[joegertler]

Baldeagle; If it is the Velie powered Monocoupe, I still have the original Velie engine mount from that specific aircraft. Got it and the engine (I think the engine had only about 400 hours on it.) So far back, I can't remember what we traded Cole for it-probably rotary stuff.. Don't know how far along you are, but this mount is in excellent condition. Sold the engine years ago,too. Now that I'm pretty much retired, and moved to Florida-without the display room for them, I've liquidated the engines and a lot of the engine stuff. Most went into nice museum and restoration projects..But still have a lot of old engine parts, instuments and restoration parts on the storage shelves...
I'm just sick to hear of the situation and have similar feelings and experiences to those already expressed of what Cole and ORA have meant to my life. I was just thinking to myself...SO MANY memories and not a bad one in the bunch-every memory makes me smile. I can Easily understand the frustration and disappointment with the situation and wanting Somebody to be held accountable and Somebody to help straighten it out and SAVE ORA in this critical hour of need. I KNOW it can be fixed and that ORA can be financially stable and self-supporting. It isn't that complicated really. Cole did it all by himself for many years, with some good help of course, from volunteers and friends that he charismatically attracted. Almost ANY museum director/curator I've ever met, will tell you these operations are completey dependent on outside help and fund-raising, and cannot be self-sustaining. But is isn't true and Cole and some others I know proved that. It needs someone who is a "driving force" and KNOWS exactly how to do it(not guess or take several years for planning that "might help or work.") in this EXACT type of operation, or very similar. An experienced fund-raiser won't help much. An experienced aero historian won't help much. An experienced business/financial manager won't help much. Experience with restorations, costs, planning won't help that much, UNLESS you can find someone (or a SMALL team) that has (successful) experience in all those fields to take the helm with a free hand and authority and RESPECT for Cole's intentions and legacy. I believe that can be done.
Just remember that all the negative complaints (and I would probably be among the first and most vocal to make them, if I were deeply invloved up there) are going to be another liability to overcome when the time comes to get up and running again and gain what outside support and voluteerism is possible. It's kind of a Catch 22. I know you have to bring the disastrous situation to the public to try to get enough clout to get rid of those that can't and haven't,and won't, and replace them with those that can and have and will...