Curious about Yanks

[Matt Gunsch]

:(

Matt G,

I can speak only for me and my friends, but we have had many great breakfasts at Flo's Cafe in Chino over the years and we are always well treated.

I know, it ain't exactly the MRE's you are used to, but...

What MREs am I used to ? I was never in the service. All my training has been hands on, I was turning a wrench on a B-17 when I was 13. Last time I was at Chino, we were flying a 6, we stopped at Flo's and by the time we got into Phx, I was sick.

[bdk]

Does anyone know Yanks' current hours of operation? I can't find it on their site and as I recall they were always a bit cagey about it. I am due for a visit the next time I am in the area.

Weekdays until 2:30 and Saturdays until Noon I think. Wouldn't hurt to call.

I've always thought the yard outside with the jets was open. Just ask someone inside the maintenance area and they will direct you outside (unless something has changed).

Yes, Flo's has lots of character. If you define character to include dead flies on the window sill (I guess they can't stomach the food either). Just like politics, I guess it is a matter of opinion!

[hang the expense]

I worked in hangar across the taxi way from yanks in the late 80 and early 90s. We never saw anything fly in that time period. I sure miss Stan.He was one hell of a guy, you just needed to know how to take him.

[JohnH]

Yeah I hung around Chino alot in the early 90s and never saw anything over there fly. I always get amused by those lists of survivors that have Yanks airplanes on them stating they are airworthy. If something hasn't flown in 25 years it sure as heck isn't a flyer now is it? Yes Stan was a true character and you couldn't get upset at him. One time I walked in the hangar and said "Hi Stan" and he simply repeated "Hi Stan!" . Another time I brought a visitor from England who was a well known aviation writer and Stan proceeded to tell us that they had " no foreign stuff here at all", as if that was some evil sin they were punishing!!!! . I'm laughing my head off as I type this, he sure was some character!

JH

[T J Johansen]

I remember walking into the workshop one time when a guy I knew worked there. He had just given notice to Stan that he was leaving Yanks and only had a few days left. So while we're standing around greeting each other Stan and Nichols appear from the doorway. I could see that neither of them were in a good mood. Nichols left, and Stan came straight over to me yelling that I shouldn't keep his employees from doing their work, and to leave the building right now... I did, and wandered over to Flo's for lunch, convinced that I had burned all bridges with looking through the Yanks workshop as I always did while out there. Then as I got ready to swallow the burger and fries two guys just came over to the table and sat down. That was Stan and Jim Mott (Sea Fury N878M owner) and we started talking like nothing had happened. Stan was talking about his desire to retire and move to Hawaii, something his wife was very opposed to. At the end of lunch he told me to come over and see something (can't remember what), and they just left. I too kinda miss old Stan. He had very strong opinions at times, but he stood for them!

T J

[k5083]

I never really introduced myself to Stan in the times I visited but I sort of got to know the guy. I remember once after the display hangar had just been built, he let me in (you had to stand around and make a little noise to get admitted to the facility in those days) and let me wander around the new hangar unattended while he went back to what he was doing. After about 20 minutes he must have wondered what that young punk was up to in there because he came looking for me and said, "All right, you've been here long enough." But after I complimented a couple of the restorations and showed that I knew a little about them he walked me through the place and told me stories about each one, which took another half hour. He seemed an okay guy and I miss his curatorial focus too.

August

[bdk]

I worked in hangar across the taxi way from yanks in the late 80 and early 90s.

Where?

[hang the expense]

I worked at dave tallichets place(M.A.R.C.)With Brian and apprenticed under Jerry in the sheet metal shop. One of our bosses was a real piece of work named todd merchant. Dave would show up on a saturday sometimes to go fly and merchant would be passed out drunk on the couch. Dave would just walk right by him and not say a word. This went on for a few months and dave finally fired him. Hope that answered your question

[bdk]

Hope that answered your question

Yeah, I didn't get over to Tallichet's much back then. I know Todd. Last time I saw him was over at Yanks about a year ago.

Funny how the same characters seem to make the rounds and end up back at the same airport about every ten years.

[hang the expense]

I am surprised he is still alive to tell you the truth.Johnny walker red label as I recall. I hear Dave is really stating to slow down these days. I thought he would fly forever back in those days. We all get old and I aint liken it narry bit.

[JohnH]

I am sure I know you Hang and I knew Todd as well as that was the time period I was there, just a Sat airport bum I was lucky enough to befriend Todd and the MARC camp. I recognize that handle, "Hang the Expense" that's what was painted on the Marauder when it was first firing it's engines and doing taxi tests. I am glad he is still around, he sure was a wasted talent with his problems but hopefully he has straightened himself out. He was a good friend and I was sad to see him go. Jerry was a hero, and it's his sheetmetal work that's on the Marauder. That's stories for another time I have to go to sleep.

JH

[hang the expense]

Somewhere I have a picture of Brian using a flannel shirt to cover up the name on the 26 when I was taking some pics of it..He wasnt wild about Bruce Crandle painting that on the aircraft. I have a bunch of hours working on that plane with Jerry. Through the years Jerry built alot of parts for that plane. The best sheet metal guy that I have ever known.