Warbird Information Exchange

http://www.airspacemag.com/issues/2007/ ... ergirl.php


Try this one on for size.



Doc

I just want to go ahead on the record as saying that it is a bad idea. Other than that, I hope it works out great, nad both pilot and plane return safe.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

So it looks as though all the good advice from the naysayers and predictions from the 'It'll never happen anyway' brigade have gone unheeded........

Planes of Fame Air Museum is planning two very special events for Saturday, March 31st. P-38 'Glacier Girl' will be here at the Museum as she is prepared for her trans-Atlantic flight this summer.

http://www.planesoffame.org/pressrelease.php?ID=66

I for one am looking forward to seeing her at Chino Airshow in May, then again at Duxford some 7 weeks later!

Hey, why don't you stow away in the nose?

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James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

I will be there at Chino to see the three of them together.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

I think that might cause them a slight weight & balance problem James!

Yup. it's you or your camera lens...

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James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

I was interested to re-read this thread after 4 1/2 years.

There still seems to be a fairly even mix between the 'ship it' (Red Bull P-38, and pretty much every transatlantic single-engined fighter) and 'fly it' (Sikorsky S-38, Glacier Girl - nearly! - Liberty Belly, Grumpy, TFC Tigercat, Kermit's C-47) brigade over the past four years or so.

The general rule still seems to be "if it's got more than one engine, point the nose East (or West) and go for it!"

Mike,
It seems the other aircraft also were capable of taking some supplies and people along with exception of the Tigercat. I'll go on record with standing by what I said then. I dont feel its a good idea.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

I'm really late to this argument but here's my .02 cents worth....
Something to maybe keep in mind is that most of the Class A warbird owners are self made men. Very successful in business due to not following the crowd and being willing at some point to risk everything on an idea or starting a business or both... For these owners the warbirds are a hobby, not their prime business. They purchased their planes because they were interested in them and their history... and recreating some of that history is enjoyable and entertaining. If the airplane is sadly lost it is not the end of the world for them. It's only a small part of their net worth.
People post on here from their personal perspective, which is they will never have anywhere near the net worth of some of these owners. They see the airplanes as priceless because they will never have a shot at even owning a entry level warbird. therefore, they can't imagine the perspective of the owner, who also loves and values the airplanes but instead of being "priceless" that plane just represents 10% of last quarters profit....or less.
When you have the resources that many of todays owners have then flying a p-38 or whatever across the pond for some airshows is a lark, pocket change really...

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All I did was press this red button here...

my question is will a p38 maintain altitude on one engine indefinitly if it will the risk seems minimal so why not?

Maybe the P-38 is different but in alot of twin engine airplanes losing an engine isn't just losing 50% of your power but more like 70%.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

With any luck, maybe another one of the Lost Squadron P-38's will be coming up soon.

I think a P-38 will do a whole lot more than maintain altitude on one engine although I suppose the fuel load at the time has much to do with what kind of performance can be expected.

i agree with Enemy Ace, doing something historical for these guys is probably worthy of the effort. and i'm pretty sure a p-38 will maintain altitude on one engine until it runs out of fuel, just a little less air speed.