Warbird Information Exchange

Maybe it's because I turned 40 recently which for some of us is an occasion to reflect on what our lives have been and where they are going, but I would like to hear others' views too on whether they are satisfied with how they relate to their hobby, passion, whatever or have any regrets, anything you would or still will change.

Myself, I now realize that I was at a crossroads in late 1988 when I was going to grad school in LA. I dropped by Chino every couple of weeks and started to get to know the people there. It crossed my mind to settle in southern California, find a university teaching gig there, and have ample spare time try to become part of the next generation of Chino kids. Had I done that, I would certainly have had much more to do with warbirds, including some of you-all's experiences that I envy. That would be the Path Not Taken for me.

I also had a very hot girlfriend who hated airplanes, and some good career opportunities back east. I opted to stay with those, which meant giving up regular contact with airplanes, let alone anything hands-on. Life-wise, it was a good choice. 19 years later the girl is still hot and we have a fantastic child and may yet have another; my career has given me a little freedom and the funds occasionally to see and photograph airplanes around the country and in Europe. Had I taken the Other Path I would likely have stayed single for a long time, missing the incredible satisfactions of husbandhood and parenthood, and had little money to do much traveling.

I'm not satisfied that my engagement with my warbird hobby is all it could be, but in terms of warbird-life balance I feel it's about right. And I am, after all, only 40. The halfway point of life by one measure, but really, the first 15 years was wasted on childhood and like most men I spent the next 10 years just being a jerk, so really the bulk of my rational adult life is still ahead. Lots of time to ease back into the scene, maybe try to earn a little more money and get into it from the ownership side. Meanwhile it is nice to have this forum to keep my thoughts on warm days at the airport and the not sub-freezing winds hooting past my office window.

I'd like to hear especially from those who lurk on this board who are NOT heavily involved with warbirds about the life choices you have made and whether life, or airplanes, are worth it. I guess you guys who are elbow-deep in R-2800s can weigh in, too.

August

August,

I started flying in high school and got my private license in my early 20s. I was never much in a position to get much hands on experience with warbirds, there were just no opportunities in Ohio and my parents were unsupportive at best and outright hostile at worst. Upon graduation from college I toyed with the idea of taking a year or two off and getting my Commercial and ATP licenses, but decided I needed to stay on the "proper" path and went directly to law school. Upon graduation from law school I was accepted to the Masters of Law program at the Institute of Air and Space Law at McGill. However, I was poor and tired of years and years of school and wanted to make money. Again that "proper" path thing. So I passed on that opportunity and went to work. That was a mistake. I spent eight years working too much, making too little money for a firm that offered no future. I was under pressure from a then girlfriend to stop this dangerous flying business and do the proper things of making money and to "settle down." (As you may expect that realationship didn't last much longer...) I flew occasionally and volunteered for a local museum. Sadly, as time went on politics at the museum wore me out and work time took over from flying time. I owned an interest in a Taylorcraft L-2 project. The project went nowhere because...well...planes don't restore themselves...they take time, and I had precious little of that So the project was sold down the line. I got disillusioned with working all the time, and with aviation and stopped flying at all. Kind of went into a funk. Five years ago I got married to a very pro-aviation spouse and thankfully two years ago I got a better work opportunity and moved on. I've had to play catchup the last few years with the law practice, so I am still working long hours and hoping of aviation ownership and getting back in the air. Maybe this year I'll get flying again, but finding the extra funds to even buy a small liaison warbird are tough. The good news is that I've got a little over five years to go to make my goal of warbird ownership by the time I reach 40.

Right now, I doubt I made the right warbird choices. I was too concerned with such things as a career and doing what was expected rather then what I enjoyed. However, give me five more years and check back then. Hopefully the picture will be brighter.

Jim

Good post August,

Well I am sure that everyone can have some input on this. I would love to have more Warbird work. I grew up around airplanes, few of them with round motors. I love a good motor with a Ham Standard attached to it. I was headed to the pilot world when I started A&P school. Mistake #1 was that I got lazy on the flying and did not finnish. My 1st job and I look on it fondly. That company took me from HS, through college and I moved over to maintenance while in A&P school. I left there to take a job back home in VT with my uncle. My 1st AIRLINE (mistake 2). Here I got to play part time on DC-3's one day a week. I worked wed dayshift, then thurs thru sat at night working on BE-1900D's. There were guys on days working on the 3's that would rather work on 1900's where I would rather work on the 3's!! I tried to get switched but I guess my uncle figured that the exp was with the turbo props. So after 5 yrs of trying to do what I love. I ran away from there taking a position for more money working for a bigger airline on bigger jets. Almost 8 yrs now and where am I at?????? Well the company shut down its maint base here in vt. Got a wife and step kid, to stay with the company for the $$$$$ I got to move to Richmond VA while my wife and kid stay in VT until school is done and house sells in a crappy market.

Still when dad comes up to fly the N, 2hrs last yr:( EVERYTIME I prop it and she makes that wonderful noise. I think, WTF am I doing.
So since the announcement of our maint base, and about to turn 36. I figure that it might be time for some changes. Been talking with a warbird collector who is looking for mechanics and plan on visiting when I move to VA................so who knows. Its funny but when I was in daytona for the 500. I was watching a banner tow cub fly over head and I reflected back when i was working for that company. An AD came out on the bendix mags and we at the time operated 28 airplanes. So one week I did a lot of mag insp. That weekend I remember looking up and watching that cub climb out with a banner at 2750 rpm sounding strong and not missing a beat............knowing I DID THAT, was a awsome feeling. Today I can watch a 50 seat jet with a full load of people take off with a engine that I just help hang and not feel anything but tired.

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

I know you said you'd prefer to hear from those who aren't heavily involved with Warbirds, but I just thought I'd give a real short statement regarding a couple of the Warbird choices I made in my life.

Sometimes opportunities just come to you and aren't really choices at all. When I was struggling at running my own business (very busy, just couldn't handle the business part of it), I was offered a chance to work at Ezell Aviation. There was no way I was going to turn that down. Working with Nelson, Ashley, Chad, and Dude Ezell was without a doubt the best working experience of my life. I will never forget how fortunate I felt while being part of their team.

Five years after getting the job with the Ezells, I made the choice to try to run my business again. Bad choice. Same song, different verse as before. I was working from "can 'til can't", but just didn't have anything to show for it (monetarily). I regretted leaving Nelson's place nearly everyday as I struggled to do things on my own, but felt fortunate that I had learned from the best and was only able to keep going because of the lessons I had learned from the Ezells.

One afternoon in May, 2004, I got a call from Neils Agather, Squadron Leader (at the time) of the B-29/B-24 Squadron of the CAF. Their previous Crew Chief had passed away and they were desperate for someone to take his spot. I had to make yet another choice in my Warbird life...stick with my business until I had nothing, or go with a better paying job even though I knew nothing about what to do as a Crew Chief on two big ol' bombers. Obvioiusly, I chose to go with the CAF.

I'm sure that I will make the choice to move on from this job as well, sometime soon. I'll work for someone else and will make a few more friends in the Warbird world, along with probably making a few more enemies, like I've done in the CAF. But one thing is for sure, I will never work for anyone in this industry that means more to me than the Ezells.

Sometimes you are given choices, sometimes you are given opportunities. Take the opportunities.

Gary

My Father-in-Law was obliged to come live with us, and we were obliged to care for him for a good amount of time before he passed away. Gus and I were not always on the best terms, for many reasons, but mostly because he thought I should go out and get a real job instead of starting a business (which I started full time the month he came to live with us).
We had just purchased the L-5 6 months before he came to live with us, and we didn't have much time to work with it. We couldn't get a transponder done to get it into the ADIZ so it had to stay with the original owner for almost a year. We finally got it done, and drove up to do the annual and make final checks before bringing it down to Maryland. We drug Gus along, and he was mad at me for something and sulked in the back seat.

When we arrived at the airport where the airplane was, I almost ran out of the car. I hadn't seen it in a few months and was just so excited about seeing it. When I went into the hangar, I HUGGED the cowling I was so excited about it. I was chattering with the old owner, who had restored it. Gus walked in because my wife made him come in to look at the plane. I looked at him, and he looked at me and just started laughing. I didn't know what was going on, but when I walked out the door, he actually called me over to him (an unusual thing unless he really needed something). He said, "I've never seen you smile before- you really love that thing. I can't believe how big your smile is." For the rest of the day, he would continue to chuckle and remind my wife and I how happy that airplane made me. It was a real turning point for our relationship, as he finally figured out what made me tick. After that, he always asked me about the airplane, and would constantly remind me how he never saw me smile until that day he saw me with the airplane. We had a better time after that, and when he passed 4 months later, I was there because he wanted me there.

It's not the B-17 I swore to my father I would one day own, and it's not the BT-13 that I onced coveted, but I wouldn't trade this L-5 for anything. We've had several offers to purchase it. Won't happen until it needs to. I've given up a lot to own this aircraft, including an earlier finish to my education and an aircraft suitable for my wife to finish her license. But it is among one of the best choices I have made in life though certainly not the only defining one. There is just too much to tell about- from the daughter sitting in the airplane who never knew her father flew them in WWII until after his death to my first solo landing on the way to help out a friend with his airplane This is my life and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

There are so many choices in life. The airplane would be gone in an instant if my family needed it gone. But I would treasure every second in the air, every nut tightened, every tire check, every push on the rudder pedals, every blade counted before I throw the mag switch, and every question asked about it. I have been blessed to be able to choose to pursue my passion. I think about the moment with Gus first because it was a landmark moment for both of us. But in retrospect, if a choice so completely satisfies you and makes you joyous to the apparent evidence of anybody present, then you have made a good one. This August it will be four years since I first saw that airplane. Every time I see it, I think I still have the same smile on my face.

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REMEMBER THE SERGEANT PILOTS!

I've made very few choices in my life that I "regret". There are some, of course, that I'd like to do over.
One of the "few" is not learning to fly 50 years ago when I had the chance.

Mudge the elder

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Land of the free because of the brave

I cannot say my interest in general warbirds started at an early age, but I can say my interest in the B-25 Mitchell did in my late teens. Having lost my father in World War II, growing up with my mother and two separate stepfathers, I always had thoughts of my father and what he did during the war and how he was lost. It also did not help that I was separated from my grandparents and the rest of my father’s family. It was a topic not discussed very much and information was scarce.

After my marriage to a wonderful wife in 1963, we visited my father’s gravesite for my first time. As the years went by, I would get very emotional and sentimental on Memorial Day, pulling out all of my father’s memorabilia. In early 2004, through a cousin, I learned about the Military Records Center in St. Louis. I received his military record and that opened the door for me to start in-depth research on him and VMB-611 on the Internet.

It did not take long to make contact with a surviving veteran pilot of VMB-611. Needless to say, my contacts grew and in August 2005, my wife and I attend my first VMB-611 reunion. Since that time, my knowledge of this particular warbird and its service in the Marine Corps has been greatly expanded.

Many know about the U.S. Marine Corps' island-hoping campaigns of WWII. Some know of the Marine Fighter Squadrons and their contributions. Very few know about the Marine Bombing Squadrons and the role they played in the Pacific Theater. In my own way, I am trying to share what little history I know and keep their history alive. Even after 43 years of marriage, my wife understands my passion and allows me to spend hours on my computer without nagging.

When I was invited to join our CAF SoCalWing and discovered that an actual PBJ-1J was in my own "backyard," I jumped at the chance. When it was decided that our PBJ would be dedicated to VMB-611 and named after my father’s plane, I became even more excited. Although I have no experience or general skills in rebuilding an aircraft, I feel I can make a huge contribution in keeping alive the history of the PBJs and the involvement of the Marine Bombing Squadrons and their dedication in our WWII efforts of defending our country’s freedom.

Although I am not a pilot and at 62 I am deeply entwined in this particular warbird, since joining the CAF I have become more appreciative of all the warbirds and the so many that are keeping them alive and flying. My only regret is that I did not get a head start 25 years earlier.

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In Honor and Memory of Marine Bombing Squadron VMB 611 "Black Seahorse" 1943-1945
Remembering 1st Lt Doit L Fish, MIA May 30, 1945 in PBJ-1J "MB 11"
Cherry Point - Parris Island - Emirau - Zamboanga

Soul Searching are we?

Well,
I guess I'll weigh in. I may not have made the wrong Warbird choices, I think life happens.

It was just after high school when I started learning to fly. I was working for a living and had a crap car but I was flying. I went to an reunion air show with my uncle and flew in the B-17 Chuckie for the first time. I found out they were based 30 minutes from the house and they invited me out to help.

I started spending Saturdays at the airport helping with whatever they needed. I did this for a few years, flew to some airshows and met some great people.

Then (this is not a bad thing at all) I got married and a kid came along. Then I got laid off....life made a rapid change.
I had to stop spending my free time at the airport and the flying came to an end.

I stayed as a member of the Vintage Flying Museum but not an active part of the group.

Some time later I got involved with the fledgling Texas Air Command Museum. I thought this was a great opportunity to get back in the game at the airport 5 minutes from the house. They had jets, helos, a T-6, Stearman, DC-3...it was great. Then it self destructed. Out I went.

Now I'm on the edges again. I am way too involved with a bunch of other commitment to be able to do the VFM justice as a volunteer. I spent one day over there last year...Chuckie and Doc still remember me!

I hope one day to be able to get back 'in"
I have made some non Warbird choices that now effect my involvement in them and I can't do anything about it now.

WIX will have to do...you guys are great!
Z

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Zane Adams
There I was at 20,000 ft, upside down and out of ammunition.
_______________________________________________________________________________
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Yes, started in 1968 flying the B-25 and in 1980 got married and two weeks later bought the SNJ, both are great.

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GOOD MORNING, WELCOME TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Press "1" for English.
Press "2" to disconnect until you have learned to speak English.

Maybe to some, but I don't think so...just trying to keep a piece of history alive and honoring the memory of a person who was part of that history.

Proud son of a Marine!

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In Honor and Memory of Marine Bombing Squadron VMB 611 "Black Seahorse" 1943-1945
Remembering 1st Lt Doit L Fish, MIA May 30, 1945 in PBJ-1J "MB 11"
Cherry Point - Parris Island - Emirau - Zamboanga

K5083, I don't regret for a minute buying the Spifire. However, as great as it is it is a machine. As you mention there's nothing to equal a wife's smile or your son's laughter. As sweet as the Merlin is, an even better sound was my son's recent call that he is accepted to CU law school.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

The joys of husbandhood & a wife's smile. You guys are funny,LOL!!!

Here's the worlds shortest Fairy Tale,

A man once asked a girl "Will you marry me?",
She said "NO",
He lived happily ever after, going to the airport & flying when ever he wanted. THE END.

Regards,
Mike

Ahhh. Hung around some guys that had a B-25 in the 70's and got a few flights, for a lot of cleaning! Also managed to get some T-6 time back then with a sympathetic owner. Lessons came in fits and starts as money was tight. In '79 I bought a part interest in a group of T-6 hulks for only $3000, then sold out a year later for twice that when money got tight.
Marraige followed and I did'nt fly agin till '86, when my wife set me up with a budget and I started in sailplanes. Flew until 2000 when I went for my private, and failed a medical. By then warbirds were way off my price list but I had my eye on a nice C-175.
I do regret not cultivating a lot of the contacts I had when I was really into it in the 70's, but I got a lot out of it back then and have no real complaints.

My family wanted me to go into the family business of construction, but my heart was with aircraft. It led to some talk of me being crazy since they are very wealthy. But Ijust didn't want to do that. They understand now. I never looked back once.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

It would seem that I'm coming up to one of these major life choices as I'm set to graduate from university in the next few months. With that in mind, I want to take the opportunity to thank each of you for weighing in with honest reflections on your life choices and how they relate to your interest in old airplanes.

I'm in the fun waiting period to hear back from law schools and grad programs I've applied to. On the other hand there are a handful of options out there much more directly related to aviation. As I ponder the options available to me it’s really interesting to hear from others who have made similar choices before me, and now have the benefit of hindsight.

That being said, I realize every situation is unique and I'll have to make the choice that right for me. None the less, thanks August for starting this thread and everyone else for contributing to it.