My Thanks to So Many

Hal B · **Posted:** Fri May 02, 2008 10:54 pm

Jeez, I go away for a week and it sounds like bad things happened.

Bill, I'm glad to hear that you're OK... that's the important thing! And sorry to hear about the airplane. Hope you can get it back in the air ASAP, but I do understand the time and money aspect of the situation.

Good luck!

308WK Crew Member · **Posted:** Sat May 03, 2008 1:21 am

I would also like to express my thanks to everyone on this site for being such classy people. In case any of you don't know, Bill is my father.

About a half an hour after the accident I got a call from him. He couldn't talk long, and wasn't able to tell me the details of exactly what happened or how, he just told me that he had been in an accident on the ground with the hurricane, both planes were damaged pretty badly, but most importantly, no one was hurt. I wasn't able to get in touch with him for a couple days after that, probably because he was busy with taking care of things and getting back home (but also because he's too darn stubborn to get a cell phone :wink:

).

Dad, I know you had more important things to do besides reassure me, but I was in suspense wondering just how bad things were, and my mind was jumping to all sorts of conclusions about worst case scenarios and thinking some really horrible thoughts. I read all the posts about it on here, and was very pleased that no one pointed fingers or played guessing games as to who was at fault. It quite honestly would have been torture for me to read such comments with the kinds of thoughts I was already having. You have all been so supportive, respectful, and just downright classy.

I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

This whole thing has just been so sad for me. I love all warbirds, but spits and hurricanes both have a special place in my heart, even apart from the fact that there are so few around any more. I've never told Ray this, but ever since I was old enough to understand what he does I've felt a lot of gratitude for the top notch expert work he consistently does on my father's plane. I know that even though he didn't own either of these planes, they are both his babies, and it must have been incredibly hard for him to see this happen to both of them. It also just seems so sad that not only the did the day before the accident mark the 25th anniversary of my dad buying the spit, but that this was also the hurricane's very first airshow.

I've always known I was incredible lucky to grow up flying the perfect lady, but now that I'm realizing those days might be over, I appreciate the time I've had with her even more. I always thought I would be flying her once my dad wasn't able to any more (which is hopefully a long time off), and I still hope I can carry on that legacy.

These things have a tendency to either drive people away from each other, or bring them closer together. I'm so close that it's been the latter and not the former. You people are all class acts.

b29flteng · **Posted:** Sat May 03, 2008 10:26 am

The warbird community is small and I feel like we're all family. We may not like a "cousin", argue about politics, paint schemes or whatever, but we are family and when someone comes to grief, we try to help anyway we can.

corsair166b · **Posted:** Sat May 03, 2008 10:58 am

Bill-

Both Denise and I are glad to hear you are alright and hope this all comes together with you flying the Spit again....after 16 years of working with you at airshows in and out of Colorado it just would'nt be the same to go to an airshow and not see you and the Spit there....

Far be it for me to volunteer other people's services, but looking at the banner for 'Wade Meyers Studios' earlier in this thread...Wade, could you do some sort of Hurricane/Spitfire painting featuring Bill's and Lone Star's birds and donate some percentage of the proceeds from its sale to the restoration of these two birds back to airworthy configuration? Just a thyought, but some folks might go for that and some money could be raised....

Likewise I have some air to airs of the Spitfire over Snowmass that I would be willing to sell for a certain amount per copy and would then convey the money to Bill towards his repairs....just some ideas...

Mark

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Sat May 03, 2008 11:10 am

b29flteng wrote:

The warbird community is small and I feel like we're all family. We may not like a "cousin", argue about politics, paint schemes or whatever, but we are family and when someone comes to grief, we try to help anyway we can.

I always say the same thing.

spookythecat · **Posted:** Sat May 03, 2008 12:25 pm

I also don't have a lot of $$$ but would kick in what I can to see her back in front of the warbird tower in Oshkosh where she belongs in late July.

Scott Rose · **Posted:** Sun May 04, 2008 6:45 am

Glad your okay Bill

Fouga23 · **Posted:** Sun May 04, 2008 7:07 am

I'm also willing to couch up some dough. It won't be much, but I'll do what I can.

ALAN.L · **Posted:** Sun May 04, 2008 7:46 am

Bill,I'm happy to send a few quid if needed and good wishes are always free!

Cheers, Alan

mgeorge51 · **Posted:** Sun May 04, 2008 9:22 am

Bill has always been a gentleman to whomever he encounters and a great ambassador for the Warbird community. I absolutely do not want the 2 seater to go to anyone else before its time. And it is still before its time.

I like the raffle idea for a ride and you can count me in too. I would definitely like another hour in the Spitfire.

Bill don't forget the partner idea as well. I know you thought about it years ago and Spitfires are up right now.

When our King Air got too expensive for the two of us we added a third partner and used that money for a lot of upgrades. And it sure is a lot easier to divide the expenses by 3 instead of 2.

I can tell that you might feel the costs of repair are extreme but sometimes we look at the current high value of our machines and forget that the maintenance costs are actually not bad compared to the turbine fleet. So I suggest getting a number and then a plan for the repairs to begin. Look at the Red Tail project, may take a couple of years but a pay as you go plan will eventually get you back in the air.

I would much rather the Spit stay with Bill then someone who won't operate it as much as he does.

Don't the Brits have a saying like Keep your chin up or something like that.

If I don't hear a positive word from Bill soon I will start to think he just wants all of us to keep saying nice things about him, and if he responds we might stop.

Bill Greenwood · **Posted:** Sun May 04, 2008 12:47 pm

As I wrote, I do greatly appreciate all the good wishes and offers of help and even money from guys who don't have a lot. It has been hard emotionaly; last night I was in a deep sleep trying to rest my mind when the phone rang at 3:10 am with someone trying to buy the plane. I have only flown once since and it is not as much fun nor am I as confident. One strange thing, I would fly the Spit easy, but am nervous in my Bonanza. I took a couple of IFR lessons in an Elite simulator and it is hard, I am rusty in that.I was hoping to complete my CFI rating this summer, I did the written.
There is really not much to be done yet, Ray is out of town. When he returns we will talk about the plane and what if anything he has time to do. Some parts do seem to be available, don't know about time, and money is very tight. I spent $$$$ past two years to get the Spit in first class shape ready for airshow season. I was hoping to do some trouble free flying. For instance all three gear were removed and overhauled just 2 years ago., new battery,air compressor,tires, OH starter. Anyway nothing can be done yet.
I have been amazed that I haven't heard a barrage of critisisim. Despite being mostly a bunch of right wing, gun totin, cig smokin, pro war, tatoo wearing, Nascar watching, garlic eatin, nose wheel flying, Hillary hatin, W votin,misspellin, T-28 lovin, onion breath, rasslin fans (that's about all I can think of, help me out) WIX folks have been nice.
PS. Forrest cuttin,Carbon using, SUV drivin, global warming disbelieving! See Jack, I can write it but my heart's not really in it.

Hal B · **Posted:** Sun May 04, 2008 12:57 pm

Bill Greenwood wrote:

I have been amazed that I haven't heard a barrage of critisisim. Despite being mostly a bunch of right wing, gun totin, cig smokin, pro war, tatoo wearing, Nascar watching, garlic eatin, nose wheel flying, Hillary hatin, W votin,misspellin, T-28 lovin, onion breath, rasslin fans (that's about all I can think of, help me out) WIX folks have been nice.

Think you forgot "environment hating"

It's hard for some of us, but we do try to be nice ONCE in awhile :wink:

And again; good luck and I hope you get to fly the Spit for many more years.

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Sun May 04, 2008 1:07 pm

Quote:

I have been amazed that I haven't heard a barrage of critisisim. Despite being mostly a bunch of right wing, gun totin, cig smokin, pro war, tatoo wearing, Nascar watching, garlic eatin, nose wheel flying, Hillary hatin, W votin,misspellin, T-28 lovin, onion breath, rasslin fans (that's about all I can think of, help me out) WIX folks have been nice.

Now, that's the Bill we're come to know and love :shock: