Warbird Information Exchange

We have plaques all over the CAF D/FW hangar from people who donated. Some have been there for years. I haven't seen any "we donated and you didn't" club started. If you're willing to help and you're willing to listen to the way the guys who have been selected to care for the aircraft want it done and do it that way, there's no problems for anyone to be part.

We must show our thanks for those who gave out of their own pockets to do something specific on the aircraft (in the case of the WIX'ers, buy the guns) or for a CAF unit (like put in a chair lift at the D/FW wing hangar) by putting up a plaque and telling everyone that visits and sees the item in question that there were people who cared enough to give something and that might inspire them to give something as well.

Phil, travel to some of the major museums and take a second or third look at their facilities, not just their exhibits, their facility itself. You'll find plaques thanking people who gave them funds or items for the museum like display cases, display stands, and the items themselves. This is the only way we (as museum volunteers and staff) to show thanks for those non-members (and even members) who give a little extra to the museum. By doing so, we get some people to give who might not have before and we make those who did give feel appreciated.

So does that mean me as the kid and A&P get nothing but if I give 10,000 my mom can be the nose art?

I personally get a little peeved by people that complain about this or that sponsorship or names on the side of this or that. When Chevron gave us a several thousands of gallons of gas so we could get 12 Mitchells in that air at one time in exchange we put their logos on the side of the bombers in vinyl cutouts. I heard complaint after complaint from general public and photographers about that but if it wasn't for Chevron, there wouldn't have been 12 Mitchells flying in tribute of the Doolittle Raiders. Showing appreciation is how you get people to shell out cash! Warbirds cost endless amounts of money and many complain about the rich guys who have a pristine collection locked away in some hangar somewhere almost never to be seen, but then they complain when you put sponsors names on the planes. I learned something a long time ago and that is you can't please all the people all of the time.

Here ends the rant,
Ryan

I think the placques are a great idea and may invite more donations to the tune of hey if these guys donated to getting her guns wonder if we donate will she get bombdoors!

Mustangdriver, there you go again. Next time you are close to a real flying B-24, look at those names. Most are memorials to veterans remembered by veterans or their families. The Collings Bomber tour is seen by millions and flown on by thousands each year. I have NEVER heard anyone complain about those names on the sides. People just don't seem to notice them and are very excited and appreciative that they are out there and flying.

The names are purposely done and sized so that they don't really show up in pictures taken from any distance or in the air.

I've been trying to figure out a way to respond to the recent tone that this thread has taken (if that's the right way to word it). So, since I'm not able to generate any interest whatsoever in working on Ol' 927 today, here is a babbling message of my thoughts.....

It seems to me that everyone who frequents this forum, whether they post their thoughts or whether they're just lurkers, are entitled to their opinions. Like OZFURYFAN just said, that's what a public forum is about. I have been blown away by the kind words that have been directed towards me and my helpers throughout this project, as they have all been unexpected and very much appreciated. Of course, on the flip side of that, there are going to be occasional words that may not sound quite so complementary. That's okay too, but obviously more difficult to take, whether its directed towards me or my crew. I'd say that I've been on both sides of that fence with my comments towards folks sometimes as this thread has progressed as well, so I understand. Many times my remarks are written in the "heat of the moment," and I'm sure that others who've posted here are the same.

To me, it's part of what makes this thread so interesting. I feel like everyone typically sees only the "good part" of a restoration (or reconfiguration in this case), so seeing the not-so-good part is intriguing as well. It seems to be a part of our human nature to be interested in what other people are going through...good or bad. I've tried hard to be as candid as I could, while at the same time, putting a smile on my face, even if I felt I was feeling badly at the time, or had the feeling of being second guessed by someone. It's been a difficult task somedays, but I think worth it overall.

Many of you have expressed your concern for my well being lately. I cannot tell you all how much I appreciate that. There is no doubt that I'm very tired and have not been feeling great from time to time due to a chronic pain issue of mine that pops up occasionally, but if you're gonna be dumb, you've gotta be tough. The work I do on these old airplanes is one of the few things in life that make me feel good about myself. I think it's great that there are so many of you out there that like to watch me at work, so to speak.

I know I'm just rambling now, but today started out as "one of those days" for me. I'm running out of gas am starting to struggle to make it to the finish line. I will be out of town tomorrow to go pick up my little air racer, and should be back to work on the B-24 late Thursday. I know this is a bad time to be taking a day off, but I've been meaning to go get that airplane for months, and I simply need to get away. Recently, I had a fella ask me how much time I'll have worked on this project since I started on it on Octoer 27 of last year, so to answer him, we sat down and came up with the following math.........


First we'll start with what's considered "normal" work hours:
8 hours per day, 5 days a week = 40 hours per week
52 weeks per year = 2080 hours per year

Okay, now we'll do my hours just for fun:
12-15 hours per day (somedays more, somedays less, but we'll call it 13.5 hour per day average), 7 days a week = 94.5 hours per week
4 weeks in a month = 378 hours per month
31 weeks (just over 7 months) until near completion, using May 31 as ending date = 2929.5 hours total

That is 849 hours beyond a "normal" amount of hours worked for a year...or, a little over 21 weeks of "normal" work...or, a little over 4 months of "normal" work @ 5 days a week.


I reckon I just didn't have any idea it was that much work. Anyway, I hope everyone continues to post their thoughts on this forum, good or bad, as I find it quite interesting to read what you've all got to say. I'm going to try to get re-focused and get just a little bit of work done today, so I'll holler at y'all later.

Gary

Only a fool wouldn't make that deal but I'm guessing the logo comes off when the tanks run dry and if they didn't ask you to put their logo on the planes would you?