Flying museums. Or........?

[Jack Cook]

After the P-38 was ferried to Portland by Gary Levitz it was there until the museum in McMinnville was built. Alan Zanuzoski flew it to Mac taking 90 minutes for a 10-15 flight. The bottom line reason why the P-38 won't be flown is that it's one of Mike's special birds and Mr. Smith won't allow it. The same goes for the ME-109 and a couple of others. Mike would have flown them all. Keep in mind, the museum has no say in what flies.and when. Mr Smith owns all the Evergreen airplanes excepy those donated directly to or on loan to the museum itself. I was told by a museum officer that their greatest fear is that they'll show up one morning and all the airplanes will be gone. It seems a shame to restore aircraft to perfect flying condition and then just park them.

[wendovertom]

From a anothers eyes - it is TOO BAD that the insurance world controls this part of aviation as much as it does. There is a B-25 out of Carson City that the Wendover air show has tried to get a few times. He just flat can't afford the insurance for the few times he flies for personal pleasure and then the one or two shows that ask him to come out.

Maybe someone out there should assemble a cooperative insurance group to help warbird owners out.

Tom P