Warbird Information Exchange

good point!!!!

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

Sorry troops. Didn't mean to start a HOO-HA about Mr. Hinton. I know he doesn't fly for an airline. It was an inside joke from some time ago.

Mudge the stirrer

Hi All,

Mind if I weigh in with my two cents ? The cost of having a rare one like Glacier Girl at any airshow would be about right, given the insurance, pilot, and overall cost of the Lightning herself. Hinton isn't always availible to go so there is that as he does have many many other commitments. And the absolute rarety of GG herself makes the cost of having her attend sound daunting of course, but int the long term interests of the aircraft herself, I would think it reasonable to have something of this historical signifigance being there. As to the cost of operating an item such as a B-17, B-24, and of course lets not forget FIFI, the cost isn't going down, and the old radials suck gas faster than anything you can imagine. So my main thing is simply this...if that is the cost...then you have two options...pay it and not draw the fans and attendees to the show, priced accordingly, or not have it all and the show looses their attendence accordingly.

Hey, lets face it, not everyone is a zillionaire with money to burn. And these old girls cost money, both in parts to keep them running so folks like us can see them flying, and most of all fuel. Lifeblood of any aircraft. And judging by what we pay at the pump for our own personal vehicles, the price for AVGAS has always been higher due to it's regulations...so keep that all in mind as well.

Just my two cents........for what it's worth.

Paul

Mudge, ever get that Sea Fury flight from Brian Sanders?

Not yet. Got my dual control P-51 ride with Bill Dause in Lodi, CA scheduled for June 29.
I'm gonna' go down and visit with Brian while I'm there but can't budget a ride with him just yet. Besides, he says he won't have the dual control Fury available until the fall. The only one he has available now is the "ride only" and I'd rather wait to go in the dually.

Mudge the participant

I have to think they understand that the price they ask is steep. But I suspect they don't want to be flying her to shows every weekend for a "typical" fee (because face it, then everyone would want Glacier Girl at their show and she would be flying all of the time)...instead they choose to only go to select shows. Considering the rarity of that bird, I wouldn't fly it all that much either. The high fee limits the number of appearances it will make. I doubt it is just an arrogant "king of the mountain" attitude that sets those prices, but an actual desire to limit her flying.

I could be wrong, however...

Bill Gates? Isn't Paul Allen good enough?

I figured it was.....humour just doesn't come off well via typed words....and sometimes people write things and it sounds angrier than intended. Ah well you did put the smiley faces around the words so shame on me.

John

paul allen.... space ship 1, couldn't remember his name, i knew some body would make the connection clue i was seeking!!! thanks!!

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

Steve Hinton also genuinely is excited to fly any of these great aircraft, and while he is busy beyond belief, does each job in a different aircrft each time with intimate knowledge of the task and individual aircraft at hand. Glacier Girl is an undeniable precious aircraft, and if BW-382 was to fly again in Finnish markings for any well heeled collector with the wherewithal to take her from USNAm, there is only one pilot the insurance would trust without any hesitation. Steve is also far more than a pilot and the mechanical expertise he brings is what sets him apart from anyone else who also happens to fly. He will see things you missed as he enters the hangar. Beyond all that he seems to have a little time to help everyone feel appreciated, even if they are pulling chocks and holding fire extinguishers. He is a rare person. How much to have Steve on static display without the P-38?

Hey Joe!...BW-372? Is that an extra Brewster in yer pocket...or are you
just glad to see me?

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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

This is probably old news, but I see that Glacier Girl is scheduled to be at Oshkosh this year.

Haven't been able to see her since she was a pile of parts on display there in 1992.

Really looking forward to seeing this great restoration in person!

Steve

saw her their in 92 too. in pieces in a tent. got most of the teams sigs then too. including norman vaughn, who was with byrd during the polar expeditions 2 decades before, & he salvaged the norden bomb sights in 1942 when they were super secret. he must be long gone now, he was 88 in 1992.. best, tom

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

A big warbird show with some rare aircraf, are some of the most costly airshows to do, thats why so many shows keep warbirds to a minimum.

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Michael Luther
Yankee Air Museum's
Air Show Director
THUNDER OVER MICHIGAN