Warbird Information Exchange

I'm sorry, I have definitely missed sumpin.... Why zackley is Kermit's B-24 down?? I am much much to lazy to surf the numerous pages of this website to find out...can anybody give me a boost? Thanks in advance

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Kind Regards,
Gary Lewis
J.A.F.O.

I'm done fighting. I've tried hard to keep Warbirds in the air and make them as accurate as I can with the time, money, and resources available to me. I deal with enough drama on a daily basis. WIX is (was) one of the few places I could go to escape from that. If everyone else wants to keep arguing, go for it. Y'all can keep on with that drama if you want.

Gary

....and 5-4-3-2-1...<exhale> I feel better. Thanks sdennison! I think I need a hug. Yah around here we occasionally get caught up in rivet counting and serial numbers and sometimes it's an interesting part of this WIX show and sometimes it's tedious, like static interfering with an otherwise solid signal transmission, or being on the receiving end of cyber-waterboarding, depends who you ask...dial in a different channel or thread or throw in your two cents and maybe you'll color someone's perspective, if not change their mind, maybe not. My perspective's been changed as a result of WIXer opinion, except from Bill Greenwood who's wrong on just about everything (FYI, humor just now). I understand Gary's A's passion on the B-24 issue, his point is valid and I hope he sticks around this hood since he's great guy, a treasure of knowledge, and a WIX pillar. By the same token, Collings is doing great things with warbirds and I wish them continued success. Joe, I get what you're saying and if the five WIX jet enthusiasts around here wanted to critique my T-33, how I fly it, paint it, mark it, advertise it, or whatever, break a leg! If I get what I feel is an over-the-top or ignorant opinion on it, so what, I'll respond but in the end, I don't give a sh*t in so far as letting it ruin my day. But yes the other five jet enthusiasts, regardless of their warbird or aviation pedigree or lack thereof, can say their two cents, disagree and hopefully do it in a respectful manner even if it's passionate and different than mine. There's the old saying...opinions are like a*sholes, everyone's got one. In part, that's what this forum is for--expressing opinions but you're right, we can always do a better job and mostly keep an eye on the big warbird picture. Hopefully discussion here falls more on the side of warbird news, history, restoration/maintenance, and info sharing, but inevitably opinions and viewpoints are gonna be part of all that. Like Hellcat, I've learned a lot about this goofy internet communication medium and hope we can all stay cool, keep it fun, keep a cyber-pub atmosphere even if we are passionate and have to agree to disagree.

Gary, I don't think there's any real fighting or drama here, just expressions of opinion. I hope you don't let it get to you.

I fully support your/CAF's efforts to promote 927 as a B-24, even though I don't buy them. Airshow goers want to see the famous B-24, they want to see the type grandpa flew, etc. It helps promote the airplane and it's close enough for rock 'n roll, so go for it.

Most of the people who refuse to accept that 927 is a B-24 understand that (1) the significance of the airplane has very little to do with how it is designated and (2) an LB-30 is a rarer and more special airplane than a B-24 anyway. It is a mistake to assume that anyone thinks it diminishes the airplane at all to say it's not a B-24. So cheer up, you're in a no-lose position.

Good luck with the engines.

August

I was thrilled when I learned about WIX. The historic details, the rich photos, and the behind-the-scenes access is a treasure.

But I do admit that, as much as I enjoy WIX, I feel an equal level of loathing when I stumble into (as mentioned) threads full of immature quibbling -- and I exit asap. Rather than educate the group on what the differences between a P-51B/C are, such posts are often a personal diatribe. Until now I chose to keep that opinion to myself.

To say it's "just the way the internet is" is no excuse. It may be the disappointing truth. It may also be the words some use to rationalize the way in which they tarnish this otherwise fantastic site -- but it's still no excuse.

Ken

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"Take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves."

I've grown up with the whole Allison - Merlin debate around me my whole life and it's always been more of a razzing of individuals than a serious debate. More friends of ours have Mustangs than P-40's so its always been a nudge nudge joke about RELIABILITY and not PERFORMANCE. There is no doubt that the Merlin is a much more refined engine than the Allison and that it dominated in WWII. The Joke around me has always been about how reliable and maintenance free the Allison seems to be compared to the Merlin (50 hour inspections for instance).

As for our Mustang...believe me, ALL of our buddy's that fly Merlins have been giving us a hard time about finally having a Merlin in one of our airplanes! They don't seem to likely to let my Dad off the hook for all the smack talking (all in good fun) and razzing he's given them over the years when their Merlins were broken and his Allisons just kept on ticking along. Our P-40's have flown these engines 600-700 hours without any real trouble for many years. They are in fact a very very reliable design. Not the most powerful, but hey, we're not flying them in combat.

FYI. One day a few years back this old fella was in our museum and standing between a Merlin and an Allison that we have on display and after a while he spoke up and mentioned his experiences as an aircraft mechanic in WWII. He looked up at my Dad and said "You know, you can fly an Allison farther than you can ship a Merlin!"...it was pure Gold and that is where that quote came from originally, a man who worked on both of them in the field during the war. I personally think it's hilarious and goes to show that the debate about RELIABILITY has been around since the beginning.

By the way, if I was to take a plane into combat, it would without a doubt the the P-51C!

All's I know is I don't know much... That much I display in my posts on WIX on a regular basis. But I am learning from you folks.

BIG BUTT time... the ONLY ride I had in Ol' 927 was with a B-24 veteran in the plane and he wasn't quibbling or saying anything like,"Better I should have grown up gay than to be caught riding in an LB-30!"
He and his family and the folks who helped cover the cost were as proud and misty eyed as can be, and that is good enough for me.

BIGGER BUTT time... Gary, if you (or the B-29/B-24 Sqdn.)don't get 927 flying soon can we borrow her down in Houston?
We need a crate for our B17...

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Support Your Local Warbirds! KBO!
The only reasons the airplanes matter is what the veterans did with them... and why.

That's what I like about AirshowBuzz.com. No drama.

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-Al Sauer
http://www.flickr.com/photos/spookythecat

While AirshowBuzz is nice, there's just not the historical knowledge base there as there is here. Two different animals really...

Zack

PS: Drama's good to keep the blood pumping every now and again!

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Curator - EAA Aviation Museum, Oshkosh, WI
"Let No Story Go Untold!"
http://www.timelessvoices.org

Anyone who had the idea that the warbird community is a group who likes to hold hands around a camp fire and pat each other on the back must not be around the same community that I have been around for the past 30 years of my life. Every time I turn around one guy is telling me that the last guy I met and mentioned is the biggest <insert derogatory adjective here (crook, jerk, lazy, lame, etc)> in the world. I idolized all of these guys growing up only to be treated like garbage by half of them as an adult. Don't get me wrong there are a whole list of waribirders I know well and respect, some of which post on WIX. There are a lot of egos around Warbirds not much different form the world of high end race cars.

I'm not trying to complain or turn anyone off to warbirds I'm just being realistic here. If people want to experience the wonderful world of warbirds well this is it folks.

If you guys don't like the politics or antics whatever you want to call it that surround WIX I suggest finding a new hobby.

Ryan

No excuse for what? .... you've got people from all over the world on this site debating their views, some are very young, immature people and some are old, cranky people and some are very thethathive .... where do you read anyone arguing here? I don't see anything like that. Debate is an intellegent arguement .... oops!!! .... OK I get your point now ...

PS ... everyone knows an LB-30 is simply a B-17 painted to look like a B-24A and a P-51C is really a P-51D with the bubble canopy removed and a razorback added. ....

I've poked around other boards and have participated in a few but in the end they all seem a bit drab and full of strangers so I always come home. There's a lot of good folks here on WIX don't forget that and if something's happend you know where you'll find it first. WIX to me is like a big family not like the Waltons but more like the Barones.
My advice is that if you don't like a thread don't open it, wait a minute and something new will be up that you will like!

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Don't touch my junk!!

I'd say more like the Waltons on crack .... haha ....

Plus, nobody gives away ponies or photos on airshowbuzz

Steve G

WIX and ASB are kinda like the Odd Couple.

I love both sites as they are both very informative. While i'm not big on the drama I agree it's everyone's right to post what they feel and if someone doesn't enjoy it there are plenty of other threads to view (513 pages worth in the hangar alone!).

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-Al Sauer
http://www.flickr.com/photos/spookythecat