Warbird Information Exchange

Hey guys got some info, a good customer at the Kroger I work at is ATC at EFD and he said all ramp and taxiway and runway construction is done, SO ramp space might not be a problem.

That's FANTASTIC news! Maybe they will be able to have more planes there now, and on the ramp for the crowd to enjoy!

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Mike

BLUEHAWK,
Great news on the P-39

I saw it for (my) first time at Midland Airsho 2008 and she is a looker!

I will post the name of the restaurant when I have it lined up.

IF any of you other locals have a plan, step right in and call it and I will try and make it work.

SPANNER

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Support Your Local Warbirds! KBO!
The only reasons the airplanes matter is what the veterans did with them... and why.

I sure would like to make this show.

I wonder if Rick will have the CF machines out for some "flight training" during the weekend?

Sure would be grand to see!

Making plans...crossing my fingers.

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Zane Adams
There I was at 20,000 ft, upside down and out of ammunition.
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Nope, not unless show management has a change of pocketbook. If the jets are in town, they'll be on static as in previous years. My understanding is that they want the Huey for the Viet Nam portion of the show but they won't bite on any of the jets. As far as flight training that weekend, no way that could happen unless we were to fly after the show, even then it would be difficult, at best.

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"You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass..."
Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto

I just learned that things are changing still with WOH. We are going to have to revisit taking the P-39 there. We cut our appearance fee to the bare bones last year, and took the U-11A along to bring the return fuel back home (making it the KU-11A?), and taking the back up pilot and the P-39's A&P mechanic, but have just been advised by the warbird "czar" that he will not allow that this year. The rest of the crew would receive entry tickets for both days, but not be invited to any of the dinner events.

So, I guess we'll be looking at the fee again. Most likely it will have to be raised to cover the return fuel, at least, and that might bump us off the invited list.

It never ceases to amaze me how small shows can pay what we need to show up there, and are most congenial in the way they treat us, but the big shows seem to feel they are doing you a favor by letting you have a place on their ramp, much less letting you fly in their show.

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Mike

It's all about the bottom line, Bluehawk. With no headline sponsor at this time, I'm sure the show management is going to cut every corner they can.

What's ironic is that I understand that they covered their nut on Sat last year and Sunday was gravy.

With the Blues coming back for the first time in over 10 years, the 2009 show should be one of their best revenue producers. By not taking care of the very aircraft and crew that form the backbone of the show, they will save a few bucks. By relying on DoD assets they can further reduce their cash outlay.

Costs are down, crowd goes up, due to the Blues appearance ( first new big change in years ) and profits go through the roof. As an aside most tickets are presold with no refunds due to weather.

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"You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass..."
Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto

Just heard from the Warbird Czar myself.
I have to firmly commit to TEXAS RAIDERS being there in order to reserve ramp space.
The entire ramp has been shrunk (also due to the Blue Angel's requirements as well as construction at ELL) so it is not too shocking that there are issues with getting all the planes in that would like to be there.

An option for support planes is Pearland airport straight down Dixie Farm Road... About 8 miles or 15 or 20 minutes down the road. Not where you would WANT to be, but it could still be viable.

UUH UUH UUH Big Idea time....we could get the pud-puller JET TRUCK people who cancelled out last year at the last minute to set up a shuttle between Pearland and ELLington straight down DIXIE FARM ROAD... I'd post THAT on Youtube!

While last year was a great year the previous two years were kind of iffy because both previous years had some serious rains during the show.

Oy Vey... I cannot speak to the impact of Sponsorships other than the simile of IMAGINE you had a really big date and all the sudden you lost your job and your parents stopped your allowance!

I am sure that the WOH Exec. Committee would rather be inviting and accomodating everybody rather than disappointing folks.

Work break,

SPANNER

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Support Your Local Warbirds! KBO!
The only reasons the airplanes matter is what the veterans did with them... and why.

I think I'm going to keep my eye on this show, I've been meaning to get down to that show and I think those dates could work out well for me.

Tim

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www.tailhookstudio.com

Why not just use Taxiway Kilo ? It's empty, doesn't go anywhere and could be used for statics.

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"You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass..."
Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto

Rick,
I am assuming you know the Warbird Czar.
Best to ask him... I can only speculate that if he could he would.

If he hasn't thunk of it yet, who knows, he might name it the RICK H RAMP! And let you fill it up with all those airplanes that run on bug juice!!!:lol:

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Support Your Local Warbirds! KBO!
The only reasons the airplanes matter is what the veterans did with them... and why.

I'd rather put them in the sky in front of the crowd !

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"You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass..."
Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto

As an update, I have spoken to Bud Anderson, and he will be making his first appearance at WOH, Doolittlle Raider Tom Griffin will be joining Dick Cole as well! Corsair Ace Dean Caswell will be there (he told me that there are only two surviving Marine Aces).

Tim Landers
WOH autograph tent coordinator

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"If I had to fight the same war over again, I'd sure want to fight it from the cockpit of a Corsair."
-Archie Donahue

The folks at Ron Carter Automotive have been a great supporter of aviation over the years, but unfortunately have been hit by the economy like most. I drive two of their vehicles and recommend them highly, lets support them and maybe they will be back in 2010.

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John Hall
F1 Race 98/99

Great news on the Guest List, Col. Landers.
I just might have to attend this year!

Got the reason for the INCREDIBLE SHRINKING RAMP.
Blame it on the Blues!
Not Sponsorship, not the high price of petrol, not greedy promoters!

The Blue Angels require X amount of distance from their SHOW flight line for safety reasons. Because of who has control of WHAT ramp space at Ellington the WOH folks can only have the smaller footprint for parking everything else.

So that wipes out Rick's Taxi Way idea.
They probably wouldn't like my idea of creating a temporary grass strip (just for L-birds!!!) along the North side fence either.

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Support Your Local Warbirds! KBO!
The only reasons the airplanes matter is what the veterans did with them... and why.