Speaking of Soplata.............

[Pat Carry]

What still remains on his family's property these days?

[JohnB]

Just out of curiousity, and no I'm not with the IRS...
did Walter's hobby pay off financially for the family?

Have they sold anything for decent sums...or just scrap value?

[Rob Mears]

Decent sums. Some of the better players in the warbird market worked many of those deals. I believe Walter did very, VERY well for his family's future by saving those airframes. Who'd have thunk it back in the 50s/60s!

[JohnB]

Rob,
Thanks...I always wondered about that!

[Dan Jones]

Are there any pics of the Soplata P-63?

[Stephan Wilkinson]

Interestingly, I just got an e-mail from Soplata's daughter commenting on a B-36 cover story I wrote for Aviation History magazine. In it, I'd written that Soplata's B-36 had been sold to a California company that was turning it into "airplane tags," cutting the skin into pieces of aluminum that were embossed with commemorative material of some sort and sold for $50 or $75, whatever, per piece.

She politely pointed out that a few pieces of tehe airplane had been sold for this purpose, but not the entire remaining airframe.

If anything, it means that the family is still hands-on with whatever evolution the collection will undergo.

[Dan Jones]

She politely pointed out that a few pieces of the airplane had been sold for this purpose, but not the entire remaining airframe.

Cripes, you could probably make vanity plates out of it and never run out of material! lol

[Chris Brame]

I was wondering about that... hope the nose section could be saved and restored.

[marine air]

The rest of the Skyraider stuff is leaving this weekend. I think someone bought and hauled off the early R-2800's and I would say the best stuff is already sold. That being the P-47, Corsairs, P-63A, B-25's and TBM. The only WWII stuff I can think of would be the two Bamboo Bomber projects, several Beech 18's all makes and models, and the hulk of a T-6 that needs to go to the scrapper. There is also the complete cockpit section of a Curtiss C-46F in one of the buildings. I haven't been up close to it but the interior is supposed to all be there. The BT-15 is not for sale. There are lots of Beech 18 and BT-13 parts lying around.
Maybe the best of what is left would be the F7U Cutlass, lots of early jet engines of all types, and lots of turbine wheels, radios and radars and other vintage junk. They have done a really good job of moving things on.

[Zac Yates]

I'd written that Soplata's B-36 had been sold to a California company that was turning it into "airplane tags,"

Had the company told you they had bought the whole airframe when you contacted them for the article?

[Lon Moer]

The rest of the Skyraider stuff is leaving this weekend.
<>

Some photo's from FB, posted on mon 6/14, and a thread post;


"Richard Hester of Carthage, North Carolina acquired this rare aircraft. He's spent a lot of time and effort preparing his hangar at the Gilliam-McConnell Airport (BQ1) in Carthage to receive this treasure. "

[Zac Yates]

How exciting! Congratulations Richard and team.