Warbirds future dim?

[oshosh84]

I think im about the only young guy in my area with an interest in warbirds. I know several people /w interest in aviation, but I haven’t met anyone in my age group with any interest in Classic a/c and warbirds. Is the general interest in aviation evolving along the lines of newer, lighter, faster, and be damned with the old?
Without new blood, are warbirds and antique airplanes doomed to go the way of the Curtis Jenny? (Correct me, but I don’t think any are flying anymore"


Excuse the grammer.

Last edited by oshosh84 on Wed May 17, 2006 10:50 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[Don Parsons]

Hi,
At least two Jennies are flying that I know of. One in California that Eric Presten flies and the Jn-3 (Canuck) at Creve Coeur.

don

[Elwyn]

From watching the forums I get the impression that Great Britain seems to have more early( pre-20's) aircraft still active. Some may be replicas but there seems to be more emphasis on keeping some of the earliest types operational.

Last edited by Elwyn on Wed May 17, 2006 9:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[DanteC]

I have a feeling there are more Warbirds fanatics your age than you might think. I'm 24 and I know more than a few people crazy about Warbirds. I may never own something with a big radial or a Merlin, but I will always be involved in the hobby in some capacity.

[oshosh84]

At least two Jennies are flying

I had no idea; I can't remember seeing one fly in a while now.

Everyone I know (personally) can't understand why anyone would ever want a stearman, t-6, or a Waco. "Why, when you can just buy a Cirrus and cruise at 200 mph"

Im only 22, but come hell or high water, im going to get my pilots license, and im going to fly a stearman before I die.


Maybe I should start buying lotto tickets, lol

[wls3]

"At least two Jennies are flying"

And counting.
Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome NY

Bill

[RickH]

Well, I can think of a few young men your age who have already been at this warbird business for a while.

One has been crewing on Texas Raider since he was in high school. He just got his senior boots at Texas A&M. He also has his private pilot license.

One young man started with the Collings Foundation when he was twelve. He now works for the Air Force Assoc. in Washington and volunteers at Air& Space. He was the one sitting on the P-61 in the pictures.

My son has been helping on warbirds since he was 7, he's also now 22. Got his first T-6 ride when he was 7, his A-26 ride a few years later. Was invited by Bill Reese at the Garber facility to help in their shops the next time he got to Washington, he impressed Bill with his knowledge of what was at Silver Hill. He was 8 at the time.

He got a little stick time in the B-24 Witchcraft last year.

His lifelong friend has been helping on the aircraft in some capacity since high school. He's now 23.

Michael Luther at Yankee runs their big show and I think he and Kevin Walsh are about 24.

The next generation is out there, you just have to look around.

[jaybird]

Data to support your contention?...likely doesn't exist, but I am not worried about youth interest dwindling (by the way, you didn't give a ballpark on the age group referred to). Take a look at the marketing end of "warbirds". There doesn't seem to be any lack of promotion directed at young people....anything from t-shirts to models, to video games. Granted, the "older" folks may buy these items for their grandkids and their kids out of their own interest (like me), but that interest is most certainly passed down. My 3 year old already points at pictures of Corsairs and says "daddy's favorite" and "I want a ride in the blue one". I see warbird products everywhere.

There will always be more people interested than airframes available.

[srpatterson]

From watching the forums I get the impression that Great Britain seems to have more early( pre-20's) aircraft still active. Some may be replicas but there seems to be more emphasis on keeping some of the earliest types operational.

Everything in England is older, like stale bread and flat beer...

[oshosh84]

Data to support your contention?...likely doesn't exist

Such data would be Irrelevant. All I am pointing out is that my generation is more interested in newer, faster blah blah blah.

Im not saying there aren’t any youngins (with interest) at all in the world, im sure there are a few. But I am pretty sure those numbers are dwindling, with little (Visible) interest in my area.

(Honestly, I could care less about who likes this and that. All I really give a hoot about is that these birds keep on flying. )

The same has happened with classic cars. Right now, 64-74 Muscle cars are the big thing with the older generation, with most kids favoring more modern cars but with some interest in the older stuff (Honda, Nisan)
10-15 Years ago 30s (hot rods)-late50s cars were more popular; Today these cars have dropped in value while Muscle cars top dollar at auctions.
What you drove in high school, and what your parents generation drove are usually more popular when your generation gets around retirement age.

IMHO I will live to see the day when there are only 2-3 B-17s still flying, and more aircraft like the F-100, F-4, T33 are much more common.

"At least two Jennies are flying"

Thanks for the info, all the Jennies I have ever seen were non flyers, replicas, or both

you didn't give a ballpark on the age group referred to

I am 22

[bdk]

Look at the second and third generation warbird pilots out there. Just like the second and third generation Indy Car and Nascar drivers... Lots of familiar names!

The place you find young people interested in Warbirds is at a place like Planes of Fame where there are a lot of warbirds. In my high school in Illinois (back in the day), I think I was one of two people I knew that had any interest in aircraft at all. That didn't stop me from seeking like minded people in my more or less adult life- and one of the reasons I live in Kalifornia now.

[srpatterson]

IMHO I will live to see the day when there are only 2-3 B-17s still flying, and more aircraft like the F-100, F-4, T33 are much more common.

Not likely, because:

1. Too expensive to operate.
2. Too expensive to maintain (if you can even get the parts).
3. Too expensive to insure (if anyone will even write the policy).

Jet trainers are expensive, jet fighters are rudely expensive.

[flyboyid]

I wouldn't say there is less interest. I know the museum in my town does a great job at attracting young people. I think there are two issues:

1. Warbirds are kind of an older man's game (no disrespect intended) but they aren't as accessible or affordable for younger people unless you have the right connections. I've been fortunate enough to fly in a B-17 twice and get some stick time in it too. But that was because I volunteered my time with the Collings Foundation. Otherwise...it's hard to pony up the several hundred dollars for a ride. I'd give hours upon hours of free labor for an opportunity to sit in a Mustang, not to mention ride in one. I just can't afford to pay for it.

2. I think as young pilots or aviation enthusiasts get older, they will start to appreciate the warbirds more. An 18 year old may think the mustang is cool, but the Jet is louder, faster etc. Also with less experience around aircraft, owner/operators may be less willing to let younger people work closely with their aircraft.

Again, these are generalizations and my observations.

For the record...I too am 22.

[Raven]

I knew the feeling Mr-22 year old...

Don't worry. Most people are interested in newer, faster, more matt black and they think it's better, whether it's music, cars, planes or gadgets.

BDK's right. You have a special interest, and most folks just don't get it. So you'll feel outnumbered.

Fact remains there's a hardcore of enthusiasts interested in anything you care to think of; but they're always outnumbered by the majority.

This isn't a bad thing.

More old toys for us.

Your points about cars are good ones, but there'll always be folks after a drive in a Stutz Bearcat...

You are just wrong about 2-3 B-17s.

Despite the howling and groaning here, the Warbird market's stable and under slow growth. There's more aircraft flying of any period you care to name flying today than there's ever been before - the exception being recent military, as they are a bit 'hot' for governments to like people playing with. But pre-W.W.I, W.W.I, inter-war, W.W.II or post-war, there's more globally now that an any other period - flying and preserved.

Quit worrying, get playing!

Now, the fossil fuel crisis, that's another thing.

[Roger Cain]

Here's the Jenny flown by Eric Presten in CA. The Neuiport replica has since gone to New Zealand.