The CAF "Tramp Stamps" (a photo essay)

Mon Oct 12, 2009 10:31 pm

I had a great time at Midland. Obviously I would have loved to have flown on Sunday but the weather is the only thing you can't control. After the show was canxd on Sunday I went around and took pictures of the tramp stamps. Some look better than others but I don't think they are that big of a deal.

Last edited by Brad on Mon Oct 12, 2009 11:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Mon Oct 12, 2009 10:59 pm

OK...I'll display my ignorance once again. Why are they called "Tramp Stamps"?

Mudge the educable :roll:

Mon Oct 12, 2009 11:00 pm

Seems the branding is working, you noticed all of the CAF aircraft. Be thankful they are still around because of what that logo represents.

Mon Oct 12, 2009 11:06 pm

Branding notwithstanding...I've found that it's kinda' hard to miss an airplane with or without a "brand".

Mudge the alert :shock:

Mon Oct 12, 2009 11:07 pm

I don't like it at all - looks cheap.

But as they say, what colour is your warbird?????

PS - I'll take the blonde.... :roll:

Mon Oct 12, 2009 11:13 pm

Mudge,
The point of the branding is not whether you notice the airplane, it is that you notice the organization it belongs to. Remember guys, I don't like 'em too much either, but this campaign is mainly focused on Joe Shmoe airshow attendee and the general public, not this board of authenticity nuts ( and I consider myself one).

Mon Oct 12, 2009 11:14 pm

Mudge,
By the way "Tramp Stamp" is a derogatory name for a lower back tattoo on girls. I see a lot of them in college, hopefully the lower half

The term is meant to insult the logo.

Mon Oct 12, 2009 11:24 pm

Not a big fan, but I think the ones on the tail are less detracting. The one on the Zero for example. Now if we could just move it below the horizontal, we may have a winner. Now the one on the B-29, I wonder how much additional fuel it will cost to haul that one around :lol:

Chunks

Mon Oct 12, 2009 11:33 pm

Chunks wrote:... I think the ones on the tail are less detracting.

Here's one that's certainly more disturbing... looks like Midland got it one of them thar tattoo parlers...

... and yep, that's something you can't unsee gents... :lol:

Mon Oct 12, 2009 11:42 pm

I do really like the "full color" one on some of the L-birds and trainers. I think it fits in with their scheme better.

I still haven't gotten an answer as to whether the R4D got a paint job while it was in Sherman. The pictures of the tail from Brad certainly lend credence to it being done because the lettering and logo is MUCH crisper than I remember....maybe it's just the "dreary" weather hiding her "patina".

Tue Oct 13, 2009 12:36 am

me109me109 wrote:Mudge,
The point of the branding is not whether you notice the airplane, it is that you notice the organization it belongs to.

Exactly my point all this time. It isn't the airplane they give a hoot about at the corporate offices, it's the "brand". The airplane is just a mobile billboard to sell the marketing scheme. This is the last I'll ever say about those stickers.

Scott the former "Colonel"

Tue Oct 13, 2009 12:38 am

DOH!!! Ryan, how could you do that to us?

Tue Oct 13, 2009 12:47 am

I don't think they are all that bad, but for those of you who do, just send your support to that other museum with the airworthy Helldiver and hopefully soon to be airworthy B-29..oh...wait, there is no other museum that have those!
Seriously, while not a big fan of the CAF, they do have to make money as anyone else does these days. As I have said before, if someone really does not like them, there is a simple solution. Call CAF headquarters and ask how much revenue is received from those "tramp stamps", or how much advertising would cost to make up for the lack of the stamps, and then whip out the old checkbook, write a check to cover one or more of the birds you don't want to see it on, and send it to them under the condition that the stamp is removed. Wasn't that easy?

Tue Oct 13, 2009 12:54 am

Hi Brad:

I think bikini's trump tramp stamps by 1000%, but nice pictures oof the planes!

Tue Oct 13, 2009 1:00 am

Second Air Force wrote:
me109me109 wrote:Mudge,
The point of the branding is not whether you notice the airplane, it is that you notice the organization it belongs to.

Exactly my point all this time. It isn't the airplane they give a hoot about at the corporate offices, it's the "brand". The airplane is just a mobile billboard to sell the marketing scheme. This is the last I'll ever say about those stickers.

Scott the former "Colonel"

I not only think that comment is unfair, it is just plain uninformed. You cannot possibly believe that HQ does not care about the aircraft. The point is to form a brand so there are the funds to keep these historic aircraft in the air for years to come. I get really annoyed when people infer that HQ just cares about making money to go into coffer in Midland that doesn't benefit the aircraft.

Scott please tell me where you think the money from the marketing scheme goes?

AIRSHO, AIRCRAFT, INSURANCE, KEEPING THE HANGAR LIGHTS ON, YOUTH PROGRAMS, DISPATCH, ETC. ?

I am assuming you had a bad experience with the CAF, but please don't let that lead to false accusations.

Most 501(c)3 organizations are struggling in these tough economic times, and the CAF is no exception. We don't have the luxury of having deep enough pockets (like many private collections) to make every aircraft 100% original and free of trademark, if we did we would.

Rant over.