Warbird Information Exchange

Several years ago, I visited Planes of Fame Air Museum. As I usually do when touring other museums, I wore my VFM crew dress uniform shirt and had my ID badge hanging around my neck. I peeped into the restoration hangar just to get a glance at what was going on. There were several men working. One of them looked up and cautiously asked, "May I help you?" I stepped inside and introduced myself and told him I was with Vintage Flying Museum and was a member of the B-17 Chuckie crew. He said, "Oh, you work for Doc and Chuckie Hospers! Great people! Come on in and let us show you around!" For the next hour or so, I got an in-depth personal tour of the resto hangar and a briefing on the projects in progress. Those guys treated me like I was really somebody and not just another dumb tourist. I've never received that warm a welcome from anyone else at any other museum. Top notch people, for sure! And it wasn't just the resto guys. Everyone I met was as nice as could be. That was a day I'll always remember!

I also visited Yanks later that day. In stark contrast versus PoF, at Yanks I was treated like just another dumb tourist.

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Dean Hemphill, K5DH
Port Charlotte, Florida

The Mauler originally belonged to Juan Reddick. He may still be the owner but I beleive he donated it. All we have is a center section. I am not aware of any plans to restore it at this time. If there ARE plans to restore it, it will have to come after we finish some of the many existing projects and get some room in the restoration hangar.

We have an outdoor yard of planes that have not been restored in any way, and the Mauler is either in there or has been moved to the back yard. I really don't check on it very often as dealing with my project takes up most of my volunteer time. I have also not heard any plans for restoring ANY of the outdoor unrestored planes ... but I also haven't asked in over 8 years. Maybe we DO have some plans in the wings.

I bet Cindy would know! I'll ask.

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There are two kind of aircraft, fighters and targets

I got a similar treatment a PoF years ago, I was even introduced to a busy Steve Hinton. . And I was treated equally nice at Yanks....

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.
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I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.