Warbird Information Exchange

The Lone Star Museum is selling off some of its warbirds, the ones in private ownership. (see courtesy aircraft sales) You may see the Hurricane on this list soon. These sales will change the face of this museum as it is know today. I predict that in three years this will be just another static museum with flying assets sold off to support the museum. That will be to bad!

Maybe, but aren't the ones that have been sold off so far are the ones that never flew anyway. I think the only ones that do fly are the ones actually owned by the museum. From my understanding Mr. Waltrip has not been able to get enough insurance to cover the liablity of the airplanes he owns personally.

I would like to clear up a large misconception. The aircraft that are for sale by Courtesy Aircraft are owned by Mr.Waltrip not LSFM. They have been loaned for display by him. The aircraft are being sold for Mr.Waltrips personal planning reasons.The LSFM is not selling off these aircraft since they are not theirs to sell. In fact there are several very exciting aircraft that LSFM may be acquiring in the near future. Mr. Waltrip has been a great supporter of the museum and will continue to do so. LSFM is great facility with an excellent director- Mr. Ralph Royce and a great staff of employees and volunteers.

If you have not been there- it is worth a trip. LSFM is also home to the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame and has some excellent displays on the members.


Mark

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Mark Clark
Courtesy Aircraft Sales
Rockford IL
www.courtesyaircraft.com

Thanks Mark. This has been a subject that has come up from time to time, & has been a little confusing. If you would please keep us informed about new owners when they are sold.
Regards
Robbie

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Fly Fast Make Noise!

I can't speak for Mr. Waltrip's personal planning reasons, but it would not surprise me to see more collectors doing similar things as they age. For estate planning purposes cash is always easier to deal and certainly more flexible then chattel property. Keep in mind that even though many collectors are very wealthy and charity minded, they also want to care for their families as much as possible.

Jim

That's a good point.

I was thinking that it could be also to make sure his aircraft go to good homes and not caught up in family greed that seems to happen all too often.

Tim

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www.tailhookstudio.com

Or perhaps his investment has paid off...?

T J

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Make my day, punk!

Thanks for the statement Mark!!! You are correct in what you've said!!! And the museum is doing just fine!!!

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Never drive faster than your Guardian Angel can fly!!

http://www.390th.org/
www.LSFM.org

Trae

Without having firsthand knowledge of Mr. Waltrips motives, Doug Champlin sold his entire collection sans the FW-190 to the MOF. Had he passed away with the collection in his name, estate taxes would have virtually eaten up every penny of their worth. Don't get me wrong, I love living in America and think the Democratic system is the greatest in the world but isn't it amazing how our government doesn't have to put any effort or money into something but can take whatever they want, whever they want, and if they can't, they'll just change the laws so they can. I applaud Mr. Waltrip for preserving these planes with his own cash. It's just a shame that the IRS seems to feel that they deserve a cut.

Never thought about the Ol Tax man.

Tim

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www.tailhookstudio.com

I would have to so don't worry too much about it-
As it has been mentioned in the past these 3 are the only aircraft remaining in the collection that are not owned directly by the musuem(or being stored there as geusts). While it is sad to see them go, Mr. Waltrip has done an incredible amount of work and given so much for the musuem that I find it very hard to question anything he does at this point- as a businesman I cannot question his desire to get a small return on his investments.

While all musuems and non profits seem to be struggling more than ever these days as corporate donations are going more to the high profile Tsunami and Hurricane funds, the museum staff seems to be holding there own. I think it would be interesting, and probaly staggering to see how much something as simple as the monthly power bill is. I applaud the efforts of Ralph Royce and Larry Gregory as well as the rest of the staff at the musuem that has in the past and continues to keep it together. While they (and probaly all of us at some point in time) have had to do some things which are not popular and whose purpose is not directly obvious to those of us on the outside that undoubtely know more about what is right and wrong than the folks actually in the trenches that are faced with the decsions on daily basis, - they are really geared up for the long term returns and there focus is totally on keeping the doors open and the museum healthy.

Sure we may see some shift in the collection, which, it is important to note has been going on at the museum from day one- case in point the P47 Little Demon and the P40 that went away in order to make way for other airplanes that have since become staples of the musuem such as the SBD and Tarheel Hal-

In other words sit back and enjoy the ride while we can , cause aint nothing going to last forever, and be very carefull about jumping to conclusions-

Steve S