New Home for Hendrickson Skyraider

[JOMiller]

OK folks, it's official....the new home of the Hendrickson
Skyraider is Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile. We were
selected by NNAM to care for this beautiful aircraft. In all
honesty I am sad she will never again take to the air, but
I am most pleased with their decision. I have wanted a
big blue airplane with a round motor and a tailhook for a
looooong time.

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2012/01/jud ... craft.html

[mustangdriver]

Congrats Owen. It's nice to know she will be indoors and in a good home.

[CoastieJohn]

Personally....I'd like to see it go back to the owner who paid for it and keep flying. Maybe a future lawsuit will make it happen. The Navy Museum should butt out. Sorry.....

[andyman64]

absolutly shameful great way to treat a veteran we should start a petition to stop this theft!!!!

[mustangdriver]

If something is found to be brought into the country illegally, the item is to be turned over to the organization that overseas whatever the item is. being a ex-Navy aircraft, I can see why they did so. Here are some things you guys have to face,
1) No matter how much you don't like it, there were some huge issues in regards to what was done with this aircraft and the rules that are in place.

2) Owen who posted on here had nothing to do with anything that happened with this aircraft. He is now going to give it a good home protected from the elements.

[Warbird Kid]

Fully flyable Skyraider now to go sit in a museum, never to fly again. Near saltwater so it will need a full restoration if it ever gets the chance to fly again. Hmmmm, i dunno seems like a fail. But then again heck, it could have been worse. The judge could have ordered it to be scrapped I guess.

[mustangdriver]

1)Define fully flyable

2)It will be in a climate controlled building.

[Mike]

1)Define fully flyable

Well, it was in good enough condition to fly the Atlantic. I know you don't approve of that sort of thing Chris (or is that just when they're going the other way? )

[mustangdriver]

You are right, I don't support flying a single engine airplane over water for that long. But that is my opinion. What is not opinion is that, there are laws in place that need to be followed. You can't turn a blind eye to it because it deals with a warbird.

Last edited by mustangdriver on Mon Jan 23, 2012 6:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[mustangdriver]

Fully flyable Skyraider now to go sit in a museum, never to fly again. Near saltwater so it will need a full restoration if it ever gets the chance to fly again. Hmmmm, i dunno seems like a fail. But then again heck, it could have been worse. The judge could have ordered it to be scrapped I guess.

This is all true. just make sure you point the gun in the right direction before pulling the trigger.

[Warbird Kid]

1) Okay flyable, not fully. I meant that the aircraft with minimal work could probably be flown again, right? (I'm expecting since the plane was ferried from EU when it was brought here, it would still be sound and mostly airworthy.)

2) That's not bad at all. But we've seen the aircraft inside that building were hit pretty hard, much like LSFM was from a storm surge. That means to me that there in a some-what hostile location that is subject to severe weather.

Its not the worst that could have come from this fiasco, but certainly not the best. Now seeing the writing on the wall, I wish she stayed in France, continued to be flown, and then maybe bought by someone and ferried or transported over legally and flown here. Not regulated to static display. If the plane was in rough shape, was on outside display for years, (aka no where near flying) then this would be different.

[JOMiller]

I thought that post might stir up some interest. OK fellas,
here we go again. Everyone here is absolutely entitled to
their opinion. I've never met Mr Hendrickson and surely
have no problem with him. What is not in dispute is the
gentleman broke the law. Typically, there are consequences
for that. Get caught night hunting in AL, say goodbye to your
gun and boat if you're in it. Get caught selling drugs out of your
car, good-bye car.

As for the location issue, we've covered that before. But just
to review. Look up on Google news or another site about the
tornadoes in Jefferson County, AL today. B'ham is in Jefferson
County. I hope the SPAD is still in one piece. It is hangared.
Where would you like to put warbirds? East Coast maybe?
They have hurricanes too. Remember the tornado that tore
up NEAM? How 'bout the central part of the country? That's
called"tornado alley". What about CA where they have fire and
floods every year. What about TX where they have both
hurricanes AND tornadoes. Come on guys, there ain't a perfect
place.

[Robbie Stuart]

This is certainly a touchy subject. Given that this deal could have had a far worse turnout, (scrapped by the Govt.) I am happy to see it going to a Museum that will take care of it & display it proudly. Congrats Owen!

[gary1954]

Personally....I'd like to see it go back to the owner who paid for it and keep flying. Maybe a future lawsuit will make it happen. The Navy Museum should butt out. Sorry.....

Amen Brother.....A-the-frickin'-men

[gary1954]

1)Define fully flyable

Well, it was in good enough condition to fly the Atlantic. I know you don't approve of that sort of thing Chris (or is that just when they're going the other way? )

I just spit my coffee, that was a good one