P-38 on a stick

[JDK]

Mod post: It's evident that some people are making points that others have a problem with accepting. Nice or not, factual data supports points of view.

Please keep it polite, attack the argument, but not the person, and let's not trivialise a discussion that most people are understandably passionate about.

You never know, we might learn something. Maybe even realise that we don't have all the answers where we stand...

[PbyCat-Guy]

I just want to appologize for starting this firestorm. Wasn't my intent, just trying to share some pics of some warbirds (past and present) that I appreciate.

[JDK]

I just want to appologize for starting this firestorm. Wasn't my intent, just trying to share some pics of some warbirds (past and present) that I appreciate.

Nothing to apologise for!

Remember, to an outsider it's all a storm in a teacup, however important it is to us.

As usual, in between the heat, there's a number of nuggets of info which is what WIX is about.

[jet1]

Or they could use a fiberglass P-38 like they have at Lackland. Looks real enough, especially on a pole.

YEP...the average joe would not know the difference

[mustangdriver]

330th-

It was a crude (and IMHO tasteless) way of pointing out three rare aircraft that crashed while in the hands of the CAF over the past two decades, each of which caused one or more fatalities. Others here can go into details, but each of them have been discussed previously.

Chris, I understand your point about crashed/destroyed aircraft being essentially lost for good, but you might be a little more sensitive/careful with your word choice, as there are people here who witnessed those crashes, and/or knew those lost folks personally.

kevin

I mean no malice at all toward the poelpe of the CAF and the people involved in the crashes. I was stating that these are aircraft will never be seen again, defending static aircraft as being described as dead. Nothing more or less was meant by them.

Jack that is what I meant, understand the point now?

Kinda cool image .... seems to relate ...

[leo]

This was the first P-38 I saw up close back in '74 at Chino. I followed it's move, accident and pylon placement in Air Classics over the years (at the time the only source I had). The issue of it being placed outside has been argued many times and I have seen conceptual drawings of at least 2 attempts to cover it, but they were never funded. No matter what they do to maintain it, eventually corrosion will destroy it. Even now if it was brought inside the work to arrest corrosion would be prohibitive to any government group.
I worked on a T-6 many years ago that was extremely well maintained, flown regularly, polished to a mirror and hangered. We STILL fought corrosion...
I would agree that at this time it is silly for any rare artifact to be "preserved" outside. Replicas are just too easy to create.

[the330thbg]

Much better image!!!!

[oscardeuce]

I just read about this P-38 in the artivcle on the Death of Mr. Tallicet in Warbirds international. It sure looked good before being placed on the pole.

[RickH]

Nah, Oscar Duece didn't you read Chris' post, " it was a wreck " !!

[mustangdriver]

No, I said it was wrecked. It was in an accident. That is what I meant.

[Matt Gunsch]

No, I said it was wrecked. It was in an accident. That is what I meant.

Chris, you better learn your definitions, it did not even generate a FAA report, hence it was not wrecked, it was minor damage, and was flying in a couple of weeks.
Wrecked is it's condition now, it will never be more than a pattern aircraft if it can be pried from the hands of the USAF

[mustangdriver]

I had a response written, but realized there will never be any pleasing a few. MAtt, and Rick, keep on hating the NMUSAF. I have grown tired of arguing with those that sit and await for any reason to throw digs at the same groups over and over.

[the330thbg]

Seeing a warbird in a museum is a little like looking at a dinosaur in a natural-history museum.

Big and impressive to be sure, but also dead, cold and silent.

Let's keep your warbird beasts roaring into life. Roaring into the air as long as we can!

They were built to fly.

[PinecastleAAF]

Some aircraft were built to fly and then become memorials to great Americans. If it was off the pole and inside some would still complain that it is not flying. I think that I shall never see a pie as lovely as the one in the sky.