Warbird Information Exchange

I'm in Airport Operations at New Orleans Int'l. Most of my days are spent inspecting the runways, fences, things like that. Handling the occasional emergency landing too.

I've spent 10 years in Civil Air Patrol doing mostly ground work, going in after the wrecks.

I've loved warbirds ever since dad hung a P-51 model over my crib, but I stay away from CAP's flying side; Cessna 172s are the only plane that's ever made me sick.

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ATC: "Oscar 2, cleared to engage wildlife at your discretion..."

I cant even get started on this. Lets keep it simple. Over 110 types flown -
Captain:
B-17, CL-215, CL-415, CV-PBY5, DC-3, DC-4, G-73, G-111, G-TBM, N-B25.

USAF Reserve C-130 pilot '92-'03, commuter airline (BE-1900D) pilot '94-'97, major airline pilot '97-present (727, 757, 767-200/300/400), consultant for defense avionics engring/mfr modernizing avionics in older military aircraft. If you wanna fly for a living, working for an airline is a little risky. I suggest the military, Netjets. or one of the big cargo outfits like UPS, Fedex, or DHL/Airborne. Having said that, famous Jimmy Doolittle's quote resonates with me when I think about my career, "I wouldn't want to relive my life, I could never be so lucky again."

T33driver,

I'm just curious about who's doing what out there & how they got into it. I've got a little over 19 years (not that I'm counting) in the AF, all of it in CE.

Did some volunteer work (I know I said not to include volunteer stuff) at the San Diego Aero Space Museum when I was fresh out of High School & with the CAF. NOW I have to live vicariously through everybody here on the forum.

Mac

You got that right paul..............like I have always said " a package does not require a seat & peanuts!

Not to mention from the mech stand point, Freight is flown at night!

Who were you with in 94 flying the BE-1900D????? I was with CommutAir.

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Long Live the N3N-3 "The Last US Military Bi-Plane" 1940-1959
Badmouthing Stearmans on WIX since 2005

I flew Beech 1900Ds for Skyway Airlines--now called Midwest Connect, the feeder for Midwest Airlines in Milwaukee, WI. It was a sweat shop but I learned a lot about airline flight ops and some life lessons too. It was still FAR part 135 at that time so we didn't have dispatchers...seemed like I made 10,000 decisions my first day as a captain. Glad it's in the rearview mirror!

[quote="Jim MacDonald"]T33driver,

I'm just curious about who's doing what out there & how they got into it. I've got a little over 19 years (not that I'm counting) in the AF, all of it in CE.

Jim,

I've got 19 years, 10 months in the USAF Reserve and I am sort of counting.

20 years, 11 months in the USAF, half active duty, half full-time reserves. Probably will be retired early next year, due to medical issues. Grew up as a military brat, father was a AC Mechanic. Through him I discovered a love of/for AC.

Aircrew Life Support Craftsman: Worked on OV-10A's, NC-130A, C-130E's, MC-130E's, EC-130E's, MC-130P's (Scar-Back's), HC-130P's (Humpies), WC-130E's, WC-130J's, MH-53J's, T-39 (FAA Bird), C-9A (Med-Evac's) C-9A (DV-Transport SACEUR's Bird), T-38's, F-15A,B,C,D's, C-130J's, C-130-30J's (Stretched Version).

Helped clean, and prepare the C-54 that went on display at the Berlin Airlift Memorial at Rhein Main AB Germany.

Mike Bernhardt

I have two aviation related jobs.
First I work for the ramp services dept at Swissport int, Sanford Int Airpot, Sanford FL.

Im my spare time I run a booth at a antiques & Collectibes shop in Sanford FL that deals in diecast aviation models & aviation collectibles.
Our shops name is Big Guns Collectibles, www.biggunscollectibles.com

I also run the Florida Diecast Aviation Forum, as linked in my sig.
The Fourm deals in diecast models & aviation related topics & history.

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FLORIDA DIECAST AVIATION FORUMS
www.forumsvibe.com/cfldiecastmodel

Commercial helicopter pilot and ground school instructor.

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Olivier Lacombe -- Harvard Mk.4 C-GBQB

Aircraft maintenance technician since 14 years.

I presently work on deHavilland Dash8 100 and 300 series, Canadair Regional jet CRJ100/200 and CRJ700/900/705.

In the past, I worked on Beech 1900D and Bae 146-200.

I am Mike

FAA Miami Air Traffic Control Tower
Quality Assurance Specialist

Marketing Director for Weeks Air Museum prior to closing up.

Tour Coordinator for Gen. Tibbets for South Florida visits for several years.

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http://silverplate1945.smugmug.com/AVIATION

Professionally, my current job as a Producer for First Image, LLC, usually puts me in the air when ever we need aerial footage of anything. We do TV Commercials, Infomercials, corporate marketing work and documentaries.

I own & operate Reel Aircraft, an aircraft and avaition prop locating and coordinating service for films and videos.

Since 1991, I've operated Airdales Flightline Operations, where our teams handle Airshow Ground Operations from coast-to-coast and everywhere in between!

Produced the "Corsairs Over Connecticut" Show in 2005.

I've Air Bossed a few shows and also done Airshow Producing & Announcing.

Published Aviation writer and photographer.

Member of ICAS.

Board of Directors, Connecticut Air & Space Center.

Former Associate Curator for Costumes: New England Air Museum.

Past Vice-President and Secratary of the Connecticut Antique Aeroplane Club.

WWII re-enactor with the WWII Airmen's Preservation Society and American Military Medical Impressions.

Private pilot since 1978.
Interesting types I've flown or ridden in: B-29, B-24, B-17, B-25, C-47, C-54, PBY, P-51, TBM, T-6, C-45, PT-19, 23,26, PT-17, AN-2, Bucker Jungmiester, DH-82, Fleet 16B, UPF-7, Stinson Detroiter, J-3 Cub, Aeronca Champ, Aeronca L-3, Spartan Executive 7W, Hot Air Ballons,
Bell-47, Aerostar 350, Sikorsky S-76, Jet Ranger.

I'm sure I forgot something, but that's about it in a nutshell.

Blue skies,
Jerry

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

My name is Chris, and I have worked in aviation since I was 15. I started out in line service, then got my private and CTO, then went to work for US Airways. Downsizing saw my position go away, now I work for a medical helicopter company.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Hi,

My name is Paul and I've been an A&P Licensed Mechanic/Inspector since 1982, if you don't count Tech School then I would have been involved in avaition on a "paying basis", since 1980, although I grew up around it since I was born. I have wrenched on, bent tin for, or Inspected DC-3's, DC-8's, DC-9's, DC-10's, B727's, B757's, B747's, CV-240, -340, -440, and -580's, Rockwell T-2B/C models, Beechcraft T-34's, and all manner of Warbirds including T-6's, Stearman's, F4U Corsair, P-51, P-40, P-47, P-38, Spitfire, B-25, A-26, Avenger's, F4F, F6F, F7F, F8F, and a B-17. The Warbird types I have considered an honor to maintain in flyable condition and did it as a volunteer. I had much more fun working on those than I had working on Jetliners (with the exception of the 747).

If you are looking for a career in aviation....you may want to do yourself a favor and stay away from the airlines. Most, if not all of them are in a bad way at the moment and have sold off most if not all of their former assets, and the only thing that is left for them to do is "slice and dice" their employees wages and benefits. Please understand that if I sound a touch bitter I am, because I once worked for an airline....with Red Tails...and they basically sent my job overseas and after a 21 year career it was a bitter pill to swallow. Which is why I advise you to stay away from the airlines....they are ALL sending their work overseas or to South America.

Best of Luck to You,

Respectfully,

Paul