Warbird Information Exchange

I think a lot of people don’t realize there are plenty of opportunities within the CAF to fly if you are willing to come along with us to airshows and help with the PX, doing aircraft tours, etc. There’s plenty of work to be done in the off-season, too. Sweat equity!

Believe it or not, there are plenty of times when a CAF aircraft will be flying to a show with some empty insured seats.

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Commemorative Air Force
Experimental Aircraft Association
Warbirds of America

What are you waiting for? Join us!

Best way to contact me- email my last name @gmail.com

This has been an interesting thread. I especially enjoy the comments about the CAF as being a place where one can get a ride in exchange for some sweat equity. Folks don't realize that joining and working is the first step in earning a ride in a CAF airplane. Our local unit, the High Sky Wing, really works to make sure all who want to fly in one of our airplanes can do so. Other CAF units work the same way. As someone else stated, the experiences you get within the CAF are well worth the $200 yearly membership fee...

Sorry if this sounds too much like a paid advertisement for joining the CAF, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity. We will have a big presence at Sun and Fun, and the Dixie Wing will be selling rides....check it out.

Old Shep

Old Shep is right; the CAF has afforded my some amazing opportunities. I joined the CAF when I was 24 and since then I have flown in a B-17, SBD, C-45, several T-6s and the CAF’s Red Nose 51. Just to add to Eric’s point about empty back seats, the Dixie Wings 51 and SBD just flew a flight with both back seats empty. There were plenty of members around but everyone was busy working on their projects.

Now that we are in the middle of airshow season there will be a great need for back seaters to help work the aircraft at airshows. There is nothing like arrived at an airshow in the SBD or 51, it really captures peoples attention. The airshows are hard work but well worth it.

So what is a warbird ride mean to me, having a better understanding of what my grandfather went through over the skies of Germany. The longer we can keep these airplanes in the air the more my generation and the next generation will understand what the greatest generation went through.

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Philip Beegle
Dixie Wing CAF

I have taken rides in many current military aircraft, and have on several opertunities worked on the old CAF and new CAF projects at several locations. Never worked on a warbird in current flying condition, but I would expect that when our A-26 gets its wings flapping and feet tucked that I would one day get a ride in back. They need someone to wipe off the oil at the air shows after all.

I would pay for a certain ride if I had the funds, but I work for free because that is all I can afford.

Kurt

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A-7D, the Short Little Ugly "Flyer" and A-10A Warthog, weren't called an ATTACK plane for nothing. Remember for a little relief on the ground, call your local Air Force to "Go Ugly Early"!

Send me a WW2 vet or ROTC student and It's free.