O.P. wrote:
I guess I woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.
I donate once a year to some aviationish, and that is usually for a selfish reason.
I am pretty much not going to donate to anything I have no part of, or cannot have a part of.
The large "Org" in my area and around my area is an old boys club. You can't even hope somebodys going to die to get a chance at being a part of it. You will flat out never have anything to do with it, ever, no matter how much money you are willing to give. Their "the ORG's"planes are private feifdoms, and will remain that way forever.
It's pretty much a crying shame because the plane I am interested in being a part of is always in pieces scattered around the hangar. I know how much it would cost to fix/annual/repair/ect on some of the things on it, and I can pay cash to see it happen tommorrow morning. No one gives a crap. Heheeeee, It isn't even a "Dirty little secret", It is a known fact, that plane is pretty much the personal property of 5 guys who don't even fly the d@mn thing, and have to be threatened with its removal and have to find someone else to fly it to Texas for the big airshow.......I've expressed a lot of interest, and everyone, absolutley everyone, including members from that chapter and other nearby chapters, just laughed and said don't bother....
I guess that, and a couple of other things, have seriously jaded me on stuff like that. I will not give any of my "Aviation" money to anyone or anything unless it directly benifits me immediately. Collings foundation is a great example, give them money, get a ride in the plane, pretty simple.
There was talk of a WIX airplane before, I know it was just talk, but what it all boiled down too is , Give us some money, We, "Meaning the only person qualified to fly the thing" will keep the plane here,"3000 miles away from me", and you guys can help kick for the maintenance. Sounds familiar.....heheeeeee
I'll just give my cash to my buds for gas money. I need the good ole boys and the mega retired sit in the museum all day and look down your nose at O.P. for invading your personal fiefdoms, like I need a hole in my f***ing head.
They can keep their broke d1ck airplanes, and I'll keep my cash.
Now tell us how you really feel.
Seriously...you bring up some very valid points and I have to agree with you.
John