And now a little good news: Details on the Enterprise restoration

Posted on by

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

A couple days ago I posted that the Enterprise studio model was taken away for restoration.    Now the folks at TrekCore have published a great interview with Margaret Weitekamp, a curator at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.   She oversees the collection which includes the model built by Richard Datin.   Among the news bits:

  • Enterprise has been moved to the Emil Buehler Conservation Laboratory at the Udvar-Hazy Center
  • the model will be studied by conservators to determine its condition and how to best properly preserve it
  • the model is in “good shape” for being 50 years old
  • there is some concern about “the effects of gravity” over the years.  (translation: nacelle droop)
  • they are researching the appearance and the condition of the paint.
  • they will be consulting with experts on the subject.  Michael Okuda’s name comes up in interview.
  • it will be displayed as part of the Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall in the main Air and Space Museum.   That display will open in 2016.

Read the interview!