I met a Legend
Sun Jul 13, 2008 5:40 pm
I was honored to meet Mr Walter Soplata today, and I toured his amazing collection. I heard about 3 hours of his stories of recovering his aircraft. It was just amazing.
Sun Jul 13, 2008 6:02 pm
Very cool man. He is a legend.
Re: I met a Legend
Sun Jul 13, 2008 7:41 pm
oscardeuce wrote:I was honored to meet Mr Walter Soplata today, and I toured his amazing collection. I heard about 3 hours of his stories of recovering his aircraft. It was just amazing.
Document all you remember. Sounds like an amazing experience!
Re: I met a Legend
Sun Jul 13, 2008 11:05 pm
oscardeuce wrote:I was honored to meet Mr Walter Soplata today, and I toured his amazing collection. I heard about 3 hours of his stories of recovering his aircraft. It was just amazing.
I'd love to hear more.
I met Mr Soplata and got a tour from him about 6 or 7 years ago...a great afternoon.
Mon Jul 14, 2008 2:26 am
Great news, Tom!
Sorry about the crossed wires, I have already corrected the issue.
It was nice talking to you.
Saludos,
Tulio
Sorry about the crossed wires, I have already corrected the issue.
It was nice talking to you.
Saludos,
Tulio
Mon Jul 14, 2008 4:03 am
Now that would certainly be a DVD worth purchasing...if Mr Soplata were to ever agree to sit down on camera and just talk so that all of us would be better able to appreciate what he has done.
Mon Jul 14, 2008 3:40 pm
tom, how did you wangle the privledge?? did you see the stuff under his house?? such as the c-46 flight deck or the f-100 flight simulator?? i would amagine it's quite a bit better cleaned up since some of his recent sales
???
Mon Jul 14, 2008 3:51 pm
It was just amazing.
That's all we get
Throw us a bone
Mon Jul 14, 2008 8:08 pm
Mr Soplata mush be a master at working in hydraulic jacks and cribbing planes apart and together. I was amazed at how he moved them with his 2 wheel trailer, truck and converted school bus. I saw little damage from the moves.
He told the story of bringing home his Neptune. Apparetly there was a story i the paper about him recently, and when the OSHP pulled him over, they let him go to avoid bad publicity. Walt's eye really twinkled when telling that story. The Cutlass is amazing, that thing is huge!
I was there at the collection to get 3 ATC RADAR sets from the Youngstown ATC center. we moved 3 weighing 300+ lbs, then toured the place. Mr. Soplata has kindly donated an airframe to MAPS. I will post pics and the airframe a little later when I get final permission tomake the offical announcement.
What amazed me is he still knows each airframe, when and where he got it. He speaks as one who really loves aviation, and the aircraft lifting man to God. I have a hard time remembering what I had for breakfast. He can tell you what the smalest piece is to, and there are more small pieces than I could count.
He appeared in good health, and kept up with us youngin's while we examined the treasures. I am just sick about the way the tax man is treating him. This guy just tried to save planes, not make a mint. He just happened to save some of the most valuable and rare in the world. Someone really needs to get on the ball and write a book.
1 word:
AMAZING
He told the story of bringing home his Neptune. Apparetly there was a story i the paper about him recently, and when the OSHP pulled him over, they let him go to avoid bad publicity. Walt's eye really twinkled when telling that story. The Cutlass is amazing, that thing is huge!
I was there at the collection to get 3 ATC RADAR sets from the Youngstown ATC center. we moved 3 weighing 300+ lbs, then toured the place. Mr. Soplata has kindly donated an airframe to MAPS. I will post pics and the airframe a little later when I get final permission tomake the offical announcement.
What amazed me is he still knows each airframe, when and where he got it. He speaks as one who really loves aviation, and the aircraft lifting man to God. I have a hard time remembering what I had for breakfast. He can tell you what the smalest piece is to, and there are more small pieces than I could count.
He appeared in good health, and kept up with us youngin's while we examined the treasures. I am just sick about the way the tax man is treating him. This guy just tried to save planes, not make a mint. He just happened to save some of the most valuable and rare in the world. Someone really needs to get on the ball and write a book.
1 word:
AMAZING
Tue Jul 15, 2008 2:22 pm
tom , since soplata's place has been emptied to a degree, did you have an opportunity to get close to the b-36 fuselage??? i'm curious as to what is inside of it. when i was their in 2003 i couldn't get to it . i heard there was a p-47 stuffed in it.
Wed Jul 16, 2008 10:43 am
I saw the B-36, but too much brush to get back. There is a P-47 there.
More to follow
More to follow