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National Naval Aviation Museum NAVAIR museum in Pensacola, FL not open to civilians. Vacation FAIL


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Per title.   Down that way with the fam and always wanted to visit this museum.    NOPE.   Gotta be active military, DOD, or escorted on base, I cut and pasted details below 

 

just wanted to rant about that one item and provide it as a PSA…. got plenty other things going good for me.

 

Happy New-Year all.

 

 

 

  • Access to NAS Pensacola is limited to Department of Defense (DoD) ID card holders (active duty service members, retirees, and their families). For Veterans Health Identification Card (VHIC) holders please visit cnrse.cnic.navy.mil/Installations/NAS-Pensacola/  for base access information. DoD ID card holders can escort guests, but must remain with them at all times.
  • We have established a special visitor information line at 850-452-8450 for answers to your questions about visiting the museum. Plan your visit today!
Edited by toadwbg
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  • toadwbg changed the title to National Naval Aviation Museum NAVAIR museum in Pensacola, FL not open to civilians. Vacation FAIL

Yep, tried going, I am a veteran. With ID and veteran licence plates. Still could not get on base as I am not American. From evil Canada. Guarantee Canada does NOT do this to Americans. 

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1 hour ago, phantom said:

Yep, tried going, I am a veteran. With ID and veteran licence plates. Still could not get on base as I am not American. From evil Canada. Guarantee Canada does NOT do this to Americans. 

No, I was denied access, as I wasnt there for an exercise or official reasons. 

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2 hours ago, phantom said:

Yep, tried going, I am a veteran. With ID and veteran licence plates. Still could not get on base as I am not American. From evil Canada. Guarantee Canada does NOT do this to Americans. 


bummer and kick in the gahones.

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We have a multi million dollar museum that only a select, privileged few can visit. Just how stupid is that? We pay for it and only a few can enjoy it. If they won't allow the public to visit it, they need to move it to where the taxpayers can visit it. I-10 is only a few miles away. One of the most heavily travelled highways in the country and it extends all the way from the west coast to the east.

Edited by Jon Krol
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There is a big push from the current director of the museum (I think that's who's being vocal) about opening it back up, as they are losing revenue in a huge way. The majority of those in charge want to let the public back in, but there are a select few who are resisting.

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I agree that it should be opened back to everyone.  It was an insider attack, not someone coming in from the outside and visiting the museum.  Some changes may need to be made, like maybe shuttle buses taking people from outside of the gate to and from the museum instead of the old way where you just drove your own car in, but reopening the museum with increased security seems easily doable.

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1 hour ago, Jon Krol said:

We have a multi million dollar museum that only a select, privileged few can visit. Just how stupid is that? We pay for it and only a few can enjoy it.

 

I don't disagree with you, but have you ever been to the CIA Museum?

 

https://www.cia.gov/legacy/museum/

 

Not open to the public but for different, obvious reasons.

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7 hours ago, Dave Williams said:

I agree that it should be opened back to everyone.  It was an insider attack, not someone coming in from the outside and visiting the museum.  Some changes may need to be made, like maybe shuttle buses taking people from outside of the gate to and from the museum instead of the old way where you just drove your own car in, but reopening the museum with increased security seems easily doable.

Agree, my understanding is that it was closed due to COVID.

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1 hour ago, Da SWO said:

Agree, my understanding is that it was closed due to COVID.

That just added to the reason to also keep it restricted.  Last spring or summer they had a "one day open to all" day and it quickly reached max capacity to the point the Security was not allowing people in to the base.  I have read on other forums that the Navy should move it off the Base but like everything else, it cost money.  

Maybe one day it will be open to the general public but I am not holding my breath.

 

Steve Sliger

Greenwell Springs, LA

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21 hours ago, Jon Krol said:

We have a multi million dollar museum that only a select, privileged few can visit. Just how stupid is that? We pay for it and only a few can enjoy it. If they won't allow the public to visit it, they need to move it to where the taxpayers can visit it

You mean, Veterans? 
And you're incorrect about being taxpayer funded. See below:
How is the museum funded? The Museum is funded by the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) educational and fundraising organization that supports the development of the National Naval Aviation Museum.

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Still think its absolutely stupid allied veterans can not attend. Hell I worked on that base for a couple days back in 1995 . For some reason they gave me the rank of E-10 .(7 would have been more in line to my actual Canadian rank). Pretty sure Canada and the US have been on the same side for a few weeks by now. Or since 1812.

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6 hours ago, Dave Williams said:

I think it’s absolutely stupid that US citizens can’t go see a museum dedicated to a branch of the US military, located on a U.S. military base, located on U.S. soil.

 Most bases have static displays, should we grant access to every base so civilians can look at the static displays, or local museums?

 

The Navy has obviously dropped the ball here, and they need to set up trams or buses to bring non-military  onto the base, FWIW non-retiree veterans don't get automatic entry to an installation.

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If I may make several points;

 

1. Just because you are a veteran of an allied country does not mean you should be granted, after all, the individual who caused the initial reason for restricting access to the museum was a allied country veteran who was vetted by the allied country. I'm a veteran of an allied country, should I be granted access to any military base in any allied country I visit? And please don't act like your country is holier than thou, every country has is problems and Canada, you ain't perfect, look up "Canadian VA MAID".

 

2. I pay taxes and therefore I should be allowed access; does this mean that any tax payer should be allowed access to any active military base? Remember, the museum is on an active military base, should we just allow anyone access to said base based solely on their tax payer status? Heck, the Jan 6th rioters were tax payers, should they have been granted access to the Capital, after all, you can consider that place a museum (for all the old fossils that housed there when congress is in session).

 

3. Only opened to a "privileged few" (ok, this one burned me a little), those "privileged few" also raised their right hand and took an oath to defend this country with their life. Currently, the only individuals granted access to the museum are those who are on active duty and retiree's and I personally think they EARNED that right to go visited that museum. The "privileged" one's are the one's who never served yet feel they are entitled to go on any military base they please because they are a citizen/taxpayer/allied veteran/was a boy:girl scout/donated to a charity/cried while watching Saving Prt Ryan/said "thank you for you service" to the old guy wearing a Vietnam Vet hat/etc. So before you tell a veteran that they are part of a privileged group you might want to check your own "privilege" and think about what that veteran has given to EARN that title of veteran.

 

4. I'm a US citizen, I should have the right to go to that museum. Does this mean any citizen should have the right to go on any military base without being vetted to ensure the safety of all those who work and live on said base? How about go into any government building, say the White House or Capital? How about we charge anyone who wants access to a military base the cost it takes to do a background check to verify that they are not a danger to those who work/live on said base, hope you have several thousands of dollars lying around because it's going to cost you. I'm a citizen with access to most military bases, does that mean I should have access to the flight lines, motor pools, offices, ships, training ranges?

 

5. I'm sure the museum is not happy with the current arrangements concerning visitation and is working with the Navy to find a solution to allow all to visit but you have to keep a few things in mind;

 

a. The only thing that happens fast when dealing with the government is them taking your money, everything else moves at a snails pace.

b. The solution will take money, money the museum has not budgeted for so it will take time to raise the money.

c. The work will most likely require construction (and other) contracts, refer to (a.).

d. The military's budget (not to get political) has been severally reduced the several years, there really isn't any money to fix the problem.

 

6. To run a shuttle service means that that the Navy has to hire a company to provide said service, that all employees have to be vetted and that all visitors have to be searched prior to getting on the shuttle. Again, this will cost money, contracts to be drafted and coordination with the base and the museum, please refer to bullet point 4.

 

7. The museum's closure has been in place for at least three years, it's not the museum's fault that individual's failed to properly plan (remember the 7 P's for you military folks). When I plan for a trip and want to visit a museum I check to make sure that the museum is open when I plan to visit and if there is any special restrictions, especially in today's day and age with COVID and terrorist threats. Don't pass off your faults onto other's, you failed to plan = your fault, not the museums. What are they suppose to do, send a certified letter to every household in the free world notifying the free world of their visitation restrictions? A simple check of their website and the first thing that pops up is a banner with the following;

 

  • Quote

     

    • The National Naval Aviation Museum is open Monday through Sunday from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. to current Department of Defense (DoD) ID cardholders. Access to NAS Pensacola is limited to Department of Defense (DoD) ID card holders (active duty service members, retirees, and their families). For Veterans Health Identification Card (VHIC) holders please visit cnrse.cnic.navy.mil/Installations/NAS-Pensacola/  for base access information. DoD ID card holders can escort guests, but must remain with them at all times.
    • We have established a special visitor information line at 850-452-8450 for answers to your questions about visiting the museum. Plan your visit today!

     

     

I think some of you are not looking at the bigger picture and are just focusing on the (stomping a foot) "I want to visit that museum". That museum is on an active US military base and there are people in the world who have sworn to harm American's and American Service Personnel............and the US doesn't know who all they are. So, how does the USN determine who wants to just visit the museum and who want's to kill American's?. If you want to visit the museum why don't you contact one of the local model clubs down in the area and see if one of the modelers who happen to have access to the museum will escort you, I'm sure someone will sponsor/accompany you to the museum. Heck, go on facebook and put a post on the ARC facebook page and see if someone will help you out. There are ways to get to the museum if you really want to but coming on here and acting like a bunch of entitled Karen's and bashing the US Military/Government is not one of them.

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GW, you make some very valid points. don't agree with all of them, but some are bang on. Oh, I hardly think Canada is holier then thou , my point is Canadian vets have served in American formations. just as American have served in ours. I'm not talking a country on the other side of the planet, I am talking about a country with which you share the longest unarmed border in the world with, which you have gone to war with as a partner for over two hundred years.

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4 hours ago, GW8345 said:

If I may make several points;

 

1. Just because you are a veteran of an allied country does not mean you should be granted, after all, the individual who caused the initial reason for restricting access to the museum was a allied country veteran who was vetted by the allied country. I'm a veteran of an allied country, should I be granted access to any military base in any allied country I visit? And please don't act like your country is holier than thou, every country has is problems and Canada, you ain't perfect, look up "Canadian VA MAID".

 

2. I pay taxes and therefore I should be allowed access; does this mean that any tax payer should be allowed access to any active military base? Remember, the museum is on an active military base, should we just allow anyone access to said base based solely on their tax payer status? Heck, the Jan 6th rioters were tax payers, should they have been granted access to the Capital, after all, you can consider that place a museum (for all the old fossils that housed there when congress is in session).

 

3. Only opened to a "privileged few" (ok, this one burned me a little), those "privileged few" also raised their right hand and took an oath to defend this country with their life. Currently, the only individuals granted access to the museum are those who are on active duty and retiree's and I personally think they EARNED that right to go visited that museum. The "privileged" one's are the one's who never served yet feel they are entitled to go on any military base they please because they are a citizen/taxpayer/allied veteran/was a boy:girl scout/donated to a charity/cried while watching Saving Prt Ryan/said "thank you for you service" to the old guy wearing a Vietnam Vet hat/etc. So before you tell a veteran that they are part of a privileged group you might want to check your own "privilege" and think about what that veteran has given to EARN that title of veteran.

 

4. I'm a US citizen, I should have the right to go to that museum. Does this mean any citizen should have the right to go on any military base without being vetted to ensure the safety of all those who work and live on said base? How about go into any government building, say the White House or Capital? How about we charge anyone who wants access to a military base the cost it takes to do a background check to verify that they are not a danger to those who work/live on said base, hope you have several thousands of dollars lying around because it's going to cost you. I'm a citizen with access to most military bases, does that mean I should have access to the flight lines, motor pools, offices, ships, training ranges?

 

5. I'm sure the museum is not happy with the current arrangements concerning visitation and is working with the Navy to find a solution to allow all to visit but you have to keep a few things in mind;

 

a. The only thing that happens fast when dealing with the government is them taking your money, everything else moves at a snails pace.

b. The solution will take money, money the museum has not budgeted for so it will take time to raise the money.

c. The work will most likely require construction (and other) contracts, refer to (a.).

d. The military's budget (not to get political) has been severally reduced the several years, there really isn't any money to fix the problem.

 

6. To run a shuttle service means that that the Navy has to hire a company to provide said service, that all employees have to be vetted and that all visitors have to be searched prior to getting on the shuttle. Again, this will cost money, contracts to be drafted and coordination with the base and the museum, please refer to bullet point 4.

 

7. The museum's closure has been in place for at least three years, it's not the museum's fault that individual's failed to properly plan (remember the 7 P's for you military folks). When I plan for a trip and want to visit a museum I check to make sure that the museum is open when I plan to visit and if there is any special restrictions, especially in today's day and age with COVID and terrorist threats. Don't pass off your faults onto other's, you failed to plan = your fault, not the museums. What are they suppose to do, send a certified letter to every household in the free world notifying the free world of their visitation restrictions? A simple check of their website and the first thing that pops up is a banner with the following;

 

  •  

I think some of you are not looking at the bigger picture and are just focusing on the (stomping a foot) "I want to visit that museum". That museum is on an active US military base and there are people in the world who have sworn to harm American's and American Service Personnel............and the US doesn't know who all they are. So, how does the USN determine who wants to just visit the museum and who want's to kill American's?. If you want to visit the museum why don't you contact one of the local model clubs down in the area and see if one of the modelers who happen to have access to the museum will escort you, I'm sure someone will sponsor/accompany you to the museum. Heck, go on facebook and put a post on the ARC facebook page and see if someone will help you out. There are ways to get to the museum if you really want to but coming on here and acting like a bunch of entitled Karen's and bashing the US Military/Government is not one of them.

Raised their right hand to take an oath. Hmmm. So I assume by that statement you consider yourself more of a legitimate citizen than any other natural born citizen in this country. What about naturalized citizens? They take the same oath as our servicemen and women. Protect and defend the Constitution from all enemies foreign and domestic.

 

I'm 69 years old and come from a Navy family. My dad and two uncles served in WWII in the Navy. They took the oath. All three in the Pacific. My dad died on active duty when I was fifteen in 1969 and my mom got $10k from the government to raise two kids. He didn't get the pay raises and the bennies the enlisted got because of Zumwalt. I had another uncle that served in the Navy Reserves as an officer. He took the oath. My late brother in law retired as a Commander rising through the ranks from enlisted. He took the oath. I've been around the military pretty much all my life although I did not serve. I have a lot of respect for those that have volunteered to serve. I also resent those that think that because they volunteered that they are some how better than those citizens that did not.

 

Aside from the issues with the museum and it's accessibility to the public it seems the USAF has no problems spending quite a bit more money on their rather comparatively obscenely huge and well taken care of museum and allowing access to most of it's exhibits while next to an operational facility. They have a B-36 and B-52 under cover. Th Navy can't even shelter an A3D. It is like the Navy's museum is a bastard step child comparatively. I'm sure there are many vets that do not have the bennies of the retired that would like to see some of the hardware they flew or worked on years past. I think the Navy has an obligation to see that their museum is accessible otherwise what is the reason or purpose for having it. 

Edited by Jon Krol
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4 hours ago, phantom said:

GW, you make some very valid points. don't agree with all of them, but some are bang on. Oh, I hardly think Canada is holier then thou , my point is Canadian vets have served in American formations. just as American have served in ours. I'm not talking a country on the other side of the planet, I am talking about a country with which you share the longest unarmed border in the world with, which you have gone to war with as a partner for over two hundred years.

I agree. Canada is probably our nearest and dearest neighbor certainly.

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1 hour ago, Jon Krol said:

Raised their right hand to take an oath. Hmmm. So I assume by that statement you consider yourself more of a legitimate citizen than any other natural born citizen in this country. What about naturalized citizens? They take the same oath as our servicemen and women. Protect and defend the Constitution from all enemies foreign and domestic.

 

I'm 69 years old and come from a Navy family. My dad and two uncles served in WWII in the Navy. They took the oath. All three in the Pacific. My dad died on active duty when I was fifteen in 1969 and my mom got $10k from the government to raise two kids. He didn't get the pay raises and the bennies the enlisted got because of Zumwalt. I had another uncle that served in the Navy Reserves as an officer. He took the oath. My late brother in law retired as a Commander rising through the ranks from enlisted. He took the oath. I've been around the military pretty much all my life although I did not serve. I have a lot of respect for those that have volunteered to serve. I also resent those that think that because they volunteered that they are some how better than those citizens that did not.

 

Aside from the issues with the museum and it's accessibility to the public it seems the USAF has no problems spending quite a bit more money on their rather comparatively obscenely huge and well taken care of museum and allowing access to most of it's exhibits while next to an operational facility. They have a B-36 and B-52 under cover. Th Navy can't even shelter an A3D. It is like the Navy's museum is a bastard step child comparatively. I'm sure there are many vets that do not have the bennies of the retired that would like to see some of the hardware they flew or worked on years past. I think the Navy has an obligation to see that their museum is accessible otherwise what is the reason or purpose for having it. 

Um, the enlistment oath and naturalized citizen oath are not the same, I took the enlistment oath (several times) and my wife took the naturalized citizen oath so I've heard them both, again, they are not the same.

 

Enlistment Oath (enlisted);

"I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."

 

Naturalization Oath;

"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."

 

Just because you came from a military family doesn't mean you are entitled to the same benefits of those who did serve. I am forth generation Navy and between my dad, my two brothers and myself, we have over 90+ of military service, that and $40 will get me a nice meal at my favorite restaurant.

 

Oh, a comparison between the branches, I like those, it's like saying the Navy flies plane off of boats so why can the Air Force do it.

 

A little research would show that the museum has "began discussions on converting portions of existing roads to create a dedicated access corridor to the museum." Again, refer to bullet point #5 in my previous post.

Edited by GW8345
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15 hours ago, ST0RM said:

You mean, Veterans? 
And you're incorrect about being taxpayer funded. See below:
How is the museum funded? The Museum is funded by the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) educational and fundraising organization that supports the development of the National Naval Aviation Museum.

Are you saying the NMNA gets no government funding? At all? If they don't, then why would the commander of the base not be encouraging the relocation of the museum? Get it off my command! Wouldn't the Navy be encouraging the relocation to more readily promote Naval Aviation in the birthplace of Naval Aviation to a more accessible location if they didn't have to pay for it? How did the USAF build all those huge hangars and are restoring aircraft to almost pristine condition without a small stipend from the government? The Navy's museum, they slap paint on a ancient carcass and call it restored??  

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