C-47B, 43-49531, Restoration Progress December 20th 2009

[FlynFish]

I'll bite my tongue on this one and not point fingers too much.

The bummer is that 2 months of perfect weather have gone by which we could have used for working on the plane before the heavy airshow season. There is also a lot of money being lost because of that woman's inability to communicate, and her lack of concern to the cost for a small foundation. We are doing all that we can to satisfy their requests, the least they could to is try to work with us.

All aside, we will get it home soon.

Last edited by FlynFish on Tue Jul 22, 2008 1:56 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Mark Cook]

Amen

[Curtis Block]

My bad,

I thought everything had worked out.

Dave never told me anything to the contrary.

[CAPFlyer]

Matt,

I would seriously have the museum consider either hiring an Aviation Lawyer on this or at minimum filing a complaint against this inspector. While many times these actions can hurt you, I think in this case you can't be hurt anymore than you already are. You probably won't be able to make any financial recovery from it (FAA benefitting from soverign immunity just as all government agencies do), but it may be able to expedite your ability to get the plane out of Canada and a full certificate received as what she is doing is contrary to FAA regs regarding issuance of a Ferry Permit and the delays you are experiencing can be considered "excessive" even in the worst of circumstances.

August, where are you when a WIXer is in trouble?

[airnutz]

....The lady with the FAA in Seattle

Is this the same gal who put the choke on the '262 project there for awhile?

[FlynFish]

We appreciate the support. There's really not much that can be done with shooting ourselves in the foot... It's just not worth it.

Sadly, this is why the motto holds true. FAA... "We're not happy until you're not happy".

Curtis,

Dave should be back sooner than later, likely in a couple weeks. You can slap him around when he gets back.

[Curtis Block]

The invite I gave to Dave is still available. Bring her through Olympia, and I'll work you guys a discount on go-juice.

[noizeedave]

Hey there Curtis! Greetings from Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan!

Im still out of the country but the C-47 is still located in Edmonton. We are having issues with the Seattle FAA. It seems a new lady there doesnt know here job and wants the aircraft airworthy and a maintenance program in place and the whole 9 yards! So without hesitation Id have to tell you Im not really sure of the route home now other than as Short as possible until we get her home and an airworthiness cert.

Ill be home near end of month possibly and Ill get back to everyone with more updates.

Talk soon
Dave

[Curtis Block]

Dave,

Good to hear from you. I hope all is well, and that you get back to the states safe.

[noizeedave]

Hi there everyone, it is with great excitement to annouce we have a Ferry Permit, insurance, pilots and the go ahead for the C47 and she will be on her way home this week!!
I will update this page with the Time and Date Tuesday when I know more information. Please stay tuned, and PM me specific questions.

Thank again!
Dave

[daveymac82c]

Hi Dave,

That is really great news! I must be a relief to finally getting things done on that project. What a great acquisition too! Fantastic!!!

Now onto the next project. Check PM.

-David

[The Inspector]

My question is, why did you even go to the Seattle FSDO with it's known anti warbirds mentality and general attitude of 'lets see how much we can jerk these folks around?' These are the same idiots who ran off inspectors from the Dallas FSDO who paid a courtesy call on the Seattle office while attempting to cert a BBJ @ BFG several years ago, they then spent weeks having us separate the fly poop from the pepper over very very trivial and minor items (you can't use that as a dressing table seat in the master bedroom, so we stuck a fake potted plant on a pillow on the seat to make it an 'end table'), most of which were put back the way the owner wanted while in flight to it's home base.
Surely you could have gone to any other, closer to location FSDO and been treated like a real group of human beings and not like so much cow poop by the overpaid morons @ Seattle FSDO.
In my opinion if a meteor were to hit earth, it needs to clobber the FSDO building in Renton WA. it would create more open space and absolutely no one in the aviation community would miss it-
the entire office is sort of The Marx Brothers meet The Three Stooges to direct traffic at a ballgame in it's execution of it's duties-

[noizeedave]

Its officially MY thought on the whole deal! Not the foundation's thoughts..but my thoughts. They are a bunch of complete "Unexperienced" idiots running a FSDO like a scientists trying to solve global warming, becuase as they state, " How do we take the word of a simple A&P mechanic who has worked on these birds for 3 decades that she is airworthy?" And as they stated, "They would be the judge of the airworthiness of the aircraft based on their experience"......Hmm.. as I seem to recall there is no actual hands on work for inspectors to complete prior to getting a job as an Inspector. With all the openings, my friends in the FSDOs around the country have stated some of these, and I qoute " Kids " have only touched aircraft at their A&P school!! And last I checked someone who is 29 years old or even 35 years old, hasn't been walking as long as our mechanics who did the ferry flight inspection have been inspecting and repairing these aircraft!
So I guess Seattle FSDO has saved the world again from the evils of those A&P mechanics across the country!

[spookyboss]

After our dealing with the local FAA. I can only say get ahold of your congressman it is the only thing those people respond to. And it works trust me !!!!

[Matt Gunsch]

It is strange that you have had so much trouble getting a ferry permit. I have gotten them for the A-26, C-119, C-47, C-1A with not much more than a phone call and fax, and that was in FSDOs from FL, AL, and WY.

I would have called the head of the FSDO and raise and a little h e l l.