Model of jet fighter missing from Dutch museum

[December 19, 2011]  THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) -- A large model of an American jetfighter has mysteriously disappeared from a small Dutch museum and its owners are hoping pranksters rather than scrap metal thieves are responsible for what they call the "jetnapping."

Edwin van Brakel, chairman of the Museum Vliegbasis Deelen, says the non-working model of a Lockheed Starfighter was discovered missing Sunday morning.

He said Monday it is a mystery how thieves managed to move the scale model, which is about 10 meters (33 feet) long and weighs about 500 kilograms (1,100 pounds).

He says "it would not fit in the back of a Fiat 500."

Van Brakel says it looks like the theft was a prank because of a note left at the scene that translated as: "Fly away. See you next year."

[Associated Press]

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