caf looking for new headquarters

[Lynn Allen]

You guys crack me up! Guess I just have to yield to your greater insight. Anyone headed to the Hondo, Tx show this Saturday? Weather and old planes, in this case a T-28A from the High Sky Wing, allowing, I'll be there with some friends. All the best.

Randy

Randy, stop by Brady 1st....

Lynn

[Lynn Allen]

If you visit or revisit the press release on the CAF website at http://www.commemorativeairforce.org/?page=cms/event&eventID=182 and scroll down to the bottom of that page, you will see some added information about the selection criteria for the new HQ Airbase. This was previously sent out to CAF members but was not included in the initial press release. I asked if we could add this information for non-members. I must say some of you are trying to read too much between the lines.

Randy

This was previously sent out to CAF members but was not included in the initial press release.

"I never recevied anything, but who am I, right".....

Lynn
Lifer #1743

[Taylor Stevenson]

Lynn,

I'll see you in Brady on Saturday! Bringing the T-6 down.

Fredericksburg tomorrow night.

Randy, what time will y'all be getting to Fburg tomorrow?

T

[Brad]

You just proved Jasons point...

I wasn't trying to disprove his point at all. I was just showing that the name Airsho was something with a long history in the CAF. It's not something that Steve Brown and the marketing department came up with last week to be a catchy new campaign slogan. Although I'm sure people that don't like it would love to blame him and the current administration. The name and the spelling has been around nearly as long as the CAF has been putting on airshows of their own and calling it "Airsho" is one of the last traditions that still exists in today's CAF. Maybe it is a marketing tool nowadays. But it hasn't always been that way.

NONE OF THE REST OF THIS IS AIMED AT ANYBODY. IT'S JUST GENERAL COMMENTS.

People forget that the CAF and all it entails was conceived and originally operated in a light hearted way. The organization was never intended to get to the size that it did. The CAF had a very serious mission but it was gone about in a fun manner. Everybody bitches about the good old boy way they did business in the past, but the light hearted part was also part of the draw. Of course the good old boy way of business wasn't always the right way and they paid for it, learned from it and have tried to do things different. The good old boy club still exists in the CAF, every unit of it. It also exists in every single organization that has more than a couple of members.

People that hate the CAF, for whatever reason, are just gonna (yes I know how to spell it but this is the way I prefer) hate the CAF. But if you don't like the spelling of "Airsho" in regards to one particular airshow in the world, put on once a year, by one particular organization and probably named that for fun more than anything else, then there is a whole bunch of fun stuff in the history of the CAF that you would hate as well. Jethro Culpepper, Throckmorton T. Beauregard, the Rebel Ball, the Geritol Award, the Order of the Brass Jackass, and the Silver Magnolia Blossom (depending on why and how it was awarded.)

As for my spelling of it in the sixth grade well that wasn't a matter of the Texas education system. I'm sure by that age that I probably had been taught enough to know that it was spelled with a W (yes I pronounce that as dubya) at the end. I certainly know my Mama could spell it. But the point of that was the paper was written about the CAF. It must have included something about Airsho and I'm sure I spelled it the way it was spelled on the program or in the Dispatch magazine or something like that. My Mama's argument was that in the context of what I wrote, the spelling I used was correct. I'm 40 years old and I still spell it "Airsho" when talking about the CAF event because no matter why it’s done or how its spelled, that is the proper name of it. All others I spell as airshow. By the way, for those that always think the teacher is right and that most of the problems today are caused by parents that interfere with the teachers decisions (I agree with that assessment), my Mama didn't go talk to the teacher because she had dared to give her baby boy a failing grade. She did it because she knew this nasty old woman was a vindictive hag that hated kids and was way past the point of needing to give it up! Anybody that went to Stanfield Elementary in Snyder, Texas during that 60yr period will still know exactly what old hag I'm talking about!

That was my really long way of saying I hardly think the CAF spelling it the way they did was the first steps (or even a step) on the road to Ebonics and the dumbing down of America. It was named in a light hearted way and its one of the very few things that has lasted through all the nonsense and political correctness.

[DaveM2]

Haven't read all of the thread- but the name discussion reminds me of the typo on our #53 cover...CAF 'AIRHO '

[airnutz]

Noting that the new base runway dimension requirement is 7000'x150'. I was wondering what minimum length FiFi needed with her old engines? What minimum does she need now?

Apologies for going off topic...ummm...errrr...I think.

[Randy Wilson]

Lynn - the criteria were included in the special edition of the On the Fly email that went out to members last Monday. If you are not getting that, you might need to be sure HQ has your current email.

Taylor - we plan to launch the two T-28As about 2 p.m. this afternoon and be at T82 about an hour and fifteen or so later, depending on winds and if we don't have to slow down for company. See you there,

Randy

P.S. The runway requirements are not the minimums for the B-29 with either old or new engines but are what the squadron would like for general operations and training, I believe. From everything I've heard, the new engines are much stronger than the older ones.

[b29flteng]

Noting that the new base runway dimension requirement is 7000'x150'. I was wondering what minimum length FiFi needed with her old engines? What minimum does she need now?

Apologies for going off topic...ummm...errrr...I think.

We have always had 6,000 feet as a minimum runway length and still use that as a standard. It's all about safety. We have operated out of less in the past, but very rarely. In my 15 years of flying her, I've never seen it done.

[airnutz]

P.S. The runway requirements are not the minimums for the B-29 with either old or new engines but are what the squadron would like for general operations and training, I believe. From everything I've heard, the new engines are much stronger than the older ones.

Looking at other airfields like San Marcos etc., I was just curious what FiFi normally needed....and wondering if those requirements were reduced with the new engines. Sounds like the extra "oomphh" is held in restrained reserve sticking to the old parameters.

[airnutz]

Noting that the new base runway dimension requirement is 7000'x150'. I was wondering what minimum length FiFi needed with her old engines? What minimum does she need now?

Apologies for going off topic...ummm...errrr...I think.

We have always had 6,000 feet as a minimum runway length and still use that as a standard. It's all about safety. We have operated out of less in the past, but very rarely. In my 15 years of flying her, I've never seen it done.

Thanks Suh! That makes me wonder if Stinson Field was ever given a serious look back in 1990 the moment it was apparent the runways couldn't meet FiFi's minimum. Maybe just a bench story or other unknown details like lengthened runway proposal, etc......

[Rocketeer]

The Dallas / Fort Worth metroplex - one of the most economically successful, convienant, and geographically stable regions in the United States would be the wisest possible choice for the CAF.

Alliance Airport should be a top priority - due to its immense freedom for devopmemt amd potential access.

Remember DFW is home to many recognized domestic aviation industries (Great aerospace contributions including but not limited to - B-24s, all B-36s, B-58s, F-111s, T-6s, P-51Cs, etc) - with a history valuable to America's effort in WWII and Cold War era advancement (Not to mention the early WWI training field background). It's also not too far from Mineral Wells - one of the most important helicopter training bases during the Vietnam War.

Considering the magificent alliance with the excellent Cavanaugh Flight Museum - it would be most beneficial to have the National Headquarters nearby as well, even if at a separate airfield.

Within reach of this proposed site is DFW International Airport - the hub of one of the world's most traveled airports - guaranteeing visitors

[NathanT24]

How about KEFD?? Look at all the Organizations moving their planes there?? Collings has their Jets, LSFM is moving their museum, and Texas Flying Legends is based at KEFD. And Houston is about to have TWO International Airports at KHOU and KIAH. So Houston should get it.

[stearmann4]

I think culturally, the CAF has to remain in TX. The organization has too strong of a history in the region. On a business note, you can't do much better anywhere in the country than TX, which is exactly why CA would be a step in the wrong direction.

As much as I'd love to see a CAF presence in WA state, it's true that we're geographically isolated from the rest of the country. However, day for day, I believe we have just as many flyable WX days as anywhere else in the country. The number of days we sit on the ground because of rain, is about the same as when everyone else is standing down for 100+ temps, or sub freezing blizzards. FL is the other geographic extreme...

Maybe we could at least get a decent CAF unit up here?

Mike-

[Red Baaron]

I thought they just started a unit up in Bellingham?

[stearmann4]

Attempted, but the good idea guys backed out when it involved actually writing a check.