Warbird Information Exchange

About 16 years ago with a bunch of *airport types* at a bar near Van Nuys airport the subject of the A24 came up. Much discussion as no one seemed quite sure what it was.. & then my mrs pipes up with "It's obviously an Attack Liberator" LOL!

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Those who possess real knowledge are rare.

Those who can set that knowledge into motion in the physical world are rarer still.

The few who possess real knowledge and can set it into motion of their own hands are the rarest of all.

Chuck Gardner wrote:


Me too.

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Eric

"I spent most of my money on alcohol, women and skyraiders....and the rest of it I just wasted."

Thank you...thank you very much

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Know why FAA inspectors always wear neckties? To keep the foreskin from slipping over their heads...

Well some people just aren't mature enough to understand that you shouldn't push the only known example of something outside and just go flying. If something happens to it, it will then be gone forever. Luckily many other people agree with this. Recently we talked about this on WIX and most felt that if there is only one, that it shouldn't be flown.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

I don't mind seeing a sole example fly. Yes its kinda scary to know if it crashes its gone but then again you will never get a chance to see one fly again so I say fly it! My ultimate goal which I am sure is the same for a few on this board is to be able to see every type of warbird fly. Sadly reality is I will never get to see every warbird fly. I have yet to see a P-47, P-39, B-29, P-40B/C fly among others..

I like the USAFM....but never liked the fact that no aircraft of "theirs" are flying.

Keep em' ALL flying!

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Shop the Airplane Bunker At
www.warbirdbunker.com

Using that train of thought, I guess sometime in the near future I'll expect you to take your GL Charger to the nearest museum and hand over the keys. Never to be driven again, you know, heck it the last one of its type and its your duty to preserve it for all of us. Who cares that it is yours, because more importantly it is a part of Americana, so that makes it all of ours. Remember to enjoy your last ride, but, I'm sure you have the overwhelming joy knowing that all of us and future generations have your car to look at. I'll be the first one to send you a dust mop.

Maturity, that really cracks me up....Insensitive me, yelling "Clear prop" and going flying in one of those rare birds.

If the Charger was the last 1969 Charger, or the last General Lee, then yes I would actually agree with putting it in a museum. I think it is important to show future generations examples of history. I am not talking about grounding all warbirds. I am just saying the we should save at least one example of an aircraft for a static museum. Sure fly the others. I fly as well. I love it. I just mean that examples need to be saved as well. In my opinion it does take somene to be somewhat mature to say, O.K. we need to preserve this aircraft and not fly it.
I have worked for a few museums that fly their aircraft as well. I always found it funny how some of the local pilots would sing in to see the airplane duing restoration. Never help out on it, just check it out. Then as soon as it is flying, they think it is their right to fly it. Many pilots look at a flying warbird museum as a flying club. The CAF doesn't let you take the plane out, just because. It needs to be going to an event, or training. I once had a pilot tell me, "Hey push that plane outside, I;m going to take it up, and do training." I was not a line guy, just another volunteer and a rated pilot in the same aircraft. Someone else pushed the plane out for him, and he taxied to the flight school and gave all of the female instructors rides. That is not why a museum puts a warbird back together. That's not why people donate money and a lot of time and hard work to put a warbird back together.
Nathan the NMUSAF does not fly their aircraft because that is not and never will be the goal of the museum. Between them, the NASM, NMNA, and some of the other static museums try to make sure a few examples are preserved for future generations.
Once again, all I am saying is that if we have the chance, we should be sure to preserve an aircraft that is the last of it's kind.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

I really don't quite get all the indignation over the "fly the last example"
or "don't fly the last example". Personally I agree with Chris that, when
a type is down to one last plane, it should be parked. However, if that
planne belongs to an individual and he chooses to fly it then that is his
choice. We still have property rights in this country. By the same token,
if Wright-Patt decides they don't want to fly Sho Sho Sho Baby then that
is their right.

I enjoy watching a warbird in the air as much as anyone here. Heck, the
ringtone on my cell is an R-2800 cranking up. But I'd hate to be in the
crowd when the last P-82 (for example) augered in. When I walk through
the WWI section in Pensacola or look at the SB2U and realize there are
no more of these I worry about the next storm and hope the museum will
be as fortunate as it was during Ivan. I can't imagine risking them in
flight again.

Chris,
That's complete cr*p and insulting! My best good flying buddy JCW on this board recovered, rebuilt and flew (without a scratch) THE only surviving NP-1 in the world. It's just now in a museum not because Jeff suddenly matured but rather because he's ready to move on and figured Tulsa was the best place for the a/c and NOT the Navy's museum. He flew the a/c safely and without a scratch for 20 years. So I think it best the name calling stop immediately. Have your opinion who cares! But, I think you're well underqualified to be judging folks. Jeff has more experience, knowledge and skill in recovery, rebuilding, maintenece and flying in his little finger that you possess in your whole being. He doesn't volunteer at a museum he is the museum with 8 airplanes 5 rebuilt and 3 in process by his own hands.

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Don't touch my junk!!

Jack first off chill out. I am not talking about JCW or anyone else. But when I say mature I mean the folks that say, Fly it all we can look at pictures after it is gone(which has been said here), or static airplanes are replicas, things of that nature. That is not a mature attitude. That is what I mean by that. And why is it O.K. for anyone else to have an opinion, but not me because mine is not popular?
Jack if anything your post was more insulting than anything I have ever written here.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

And for the record, I never claim to be anything special here. I always say, I am a nobody. I just try to make a difference where I can.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

I worry more of a storm destroying a hanger and falling on the aircraft then a plane crashing. Florida I think is a big risk for owning a warbird. The Naval museum.... wow if that got hit an destoryed by a storm look at all the sole example aircraft that would be destroyed!.

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Shop the Airplane Bunker At
www.warbirdbunker.com

That statement seems very clear. A guy flying a one and only certainly fits the quals you've laid out for immaturity
When he's flying it later this summer be sure and look away.

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Don't touch my junk!!

That is true Nathan, General Aviation hangars are not a very strong structure. Some have been hurrican proofed though. They are stonger than some. The National Museums are pretty strong buildings, not just T hangars. What scares me the most at NMNA are the aircraft are the ones outside. But I hear that the addition is being put up soon that will get most of the aircraft indoors.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Jack you can think as you wish, but I wasn't talking about him.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager