Warbird Information Exchange

Things could get tough for Lone Star ( and the rest of us). The airport elevation is 8 ft. It will flood from the bay side first. They are looking for a 12 to 19 ft surge. They are also talking about flooding at Ellington Houston. 34 ft elevation

Houston and the surrounding areas, flood badly.

I witnessed a sailboat under sail, at a flooded portion of I-10 near downtown several years ago. Buffalo Bayou, White Oka Bayou, Greens Bayou, all flood and flood badly when it rains hard.

The San Jacinto river always floods Banana Bend, and even where I live, some 40-45 miles from Houston, it floods when it rains too much, and all of it because the coastal plain drains slowly.

Let's hope that not too many people will choose to "ride" the storm out.

As for the Lone Star Museum . . . I have always had a problem with the location, so close to the bay and also to the Gulf.

One of the reasons offered why the CAF did not choose Houston / Ellington before moving to Midland, was precisely their low elevation.

Hoping for the best for everyone in Harris, Brazoria, Galveston, Ft. Bend, Chambers, and surrounding counties . . .

Tulio

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Why take the best part of life out of your life, when you can have life with the best part of your life in your life?

I am one of them 'futbol' people.

Will the previous owner has pics of this double cabin sample

GOOD MORNING, WELCOME TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Press "1" for English.
Press "2" to disconnect until you have learned to speak English.

Sooooo, how am I going to know to press 1 or 2, if I do not speak English????

Any chance that the bulk of the LSFM's aircraft will be flown out of the danger zone? Any idea where they would be headed? Are any of them "down" right now. What about the A-20?

Ryan

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Aerial Photographer with Red Wing Aerial Photography currently based at KRBD and tailwheel CFI.
Websites: Texas Tailwheel Flight Training, DoolittleRaid.com and Lbirds.com.

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. - Prov. 21:31 - Train, Practice, Trust.

I know they were wise enought to build their facility to withstand extreme weather, but my guess is that a Cat-4 hurricane is still plenty enough to tear the walls off of anything that big.

Any idea how many of their planes are insured to fly at any given time? If they're playing it smart, every airworthy plane in the fleet should be on its way to Midland, Breckenridge, San Marcos, and any other warbird friendly location well inland of shore that has hangar space to spare. I figure most insurance providers would prefer to insure the airworthy aircraft for the neccessary egress/ingress flights rather than risk paying repair or replacement costs should they fall victim to the storm.

There's no doubt in my mind that just such a disaster scenario was at the forefront of their minds when they selected Galveston as their base. It would have to have been considering the city's history. Let's hope their planning, and the ultimate path of Rita provide enough breathing room to avert another Weeks Air Museum type catastrophe.

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Rob Mears
'Surviving Corsairs' Historian
robcmears@yahoo.com
http://www.robmears.com

I have a friend who left the island this morning and happened to drive by Lone Star on his way out. He said that all the airplanes that are currently licensed and able to be cranked and flown away are on the ramp. He said that was mostly the airshow planes. That would mean the B-17, B-25, SBD, F6F, Corsair, P-47, and Rick Sharpe's Skyraider. He didn't say whether the AT-11, DC-3, or Twin Beech conversion were outside. He did say that there was no Lightning, no A-20, no F3F on the ramp. The Spitfire can't go because as far as I know she is still pulled apart. Rick's Skyraider has already left because I just saw it at Hobby a few minutes ago.

I know the P-38, A-20, F3F, and TBM haven't flown in years but it would be nice if they could be looked over fairly quick and flown out on a ferry permit. I would also think that they might be going to Midland because San Marcos and Breckinridge could both end up getting some nasty weather from this thing. The hurricane might be gone by the time it gets to those locations but the thunderstorms and tornadoes won't be.

Good to know they are taking action. I've heard the hangars can withstand up to 200 mph but I'd rather not find out with a full load of airworthy airplanes all inside.

Ryan

What's even worse is that this the weekend for the Alliance airshow over in Fort Worth. Definately going to miss this one as we live down on the river and are expecting upwards of 10 inches of rain. 6 inches in a single day will put water over our only exit road and isolate our community. Already have most of the evac plan set. Going to send the wife, son and the pets to my parents house up in Denton and I'll stay onboard my assigned fire truck, as I'm one of the 4 qualified drivers for the department.

Good luck to any of you in the area. Play it safe...

Lets hope they were able to fly some of the aircraft out because I just heard Rita is now a category 5 hurricane!

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

The A-20 and all the others may get water but we all hope that "IF" the hanger holds we're home free because the museum "VOLUNTEERS" will be back there to clean up things. The "Wings Over Houston" Air Show will be the most affected because it is October 8th & 9th. Ellington Field is predicted to be under some water level if the storm stays on it's predicted storm track. It's a BIG "cluster----" but we'll pick up the pieces and try to put most things back together......

I think Laredo, Texas would be a better choice, shorter travel distance, a large ramp and out of the way of the storm, I hope. You all take care.

Good Luck,

Lynn

It all depends on the storm surge, they are talking a potential surge of 19-22 ft at Galveston, 30-40 ft waves on top of that. 150 mph wind .Lone Star is behind the end of the seawall but the bay will inundate them from the backside. Not good. Ellington is much further up the bay and won't see the wing Galveston will. Our hangars at EFD have a 120 mph wind load on the roof and 150 mph walls. Upper bay could see 25 ft surge.

Oh darn....that A-20 has got to survive!!!!!!!! (but yes first get the people out that's the most important)

John

Good luck to all in Rita's path, I hope it weakens or turns away from the Texas coast. This has been the worse hurricane season I can remember.

A little update...
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mp ... an/3364223

Wow there are only 3 B-58s left.

What is all that Salt water going to do to those a/c left behind? I assume that it will hurt them over the long hull.

What a clean up, Hope things turn out ok for the museum. Its hard for us to watch and wait, I can't begin to think of what it's like for those active in the museum.

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