Warbird Information Exchange

Have heard from several sources that the Y2K Spitfire with the CFB Comox museum has been sold.

There is a note on the website that they are no longer accepting donations for the project:

http://www.y2kspitfire.com/news/special_notice.htm

Dave,

That is very interesting news. I was unaware of this situation and hope they can continue working on it there.

I hope it stays local. It would be a shame to see her leave the area, and I had such high hopes to see her at an airshow in the area when she was done.

From that link you provided I don't get the feeling it's sold yet, but it is probably being strongly considered. But why? It sounds like they've got a good crew up there. Hmmm... maybe they want to pay for a new display hangar? I don't really see any other reason to sell he gem of their collection.

Let us know if you find anything more out, or if anyone out there is aware of the outcome to this interesting thread. I'll do some digging and also see what's going on. Maybe I'll ask them nicely and see if I could look after it for a while!! haha...

Cheers,

David McIntosh (also a Dave M)

I hear it is heading east - all that I can say....

To keep company with a Mk XVI maybe?

Yes, ownership has/is changing; though I heard that the restoration will be completed at Comox. Then it heads east...

_________________
"They can teach MONKEYS to fly better than that"

http://www.heritageflight.org
http://www.bravo369.org

Man I wish there was someone here in BC that would hoard warbirds like they do in other parts of the world.

Sure we've got three good little aviation museums, but no ridiculous collectors with their own personal air forces. Of course, there's Bob Jens with his Spitfire and Mosquito, but his two airplanes are not being flown.

Considering the Vancouver area mountains provide an amazing backdrop for aerial photographs, it's a shame a major collector hasn't called the area home.

That's my little jealousy rant... Dave's back to normal now.

-David Mc.

The worst kept secret out there but I guess we'll have to wait for the official news release from Comox. I can say I'm pretty happy about TE294's future.

David Mc, TE294 was originally offered to the CMF but it turned out to be to big of a project for the museum so they passed on it.

Brian...

Sorry but I have to take exception to this statement. Just because warbird activity has subsided on the west coast (you can thank the NIMBYs for that) doesn't mean that at one time it wasn't a haven for warbirds (read Western Warbirds and Delta Airpark). While Vancouver or Seattle don't compare with Chino, you do have several emerging collections just a stones' throw across the border (Allen and Sessions) and the Cascade Warbirds group which have picked up where the Western Warbirds left off and kept the warbird movement alive in the Pacific North West. There has always been a sort of attitude, at least on the Canadian side, that they (the feds) can't bother you if you don't bring attention to yourself, and that is just the practice that has been adopted by many of the warbirders, at least in BC. Big flashy airshows and large-scale gatherings attract attention, not all of it wanted. Not to sound biased, but I know of one particular person who at one point did have a small air force that participated at airshows from Prince George to Hamilton to Harlingen, but insurance, fuel, regulations, and family practicality took their toll. In short, major and minor collectors have called the area home. Many of the big-name warbirds you see flying around at shows in the States once lived here. Their time here has passed and they have gone to where others can appreciate them. If you take a look around, you might be surprised at what you might actually find.

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real airplanes have round engines

Well said Warbirdcrew, there has been a warbird movement in BC for as long as anywhere. The 70's, 80's and 90's saw a great deal of activities and many warbid owners. Jerry Janes was a one man airforce with everything from a Chipmunk to B-25 and a heck of a lot in between. Award winning restorations still come out of VAM and there are others such as Bob Jens that carry the torch.

It is sad when museums sell artifacts, BC does seem to have a bad track record on that side. But the collectors are out there and many projects are underway.

The glory years perhaps are behind us, but BC has a great deal to be proud of past, present and future.

Hey Brian,

I remember you saying that TE294 was offered to the CMF. It's a sad story, but there's not much we can do to change things now. As long as she's going to a good home, I'm happy... I guess... haha.

And Warbirdcrew,

Being quite young, I can only remember a small amount of the warbird activities of the 1980's. What I do remember is that there used to be an impressive amount of warbirds around here. I miss them. What sparked me passion for warbirds was when my father would take me to Delta Air Park to see the planes. I can't remember how many Harvards there were, but now I think there's maybe one. With Tony's "Bessy" going to the CHAA it kind of signalled the end of an era for our area.

Now, I don't really understand the "Not Drawing attention from the Feds" part though. The guys out east draw attention like crazy it seems. What is it that the local warbirders don't want the attention for?

I find the warbird world to be somewhat of a niche, and the more people that know about it the better. Anyways, I'd be curious to learn more about what you were talking about.

Cheers,

David

P.S. Sorry for the hijacking of this thread.

DaveM,

Meaning no disrespect, but Jerry still is a one-man air force. The fleet may not be as big as it once was, but there still is a fleet and it is still going strong.

Daveymac,

I don't doubt that anyone anywhere throwing an airshow will attract attention. And if your goal is to promote and secure donations to keep your museum afloat (see VWoC or the CWH or the Russell group), you want the public on your side as much as possible. However, how many of the great airshows and airports have been shut down or are under pressure from the neighbors to be shut down. Geneseo (before the resurrection) andToronto Lakeshore show come to mind. When you are a one man owner, bill-payer, and your name is on the Transport Canada file, you don't want to be on the receiving end of any grief from anyone. The home-town crowd is more than happy to take their planes an hour or two away to Olympia or Arlington, rather than have to put up with any opposition from the local populace. Any of the local Vancouver pilots who were around back in the day will remember what Delta Airpark was like, and what it is like today now that the NIMBYs are involved. In my opinion, the thing that sets the Vancouver area apart from other warbird meccas is the population density in the surrounding area, and the accompanying airspace restrictions. When we were flying our Albatross around here, we got noise complaints almost every time we started the engines. Now imagine the reaction to five or six Harvards/T-28s/Sea Furies/Corsairs, whatever you want to imagine. We had a great time while it lasted, and like all good things....

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real airplanes have round engines

Good point,

I think that Vanouver is the NIMBY capitol of the Universe; hands down!!! I'd love to hear evidence of that not being true, but living here is tiresome.

To go off topic, I'd just like to say that the Vanouver Olympics in 2010 will be a gong-show with protests for the sake of protesting.

It's hard to understand someone complaining about an Albatross flying around. For me, it's music to my ears.

I guess until we revitalize warbird airshows in the Vancouver area, we'll have to cross the border or go to Ontario in order to get our required warbird overdose.

Cheers,

David

Then come live in the Everett Area for a while and listen to the crybabies in Luditeville..er...Mukilteo whine about airport noise 'devaluing their property'.

The Snohomish County Council and our 'eager to climb to the next political office', heinny licking, County Executive sided with the Council to prevent AGILENT AIR from offering a few flights a week to Vegas. One of the leading pot stirrers even cracked in the press" why export gamblers to Las Vegas? We have a wonderful casino at Tulalip just up the freeway" because bright boy, people want to get crazy and wierd somewhere that they won't be seen by the local school principal or their uptight next door neighbor.

The very day they passed that resolution the local FAA office sent a letter to the Snohomish County Airport's (KPAE) manager telling the whole nest of clods that they had better bargain in 'good faith' with AGILENT or the feds (who hold title to the field) would suspend improvements to the airport, currently the feds have sunk in excess of $50 Million in improvements over the 40 odd years since it was abandoned by the USAF.
Poor management of the show coupled with snivelling from over the bluff in Mukilteo were the main reasons that the Paine Field AIR FAIR disappeared several years ago.

Apparently, one thing that escapes the notice of the NIMBYs in Luditeville is the fact that every building that Boeing has @ KPAE has been constructed so they can be disassembled and moved somewhere else, like Moses Lake or Great Falls in Montana (which Boeing just happens to be the operator of)and the parking lots can be plowed up and re-seeded with grass in very short order, it would be a monumental task, but it could be done.

But then again, these clowns have been bickering amongst themselves for years over whether or not to tear down a 75 year old fire trap, see what happens when you put too many mice in the same cage?

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

If I remember well......

A member had the Spit to give !!!!! And it was even offered either here or on the previous WW forum to any "good" home for free.

Ended up being Comox.....man that was a while back.

Anyone remembers whom it was that gave it away ?

Someone seems to be forgetting about a small (12 aircraft) collection closer to BC than either Paul Allen's or John Session's

_________________
"They can teach MONKEYS to fly better than that"

http://www.heritageflight.org
http://www.bravo369.org