The one that got away

[oscardeuce]

We you ever just a few minutes/days late on that warbird?
My story:
In college we were having a BS session, and the talk turned to airplanes. One of the girls said "My Dad had a P-51 he bought in the 1960s. I asked if he still had it. She said yes, but her father had passed away 2 years ago. I asked where was the Mustang?. She said "on the farm at home. Mom still runs it every month and Dad kept it in the barn and flew it from a grass strip. Mom wants to sell it.". I called Mom up the next day. She had just gotten off the phone with another person who bought the plane. Even for the 1980's the price was way low. I doubled and then tripled the price (still a steal), but she was too honest. I lost my Mustang that day.

Last edited by oscardeuce on Mon Dec 05, 2005 5:31 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[Scott Rose]

I was offered an F-105 airframe, stripped of all parts, that used to be a test bird for Tracor Flight Systems. All I had to do was arrange transport and storage. Unfortunately this was 7-8 years ago and I did not have the funds or contacts to pull it off then. So unfortunately it went to the smelter.

Similar situation I was offered a Texan project, that was later sold.

And lastly, a local snj carcass was sitting next to a driveway near Weymouth NAS. Saw it a million times. By the time I got into warbirds it was gone. Probably could have gotten it for cheap money.

[systemofadown1162]

I feel your pain oscarduece.

[Rob Mears]

I discovered an ex-RCAF AT-6 complete and unrestored in a Monroe, LA hangar around 1992. It was the model with hard points under the wings, and it came with a zero time prop still in the crate. The only item missing was the engine. I located the owner and he offered me the entire package for $16K. I didn't have the cash at the time (starving musician), and I couldn't get my father to ante up. To this day it still makes both of us sick at our stomach that we didn't haul it back home (it sat just 20 miles from the family farm).

Then there's this story about some Central American birds, but that's for another time.

[C170BDan]

Friend of mine told me.... Todays high prices are tomorrows bargains!

I chased a lead on an SNJ-2 that was missing engine/prop and one wing. Located a wing... but then didnt pursure it after that... it was priced at $12,500! One of these days I'll get a hold of a T6/SNJ!

[agent86]

as a kid in the 1970's I had a whole fleet of warbirds including 3 pt -19's a p-40,p-51(even Miss America)and many others.I flew them and crashed them all many times, built by Cox inc of Santa ana,Ca. The school yard/aerodrome I flew from was across the street from my house and I can still hear the scream of their mighty 049's. Tally Ho! Bandits at 10 o'clock!!also flew a corsair built by testors,never seen another like it. Tim

[wendovertom]

In 1978 or so there was a pile of airframes in Wendover - mostly T-33/F-100/F-86 pieces parts. BUT included in that pieces parts pile were several large sections of B-29 and B-24 airframes. Wendover was a training base during WWII and unfortunatly training meant lots of wrecks.

they could have been had for a song but no one thought anything of it when the AF showed up and removed and shredded the whole lot

Tom P.

[B-29 Super Fort]

We you ever just a few minutes/days late on that warbird?
My story:
In college we were having a BS session, and the talk turned to airplanes. One of the girls said "My Dad had a P-51 he bought in the 1960s. I asked if he still had it. She said yes, but her father had passed away 2 years ago. I asked where was the Mustang?. She said "on the farm at home. Mom still runs it every month and Dad kept it in the barn and flew it from a grass strip. Mom wants to sell it.". I called Mom up the next day. She had just gotten off the phone with another person who bought the plane. Even for the 1980's the price was way low. I doubled and then tripled the price (still a steal), but she was too honest. I lost my Mustang that day.

I wonder what ever happened to that P-51 if it could be identified.

[oscardeuce]

I try not to think about it too much!

[slinky]

Kinda makes ya sick when you give it too much thought....When I was much younger I would ride my Cushman out to the airfields close to my house in Okc. One of my haunts was a derlict P-38 that was about 80% there with no engines at Cimarron Field, an old CPT field(now Page Airport, F-29)....Sat there for years till it was finally airlifted out and is being restored or has been restored. Spent a lot of time in the cockpit of a plane that could have been trucked off for nothing at the time. This was also one of the first aircraft I shot with my Dads Afga 35mm and old Wards slide film! There was also a Cessna 195, C-47, a yellow B-25 firebomber, and several Lodestar airframes, all long gone. Page Airmotive had tons of engines there at one time and was a major place for engine work. A point was brought up on another posting about the XC-99 that stated that they were so glad to see it being saved, being an X plane and it's service with the AF. I'll have to agree with that. If at all possble, save it! When in doubt, save it! So many irreplaceable airframes have been lost, the P-43 on the farm for one, we need to be as proactive as possible. Enough of my soapbox, I know you all feel the same..... Tailwinds to all, Steve.

Back in the late 1960"s I was working at DuPage Airport fueling aircraft and got a chance to work for Bill Ross. My first job was removing the Paint in his newly recieved P-38 44-53095. One day someone came into the shop and was talking to Bill about going to Canada to pick A FEW P-51's as they were talking, jokingly, I was asked if I NEEDED one. It seems they were costing them $1500 @ plus shipping. We all had a good laugh and went back to work. I wish I had a couple Mustangs sitting in shipping containers today. It's funny to think how cheap warbirds were not that long ago.
Steve

[tom d. friedman]

i can't relate any stories on magical opportunities to get entire warbirds, but i can relate to losing the chance to buy highly sought after & collectable antique aviation memorabilia & accessories umteen thousand times!!! it's no less painful than missing out on the entire bird!!

[Yak 11 Fan]

I asked where was the Mustang?

Was this in Australia OD?

[pilot06]

Rob,

Do you have a serial aand history on that T-6? Do you have pics of the hardpoints?

Patrick

[Forgotten Field]

1992...BT13, flyer, out of annual $12,500

1996 Complete L4 with Pacific combat history, $22,500

2000 Aeronca O62 (predecessor of the L3) all restored, $17000.

2002, Stinson L5E, all restored with 38 hours on airframe and engine since restoration- Finally Got one!