P-82 going Bye Bye!! A very sad day at the CAF!

[TAdan]

I have yet to visit the USAFM but when I do I am going to demand a free pass.

I dont think they will argue with you Infact I havent paid admission once when I have visited.

[Nathan]

I have yet to visit the USAFM but when I do I am going to demand a free pass.

I dont think they will argue with you Infact I havent paid admission once when I have visited.

hahah thats great man!

[k5083]

Afterall the goal here is to get these warbirds flying with any means possible. Some people I think are forgetting htat or are giving in to the worlds negativity.

We aren't forgetting that, Nathan. We just don't all agree with it.

I have yet to visit the USAFM but when I do I am going to demand a free pass. :x Afterall my tax dollars pays for their F-82 shipment!

When you do, you will discover that you don't need a free pass, because admission is already free.

August

[6trn4brn]

Ummmmm Nathan, it is free to get in to the NMUSAF You really should make the trip as it is well worth it! I have been there many times and can tell ya that it is something you will never forget or regret. Spend as much time walking around inside as you can and then don't forget to walk through the memorial gardens outside. Take a good camera for picture taking...kinda dark in a lotta places inside Chris can probably point ya towards a good camera as he has posted the best pix on here inside the museum that I have seen yet.

Now for my dumb question...I had heard that the USAF does not like to have planes restored to flying condition due to on the very rare occasion that one has an accident, if it has the USAF logo on the side they get a black eye for it by the general public. Anyone else heard that? Not sure if it would have anything to do with this whole dilemma with the CAF other than the one time that they had an "Oops" with it.

[k5083]

Now for my dumb question...I had heard that the USAF does not like to have planes restored to flying condition due to on the very rare occasion that one has an accident, if it has the USAF logo on the side they get a black eye for it by the general public. Anyone else heard that? Not sure if it would have anything to do with this whole dilemma with the CAF other than the one time that they had an "Oops" with it.

That position would be inconsistent with their whole Heritage Flight program, don't you think? Maybe they expressed it at some time in the past, but they surely have come around to the propa--oops, I mean recruiting and PR value of flying ex-USAAC/AAF/AF warbirds.

August

[Jesse C.]

1978 - Balboa Park - Aerospace Museum Fire
At 8:13 p.m. on February 22, 1978 the San Diego Fire Department responded to one of the city's most spectacular fires. The Electric Building in Balboa Park burned to the ground in a third-alarm fire. The Electric Building housed the Aerospace Museum and contained vintage airplanes, mementos and artifacts. San Diego's contributions to the history of aviation and manned flight--dating from the construction of Charles Lindbergh's "Spirit of St. Louis" by San Diego's Ryan Aircraft Company, to rocks taken from the surface of the moon--were destroyed. A valiant attempt by the first and second alarm companies to rescue artifacts and display cases from the building was in vain as fire broke through the ceiling and drove them outside. The fire was caused by arson. There was little to be done to save the 62 year old structure, which was made of wood and contained no sprinkler system.

Dang BDK, you shure brought back a awful memory with this one. I loved going to this musem and it was largely responsible for my Warbird Addiction. My Dad took us down there to see the aftermath of the fire and it was truly a sad moment to have.

I remember a P-40, Zero, F9F Panther, A Banshee, replica of the Spirit of St. Louis and the rest are just a dim memory.

Ironic part is that some of the pictures I took as a kid where lost in a Garage fire! Sucks to think those birds got burnt twice!

Anyhoo, I think we have really stretched out this thread and it is now up to the judges and lawyers.

Either way, hopefully the bird will be safe.

[Nathan]

When you do, you will discover that you don't need a free pass, because admission is already free.

hahahaahh....didnt know that thanks!

P.S. planning on raising funds to get a B-36 flying for at lest one year on the airshow circut.

[6trn4brn]

Hi August...I don't know enough about the Heritage Flight program other than I think there are only a select few people allowed to fly in the formations with the USAF aircraft. Please feel free to correct me, but don't the civilian pilots who fly their aircraft in the formation flights have to have impeccable maintenance records and such?

On that same note, I think the Air Force could take a page from the BBMF and restore some older planes to fly in the Heritage Flight program so as to not take any unecessary risks with the mere mortal civilian pilots and their planes

[6trn4brn]

Nathan...if/when you visit the NMUSAF, don't get any bright ideas about the B-36 parked there pal...I got dibs on that one Hey, when they open the planes up in May for the open cockpit, you wanna sit in the co-pilot seat and help me make airplane noises....VRROOOOMMMMM

Regrettably pal, that will be the closest you and I will ever get to seeing our dream to fruition

[Nathan]

Nathan...if/when you visit the NMUSAF, don't get any bright ideas about the B-36 parked there pal...I got dibs on that one Hey, when they open the planes up in May for the open cockpit, you wanna sit in the co-pilot seat and help me make airplane noises....VRROOOOMMMMM

Regrettably pal, that will be the closest you and I will ever get to seeing our dream to fruition

Well I think the USAFM should loan the B-36 to me so I can put it in my backyard and brag to all my neighbores about it. The only problem is I need a bigger backyard!

[6trn4brn]

Heyyyyyyy....now that is not a bad idea. Here is what we do...you distract the General while we are there...tell him something like you want to donate some 100 watt lightbulbs to brighten the place up a bit. While you are doing that, I will hook the B-36 up to the back of my pickup and haul it back here to my place...I have 4 acres. Then, the General will have all sorts of extra room to display both of the P/F-82s while you and I get to play inside the Peacemaker all day.

Sweet!!! If yer gonna dream, dream BIG!

OK...I will stop...back to your normal programming er, umm, I mean back to the real world and all the ugliness

[bdk]

Dang BDK, you shure brought back a awful memory with this one. I loved going to this musem and it was largely responsible for my Warbird Addiction. My Dad took us down there to see the aftermath of the fire and it was truly a sad moment to have.

I remember a P-40, Zero, F9F Panther, A Banshee, replica of the Spirit of St. Louis and the rest are just a dim memory.

I remember seeing the Zero and a replica Sopwith Triplane. I think they also had a Ryan Fireball, no?

[DaveM2]

a Ryan Fireball

Ironic I guess!

(The Zero was one pulled from a watery grave in the Islands during the 70s and was coated in some sort of clear plastic as it was corroding badly)

[B-29 Super Fort]

I'd rather see it restored at the Air and Space Museum in Washington if the Air Force is going to retain ownership

[B29B24crewchief]

I'd rather see it restored at the Air and Space Museum in Washington if the Air Force is going to retain ownership

Well, as you all know, the fight is not over!! We will continue the appeals and who knows, maybe someday, she will be flying side by side with FIFI as an escort for the long range missions that she was designed for!

Dave