Warbird Information Exchange

If I counted right, the list of named Mustangs now shows 92 of them!

I don't know what all the fuss is about.

They all look the same to me!

Ha! Ha! Could You imagine being one of the poor, non-interested Airport Ground Crew Personel at this thing:

http://www.gml2007.com/_media/_gallery/GML047.jpg

I can just picture them at the edge of the sweltering runway, as another P-51 lands saying:
"Oh GREAT!! Another dam mouth to feed!!" ... Digger

If this happened at our FBO, then our guys would be saying......."bring em on, bigger bonus at the end of the year.........avgas is goooood!!!!

Fortunately, I will be part of the ground crew!
While the general public might have limited close-up interaction with the aircraft, I'll be one of the hoards that tow, launch and recover the snarling beasts up close and personal, all day, every day!
Jerry

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

How close will the "general public" be able to get to the P-51s?

Since I'll just be one of the many I'm not sure, but when they start moving the planes, every one has to be towed in and out. Time consuming work, but I like the hands on part!
Jerrry

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

That is my question as well. Will the event offer access to the aircraft similar to the Kissimmee gathering or will all be kept behind ropes of even the static displays?
Gary

It would be a bit naive to think that they're gonna' let the "unwashed" get within touching distance of these birds. Better bring a BIG lens.

Mudge the unwashed

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Land of the free because of the brave

If they are smart, it will be like Oshkosh, up close with the planes. I'm going for 3 days, and I'll be mighty disappointed if I can't get close.

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"I love the smell of racing gas in the morning"
www.timadamsphotography.com

Tim's post kinda' triggered a semi-weird thought. (I've been known to have a few of those. )

Just as a "curious"...I would really like to know some of the thinking behind getting close.
Why do people want to get "close" to the airplanes.
How close is "close"?
Do you want to be able to touch them?
Why?
Are you thinking that some of the airplane's charisma will rub off? Maybe just touching the plane will bring you closer to it's history.
Does getting "close" make you more of a warbird buff than someone who doesn't feel the need to immerse themselves into the "aura" of the plane?

Please believe me, I don't mean this as any kind of a "put-down". I'd just be interested to know some of your thoughts/opinions about it.

Mudge the weird

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Land of the free because of the brave

I hope it is like KOSH as well, otherwise why go. I guess it depends how close you can get to them.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Well? Getting close allows you to take a look at the detail and it feels more real. Like at a car show. People want to see the powerplant.

But then again you get some jerks or problem kids that will make the plane their playground.

How's that Mudge(the weird? Naa, just a little nutts! )?

When you go and see the Statue of Liberty you don't just see it from far away, and say enough of that. No you want to get close to look at it.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

I would love to be able to get up close enough to touch them and sit under the wing and all that. However, I realize that with the size of an event like this and the number of people involved, many owners may not like that.

Trying to be understanding, I would be fine if they were parked in rows, and then there was a rope, say 10 feet in front of them that everyone had to stand behind. This would allow for the planes to be safe from all the idiots, and allow for good pictures of the planes themselves, without having swarms of people around them. Not that you can ever get to close to warbirds or look inside too many cockpits or what-have-you, but with so many mustangs at one place, I can sacrifice "up close exploration" for the chance to have great photos of a majority of the Mustangs in the country!