurred to me. The internet wasn’t invented, so the one and only black and white photo I had ever seen was in a book when the mosquito was still outside and had a makeshift cover on it!
Reading this post my first thought was that it is sad I and others cannot enjoy others photos of their visits to John’s place now 20 years later, and to see the condition of the aircraft. With the Hudson out there must be a bit more room around the Mustang and P-40s? But with further thought, I guess young (and older) enthusiasts just have to escape the computer, make the commitment, and visit John’s dream garden shed to see it with their own eyes!
Well done again to John Smith for being one of the few with foresight enough to save a little selection of New Zealand aviation heritage. I too think he deserves an award for what he has single handily achieved.
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Post by corsair67 on Apr 25, 2010 23:58:20 GMT 12
You really are one dedicated Mosquito fan! Richard Wesley - I salute you too!
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Post by Richard Wesley on Apr 26, 2010 9:04:33 GMT 12
You really are one dedicated Mosquito fan! Richard Wesley - I salute you too! Ah, ah, thanks. Usually the only response I get from friends includes terms closer to 'crazy' and 'plane mad'...
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