Who's Your Most Memorable Warbird Guy????

[Taylor Stevenson]

Hank Ketchum

[mustangdriver]

The only one of the folks mentioned that I've met is Steve Hinton so he's gotta' be mine. Every time we've run into each other, (Chino, Duxford, Thunder, and some others) he's treated me as though I was the only one on the planet at the time. My point being, here's (in my opinion) "Mr. Warbird", treating me (the geezer nobody) as if I'm somebody he's known forever.

I refer to him as "Mr. Warbird" 'cause he's the only guy I know that seems to be able to get into ANY warbird and fly it. I'm sure there are a lot of others, but I don't know them.

Mudge the respectful

Steve Hinton is very cool.

[Ontario-Warbird]

Dave I'd have figured you'd say Jerry Billings

I was thinking of that, yes as far as i'm concerned he is the ultimate Spitfire display pilot and one hell of a interesting man, but Mr. Arnold work with Spitfires and the history of the aircraft is second to none. Almost every article i see in Warbird mags. with details on Spits always seems to have input from him.

On a local note ( Ontario, Canada ) I think Bob Swaddlings work with Vintage Wings of Canada on the historical Canadian paint schemes of their fleet is worth mentioning. He researched the paint scheme on the Spitfire MK XVI, P51MK IV and last i heard was involved with the P40, F4U, Lizze and F86.


Cheers Dave C

[N3Njeff]

Jaybo Hinub.

[Yak 11 Fan]

Maurice Hammond, for being a good friend who allows me to work with him on his aircraft, for giving me my first Mustang and Stearman rides and more recently for allowing me to fly the Stearman.

[b29flteng]

Randy Sohn, he was one of my mentors, Paul Poberezny, and R. A. Hoover.

[JohnTerrell]

Two that I'd have to say are Jerry Beck and Bob Odegaard. I've seen them with their airplanes at many shows throughout the Midwest and over the course of most of my life, and got to meet and talk to Jerry for a short time at the 2006 EAA show, which I've been very thankful for. I was absolutely blown away by how an individual could even think about building their own Mustang from scratch, let alone doing it and to such a beautiful standard. I've always been a big fan of Bob Odegaad's work on the Super Corsair, ever since I saw it for the first time in either 2000, or 2001. But above all else, it was their two companies which got the P-51C Redtail up in the air, after I had seen it on a flat bed trailer for all of my childhood, and both of their companies are doing, and will surely be doing amazing work in the future to get the C model back in the air, not to mention other warbirds.

Steve Hinton also pops out in my mind. As a child, one of the warbird books I had stated who the pilots were in each of the photos within the book. I was amazed by how one individual could be piloting about 80% of the WWII era aircraft featured in the book. He has definitely showed his skills both as a warbird restorer, warbird mechanic, and warbird pilot.

[Xrayist]

Howard Pardue...he was responsible for me getting my first warbird ride. It was in Silver Lady.

[ww2John]

...four not mentioned yet, but tops on my list...

Bud Anderson
First met him back in 1997, my first year volunteering on the Warbird Line Crew. A regular guy then, a regular guy now. Kind, respectful and still a terrific pilot.

Vlado Lenoch
Quiet & commanding presence. Terrific pilot. Helps more people than most people know about.

Jack Roush
Terrific pilot who treats people right. Like Vlado, he helps more people than most people know about.

Col Charles McGee
Has calmly shared with me and many others so many insights into his career and much that the Tuskeegee Airmen faced and have faced in their military service to our nation. My personal example of how to face adversity with courage, conviction and an even temper.

[HELLDIVERS]

Al Reddick

[Bill Greenwood]

I could say Howard Pardue. He just bought me lunch when when we were skiing together Wed. and years ago when I was down with a knee injury, he ferried my Spitfire to Ft. Collins for the annual, never having flown a Spitfire before and landing on a narrow runway. He has renewed my acro card several times, and Howard is always good for a flight or a laugh. I could say Alex Henshaw, as fine a pilot as ever flew, and a gentleman who met an average American pilot for lunch at the Duxford Inn. I could say Al Lang, genuine RAF Battle of Britain veteran Spitfire pilot who flew with me at a BC airshow, or Bud Granley who got me there. Or Ray Middleton who has looked after N308WK for more than 25 years. Or Earl Ketchen who taught a novice pilot to fly a Spitfire, or John Hess who let me solo his T-6. But of all the famous and near famous aviation people I've met; there is one more who stands out. He's just a young boy, not even a pilot, unlikely to ever be as he is crippled and needs crutches to walk. But in the 80's he sat in my Spitfire at the Houston Ellington show, with a big smile on his face and pretended to fly. I have never forgotten him, his smile or his spirit.

[Matt Gunsch]

Carl Schmieder, my friend and mentor. Vlado, Bill Greenwod, Chuck Hall, John Lane,

[Cindy]

Here's a different perspective....

Ed Maloney

Without his collection, it's likely that Jim Maloney, John Maloney and Steve Hinton, along with all the other 'Chino Kids' (both generations) would never have gotten into warbirds!

[hang the expense]

George Roberts and David Tallichet.

[Dan Johnson II]

Jack Sandberg. His hanger at Crystal airport was like Alladin's cave for me when I was a teenager in the 1970s Seeing Tipsy Miss flying over my house and the sound she made was like magic.

Never forget the day I walked over to check things out and saw Burn's Byram's P51D there, The EAA XP51A had flown in for some work, and next to the hanger was what I believe is now the CAF's RedTail P51C. She was in pieces then so I could sneak up under and into the cockpit. His P63 Tipsy Miss was there and another 51D in pieces too if memory serves.

Talk about heaven for a warbird dreamer