Warbird Information Exchange

Saw the below on the L-39 list...anyone have info on the supposed warbird reality TV show?

Here is a link to progress photos from company page doing the paint scheme for a newly acquired L-39 to appear in an exciting reality TV show featuring 6 warbirds. Details about the show unfortunately can not be revealed yet but will be posted on the company's site for announcements soon.

This famous NAVY VX-9 scheme was chosen by owner Pat Marsh "Villain" in honor of the now defunct squadron.
Enjoy.

http://fightingcolors.com/Companypageim ... 1_l-39.htm

Hope it works out for them. We tried to deal with the History Channel, Discovery Channel, etc. about the recent work that was done on the B-29 and then later, the B-24, but it fell upon deaf ears. They didn't want any part of our story. Acted like nobody would be interested in it.

Gary

They aren't interested in aviation at all at the moment. We've tried to get numerous shows made but they seem to think that people would rather watch shows about 600lb people and extreme plastic surgery.

They can do a show featuring a totally dysfunctional family that's worth millions, but not a piece of history? Tells ya' something about the mind set of the producers.

Mudge the functional

ps. For those of you unfamiliar with the show, it's American Chopper starring Idiot, his oldest son, Dim Bulb, and the younger son, Doper.

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Land of the free because of the brave

Or the mind set of the intended audience

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When all is said and done more is said than done.

I'm surprised! Being 19, in college for arts/graphic design/marketing, and in love with these birds, i have often thought of a reality show featuring either a particular museum, or a group of museums, that reflect on the flying of these vintage aircraft!

I remember a CPTV documentary about the CAF. You can tell the video is a little old since the B-26 is in the film. It even at the end of the film showed a A-T6, Val(replica, and Zero(replica) that were lost in a blaze. What were the details of this fire?

It also showed Scatterbrain Kid II before the accident. Where is this fighter now?

I also remember that year, when the CASA HE-111 and Sentimental Journey ventured up to Stratford CT. for the once and only time.

Sigh. Im glad i was able to see that merlin powered blitz bomber before her, too sad crash.

I'd be just a bit sad to see an "American Warbirds" type show go on the air. Especially if the focus shifted, as it has with American Hot Rod and American Chopper, so far away from the work being done. American Hot Rod was decent for a while, but the cars seemed to turn into props. I'd hate to see a "Swamp Ghost" style restoration become the backdrop for whatever petty infighting the story is centering on this week.

Maybe someone could do a six week mini-series run on a restoration. A "two years in a six, hour-long episodes" type of show. That'd be focus more on us warbird nut types.

Of course, the biggest draw for American Chopper is the fact that we can all identify with the relationship that Paul jr. and Paul sr. have. Deep down every man, from the lowliest hobo to the champions of industry, is convinced that his father is looking over his shoulder and saying to himself "How did I manage to raise such an idiot?"

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Phil K.
Yankee Air Museum
Systems Admin / Ramp Crew / Professional Photo Ruiner

I watched a few episodes of the show "Wingnuts" a couple of years ago. I thought it might be interesting, but they were just hacking up planes to make overpriced "art" peices out of the parts, the whole show seemed to revolve around the infighting between the three or four guys in the company. Fortunatel the show tanked.

Now a show following the authentic rebuild of a warbird..that I could get into! Years ago there was a show on PBS showing the restoration of the NASM Fw-190..absolutely fascinating. And in spite of the ending, the "Nova" episode about the Kee Bird was pretty good as well.


SN

I've got some irons in the fire, I'll let you know if anything pans out.

There is that Tank Overhaul show which I saw a few episodes.

While a series about the restoration of a warbird would be "Strawberries and Cream" to us, consider not only how long it would take to produce a finished product, but also the astronomical cost involved. Cost would include not only rebuilding the bird itself, but also all the ancillaries (camera crew, lighting, sound, etc.). I think you'd have a very difficult time justifying the outlay of funds to get to the finished product.

Mudge the devil's advocate

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Land of the free because of the brave

That's an excellent point, Mudge. One of the things that was mentioned when we inquired about having them do a show on our work on the B-29 was that they want "deadlines to be met." You know, just like on the American Chopper-type shows that have these impossible deadlines that the shop somehow manages to get done at the end of each show.

I told them that I'd be happy to occasionally throw a chair across the hangar or do the obligatory swearing for entertainment purposes, but I would not sacrifice the safety of an airplane because we were going to get in a rush for some deadline that was good for ratings. The project was going to get done when it was done.

I understood them passing on filming the project because of those costs you mentioned, camera crew, lighting, sound, etc., but it sure would've been good TV had they decided to give it a try.

The moral of the story is that deadlines suck. Most of you are aware of the upcoming deadline for the B-24 project of mine. My morals about safety still stand, but some of the cosmetic items that I'd like to spend more time with are unfortunately going to have to be compromised a bit.

Gary

You know, a reality show about getting an Unlimited or Sport Class bird ready for Reno would make good entertainment, as there is a "hard" deadline, and some very *strong* personalities among a few of the leading contenders.

The only way the kind of show you are talking about is going to get made is if it focuses on an existing restoration project (not one set up for the purpose of making a show) and is being produced by an independent, aviation friendly, company that is prepared to shoot at the rate the work progresses. More a passive 'fly on the wall' type of production rather than the crazy deadline American Chopper variation Gary mentioned. It would still be good general entertainment/education, but would take a year or two (or three) to make.

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Warbird Colour - Authentic historic aircraft finishes http://www.warbirdcolour.co.uk

I spent a while covering the rebuild of Spitfire MH434 here in the UK, the programme callled "A Spitfires Story" was one of Discovery Wings most popular shows.

I'm just about to start a two year project filming the rebuild of a Hurricane, I'll be interested to see if Discovery will buy it as well. I'm betting they won't!

Well, they did make the Defender after all. That must have spanned two or three (or four) years...

Maybe the ratings weren't great when it was released, but it sure has a following now!