Warbird Information Exchange

Red/white one? Still at Ocotillo Wells if I'm not mistaken. Sent some time at the Antelope Valley Aero Museum at Lancaster, CA. Bought by Kermit Weeks and stored by Aero Trader!

T J

Hi James et al--

Can't believe no one's mentioned Paul Mantz yet. Both his transcon-racer Mustangs are now restored (albeit neither in Mantz colours), and I think his camera-ship B-25 is extant also.

At least three of Roscoe Turner's aircraft survive: the Boeing 247D he flew in the MacRobertson Race in '34; his Matty Laird-designed Meteor with which he won the '39 Thompson Trophy; and one of his Wedell-Williams 44s. The first two are in the Smithsonian.

Lindbergh's Ryan NYP is at NASM of course, but so is his Lockheed Sirius floatplane.

Then there's Cook Cleland; not perhaps as famous as Lindbergh or Turner or even Mantz, but he did win the Thompson Trophy twice ('47 and '49), and two Corsairs owned by him survive complete (the Odegaard and Crawford Museum/ex-Soplata F2Gs) with parts of two more extant as well (the engine of another F2G also at the Crawford, and the centre section of his FG-1A racer possibly still with Walt Soplata).

S.

"Wrong Way" Corrigan kept his Curtiss Robin until his recent death. I'd guess it's still in California somewhere.

_________________
Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.

NathanT24...The S-43 is going to the Hobby Museum?..well that is good.
I knew of the generalities of N440 and the family survivors vacillation
as to her....disposal or donation. Has your revelation been preceeded by
a public statement from the family..or a statement from the Hobby
Museum? What do you know of the status of the P-51?

_________________
He bowls overhand...He is the most interesting man in the world.
"In Peace Japan Breeds War", Eckstein, Harper and Bros., 3rd ed. 1943(1927, 1928,1942)
"Leave it to ol' Slim. I got ideas...and they're all vile, baby." South Dakota Slim
"Ahh..."The Deuce", 28,000 pounds of motherly love." quote from some Mojave Grunt
DBF

Steve,

Cof, cof. er, I mentioned Tallmantz in my opening post - but good call, neverthless.

NO, No, NO, NOOOO.

If you can't name a famous owner and surviving SINGLE aircraft combo, you shouldn't be posting here at all - however, chaps & chapesses, we are looking for multiple aircraft, one owner, surviving.

How about the connection between a VS-44, P-51B/C, and a Sandringham?

Cheers!

_________________
James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

Capt. Harry Butler's bristol M.1C monoplane still survives and is well cared for at Minlaton South Australia.

If I ever get the slides scanned I have pictures of the dedication ceremony for the original building it resided in from 1958.

the link gives his story.

http://www.yorke.sa.gov.au/tourism/harr ... tml#planes

James... well... it is hard not to get carried away with a post like this! So some posts have side notes of famous owners.

Wasnt it Mr. Blair that owned the VS-44 and razorback P-51? He was a well know aviator... but what time frame was that. 1950's? He was also married to an actress if I remember right. Is this who you were thinking of?

If not.... I just took us down another side road... er runway!

I didnt remember that it was Kermit that owned the old Hughes A-20. Very cool.

_________________
Blue Skies,
Dan
http://www.flytoanothertime.com

James--

Whoooops! So that's why nobody else mentioned Mantz...

Didn't think of Charlie Blair. Right: the ex-Mantz P-51C (hmm, how many of our survivors actually belonged to multiple famous pilots?); the VS-44 "Excambian" now at Bradley; and at least one Sandringham...and of course Antilles Air Boats had some hulled amphibians too and some of those are doubtless still about. (BTW Mr Blair was indeed married to a Hollywood star, the lovely Maureen O'Hara.)

S.