Lady Lodestar's Last Stand

[GARY HILTON]

Yes, last month I did purchase the Lady...I have since been trying to find a home for her, that she wouldn't be cut up. Was informed by the only museum that had shown any interest, they could not afford the expense or man power to move her, so...that was my last hope.
I have a week or so to get something done, so I am calling on WIX'ers to help find a solution before I have to put the beast down.
I have fingers crossed hoping that she can be adopted by someone soon, if not, I will share my plans with you at a later date...
Call me at 816-565-0575
Gary Hilton

[TAdan]

Good luck finding a good home for her Gary.

Kudos to you for stepping up and trying to keep her preserved.

[Nathan]

why cant we all chip in to help Gary?

Gary, pm me your address and I'll send a little $$

Last edited by Nathan on Thu Jun 26, 2014 1:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[davidwomacks]

I agree I'd be willing to dontate to help keep an old bird off the scrap heap

[WIXerGreg]

I'm in too.

Any warbird friendly truck drivers here? Gary, what's it going to cost to get her moved?

[lmritger]

Gary, I sent you a PM... not much I can do financially, but if you need some manpower to help wrestle her onto a truck or something, I may be able to help out as it's not far away from me.

Lynn

[seabee1526]

I know that Yankee has alot on their plate right now with the bomber plant, but it would be nice to see them replace the one lost in the fire.

[Warbird Kid]

They had a Loadstar? Ive never seen a picture of there example.

Gary PM sent

[seabee1526]

http://public.fotki.com/Kos/members_photo_galle/yankee_air_museum/static_display_aircraft/c-60_lodestar/

Here are a couple of pics

The YOV-10 was awful nice as well

http://www.ov-10bronco.net/news_detail.cfm?NewsID=319

[APG85]

Where is the plane? I know the Carolinas Aviation Museum in Charlotte has been building their collection...

[Cubs]

Gary,
Can you post a synopsis of the situation? Clueless here.

[GARY HILTON]

Hey folks, sorry about the absence, posted this in Gillette, wy...now in Kansas City for a few hours before heading to Louisville, Ky.

I had made a few estimates for some folks a few years back on the Lady...to have her taken apart by a group out of Fl. that has experience with de-mating the center section for shipment, was going to cost around 50K...not including the move from Hampton Roads Airport (where she is now) to Buffalo, NY. To hire a trucking outfit to move her, with a 20'4" wide center section...would cost about 75K. With a good friend and myself doing it, we would have charged around 30K to di-mate and haul to Buffalo....
Very expensive proposition indeed....that's why it has taken me so long to move my Harpoon out of Wyoming...still not finished there after 7 years....

I was told the rent for the aircraft was one thing, by CAF rep...but have found out that the going rent is three times what I was told....an amount I cannot sustain for very long. I have to now look at this from a business point of view, instead of the emotional view I've had, and be realistic about the situation....that's why I was looking for a museum in need....I don't have long to wait for an answer, as the airport officials are giving me a short period of time to figure out what my plans are for her...they want the rent, or have her gone.

So this is the low down on where I'm at....Now...to the instant messages......

G

[Airinv]

Gary, I just recently sold a Lodestar and it was trucked from Minnesota to the Seattle area by Chapman Trucking on a special tilt rig. Give Buddy a call
Doug

[GARY HILTON]

Doug, thanks for the tip. You think the Harpoon would fit on that rig?

[K5DH]

I can also recommend The Chapmans. They've done some work for VFM transporting airframes and large loads of parts, and they've been first-class every time.