Warbird Information Exchange

Question

How many of you guys out there are working in aviation related jobs? Doesn't have to be a direct relationship, such as pilot or mechanic, just anything doing with aviation or Warbirds. Full or part time, a hobby that pays for itself or an actual 40 hr a week job (that can include you too Gary, even though you don't believe in the 40 hr thing). Anything goes, Jack selling his photos on Ebay & Wade with his paintings are good examples. Lets leave the volunteer stuff out of it & stay with the paying side of the house.

A little detail would be good. How long you've been doing it, how you got into it & about how much time you spend on it would be pretty interesting (IMHO).

Any takers?

Mac

Hi. My name is Gary Austin and I am a workaholic.

There. Is that what you wanted?

What details are you looking for with this?

Gary

Gary,

Did you make it back ok with the Cat?

Not yet. I'm back, but the airplane just left. Freakin' delays with the state permits and whatnot.

I'll see about starting a new thread with that whole episode later (with the owner's permission, of course).

Gary

i've bought & sold antique aviation memorabilia as a sideline business since 1995. the business is named "flyboy aviation antiques & vintage collectables" i also write freelance aviation history magazine articles. i'd love to do this schtick full time, but i can't make a living out of it while running the family business too, not enough time . maybe after i retire i can make a full go of it. their are people who do though, i envy them. the sideline biz is a labor of love, & yes, it does help to pay the household / personal bills!!

_________________
tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

Hmmm, thats for sure! More power to ya brother.


My name is Ken, and I hate workin', especially when it gets as cold as today.

Full time Aviation Maintenance Technician.

Midcoast MRO Services Boston/Bedford
A Jet Aviation Company
380 Hanscom Dr.
Bedford, MA 01730

Factory Trained in:
Raytheon Baron/Bonanza
King Air 200/300
Premier 1
P&WC PT6-60A
JT15d-5
And soon to be Embraer Legacy

_________________
"Hindsight is usually 20% off!"

Aircraft Mechanic here, been turnin wrenches since 93. Since 94, most of it being on airline garbage. Get to play with some good stuff on the side!!!!!!!!!

Been in aviation since I was born.........got my 1st ride at 8 months in dads C-140.

Yep, sofar it pays the bills.......until march anyway. Our company has closed its maint base here in VT so I am weighing my options to either move with the CO. Or find greener grass.

Up til then, its help out on the N3N and my large collection of military vehicles................heres my site
http://linehaulrvn.tripod.com

_________________
Long Live the N3N-3 "The Last US Military Bi-Plane" 1940-1959
Badmouthing Stearmans on WIX since 2005

VP-Engineering of a business jet modification company. Working here for 22 years and in the beginning started sweeping floors then started/finished restoring a 29 Mercedes-Benz for the company owner, then assembling ultralights (Eipper-Formance Dealership) learning the A&P trade, manufacturing PMA parts, tooling design, draftsman then on to running the engineering department.

Now responsible for the design and certification of multi-million dollar modifications to business jets from airframe aero, increased fuel to re-engining with new and bigger engines. We proudly own over 350 STCs covering everything from the Cessna 152 to a Boeing 747.

Been fun and have learnt alot over the years.

Been doing it since I was 13,and 41 now, worked GA for the last 14yrs. been working on warbirds the whole time. helped restore 3 T-6s, currently self employed, and over see the maint and operation of Hans Lauridsen's collection of warbirds. I am also a pilot, single engine land, high performance, complex, tailwheel, and I fly formation and acro.

_________________
Matt Gunsch, A&P, IA, Warbird maint and restorations
Jack, You have Debauched my sloth !!!!!!
We tried voting with the Ballot box, When do we start voting from the Ammo box, and am I allowed only one vote ?
Check out the Ercoupe Discussion Group on facebook

Are you guys saying there is money to be made in the aviation business? Oh, it was just a joke. ....LOL, that's funny, stop, you're killing me! That's knee slapping funny stuff. I keep a plastic baseball bat nearby at all times. Everytime my kids point at an airplane, I whack em with it. It's kind of a reverse Pavlov's dog situation, you know, negative reinforcement. The aviation business has odds like the casinos in Vegas. In the long run, you always loose! Of course in the long run, we are all dead. And there you have it.

_________________
Albert Stix Jr.
"Work is the curse of the drinking class"

Aerospace Engineer for a major metropolitan aircraft manufacturer by day (since 1985). Worked my way partly through college restoring warbirds before that.

Oh, I left out the early years.

Growing up I thought everyone had an airplane in the garage, until I got old enough to take my big-wheel and leave the safety of our driveway. I cruised all around the neighborhood trying to see everyone else' airplanes and realized we were the only ones with our cars stored outside and the airplane inside.

My father was a pilot on the side while a teletype engineer by day, my mother was learning to fly when she was pregnant with me (then never flew afterwords), my brother owns several aircraft (looking at ordering a Embrair Phenom 100 now) and my sister just likes flying "in" them.

Sorry, thats all.

Jim,

You know that I make aircraft drawings (thanks, BTW!), but I also get to work on a number of interesting projects. I grew up in an airplane family. My earliest memories are of me waking up in my dad's Piper "Cruiser". Vacations were always routed to to look at some airplane (usually a Travel Air). In the late 50's thru late 60's, we (the whole family)always slept out under the rotating beacon at Merced.

When we have a project, I can even get paid. A custom Super Cub we did won an award at last summer's Blakesburg Fly-in. Another interesting gig was applying micro aerodynamic devices to an Air Cam pusher twin. that is quite an aircraft! I worked on and supplied some parts to the military Cessna 195 (on floats) that is on display at the AF museum. We also did a WWI era Nieuport reproduction that is now on display in Japan. Current projects are a pair of Luscombes (mine and for sale!), reconditioning the finish on my Aeronca KCA, and restarting our Spirit of St Louis repro.

The only warbirds I get to work on are the ocassional L-2,3 or 4.

Charlie Neely

_________________
Charles Neely

Started my aviation career with the Air Force in 84. Got out of Uncle Sam's service in 91, went to work for FBO in corporate aviation. Have been working for corporate flight dept's now since 96. I take care of 3 Falcons for my corporate job and work part time taking care of 7 warbirds for Warbird Heritage Foundation. I wouldn't trade any of it as I have a fantastic corporation that I work for during the day and get to have as much fun with warbirds in the evening. I work with the best people I can imagine in both my corporate and warbird jobs.
David

Hi Gary.....

Lynn