me109me109 wrote:
Lynn- So you're saying that any WWII warbird that has glossy paint, new hardware, modern avionics, clear coats, alternators, an owners name under the canopy or any other minute inaccuracy is no longer able to commemorate the sacrifice of the men and women who flew them? That is ridiculous. The CAF goal is the commemoration of those individuals and a decal won't detract from that goal. The problem is we know too much here on WIX, 99% of the general population wouldn't know the difference between a spitfire and a mustang and yet you and others think that because the freaks (me included) here on WIX notice and don't approve then Joe Schmo wont approve. WRONG. It is the sight, smell, sound, and perpetual existence of the aircraft that is important, not 100% authenticity (even though that is a worthy goal).
Wow, did I walk up and urinate on your L-5 when I was drunk or somethin'? Where's all this personal bitterness coming from, Taylor? It's not a question of whether Joe Schmoe approves... it's a question of educating Joe Schmoe. Let's take your allegory and run the other direction with it... let's say the CAF's "powers that be" decreed that all CAF-affiliated aircraft should be lime green with corporate sponsor logos on them. So now you've got a lime green Sentinel with the CAF Tramp Stamp on the fuselage, and a Microsoft Windows logo on the tail... do you think Joe Schmoe is going to recognize your aircraft as a vital participant in a tremendous global conflict, or is he going to see it, think "Heh, that's a cute plane", and walk on? What did Joe Schmoe just learn? Bupkus, that's what.
Generally speaking the public does not give a flip about authenticity... not because they don't WANT to, but because they simply don't know enough about the aircraft to know what's right and what's wrong. There's nothing in the world wrong with that- hell, I know next to nothing about Japanese aircraft, for instance, so I couldn't tell you if the tailcode on Chino's Zero is right or not. That's where the role of education comes in. The owners of historic warbirds have a conscious choice to make when restoring and operating them- how authentic should they be? Guys like Kermit Weeks or John Paul or Bob Odegaard go all-out to make their aircraft as realistic as possible, while still incorporating some modern features which are necessary for safe operation of the aircraft... Jerry Yagen is working towards that as well, witness the recent transformation of his Hurricane.
The point I have been trying to make, which you apparently missed entirely, was that the **LEADERSHIP** of the CAF does not appear to have the same commitment to authenticity and education. That does not apply to you, unless you suddenly got a promotion we don't know about- it doesn't apply to the other CAF colonels here either. I did make a suggestion, which apparently got overlooked in the rush to defend the besmirched "honor" of the CAF, and that was to have better signage around the aircraft on the ground at events, such as a CAF flag. Here's some more specific ideas:
- Work with air bosses at shows so all CAF aircraft are gathered into one area, with "branded" corral posts and wide, bright lines or ropes which you can run around the circumference of this corral, and a single entry point for the public to come into the CAF area to see all the aircraft gathered together.
- Ensure that there is a wide range of CAF-branded merchandise available at a tent/booth/table/whatever in one corner of this corral... and MAKE SURE there is a *LOT* of reasonably priced kid-oriented stuff like small t-shirts, etc.
- Get promotional brochures printed up which are all done to a common format and which give the history of the aircraft type AND the specific airframe, and talk about some of the pilots who flew them... this doesn't have to be big, the Fighter Factory has glossy trifold pamphlets printed on a standard 8.5 x 11" sheet which have all this info
- Have a centralized database on the CAF homepage which gives this same detailed information, along with external links to other sites which cover the type in greater detail.
- Cultivate relationships with aviation photographers and magazines to ensure any A2A photos specifically mention the CAF, AND print a web link to the CAF site in the photo caption where readers can go to find out more info on that specific airframe
- Solicit targeted advertising for each individual aircraft history page on the website; this allows CAF to market advertising opportunities to businesses, and perhaps allow those business sponsors to use imagery of "their" aircraft in their advertising or correspondence if they so desired.
Nothing I've mentioned above would incur a major cost, but it WOULD require excellent communication skills and a commitment from the CAF as an organization to work together to build "brand recognition". The question then becomes whether the CAF leadership is willing to entertain alternative marketing and branding ideas such as those offered above.
Lynn
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