Question About Work On My Spitfire

Bill Greenwood · **Posted:** Sun Jan 10, 2010 11:28 pm

I got a nice message from Larry Welty, aka Cadet 77, who is one of the 3 people who sent a donation for repairs. The others were John Little and Don Price.

Larry asked for an update and some photos of the progress.

It is kind of fresh in my mind as we just today flew up over Ft. Collins Downtown airport which is the home of Q G Aviation where the plane is being repaired.

We were not able to land, some developer from Denver bought the private airport and closed it about 3 years ago. The runway is still there, as or the buildings, but today there was a semi truck and cars driving on the runway as we flew over a few hundred feet up.

I wonder if any of the people in the truck driving school know or care that in those buildings 50 yards away from them are three of the greatest fighters in the world, Spitfire , Hurricane, and Zero., not to mention all the others that have been there in the past like original Me 109s, P51D, XP-51, the one in the museum at Osh, DC-3, Firefly, Staggerwing, T-6, Navion, T-34, etc.

The greed of one man closed a fine little airport that was enjoyed by and employed hundreds. If there is any good thing about it , I don't think he has gotten financing to turn it into another housing park.

When they get farther along, hopefully in the next few months, and start to reassemble and not just repair, I will probably go up and get some photos. I just don't like to see it all apart.

Thanks for your interest. It was a beautiful day today and sure nice to fly, even if not a Spitfire. There were a lot of people flying at Boulder, and Loveland.

daveymac82c · **Posted:** Sun Jan 10, 2010 11:48 pm

I'm glad to hear that work is being done on your airplane and certainly do look forward to further updates.

Peace,

David

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Sun Jan 10, 2010 11:49 pm

Mr. Greenwood,

You really still ought to get one of your sons to set up a Paypal account...

Ryan

Bill Greenwood · **Posted:** Mon Jan 11, 2010 12:00 am

Thanks, Ryan. First I am not asking for donations now, however those that gave did help boost to my spirits when it was needed.
Next, I am probably too old fashioned to be a Paypal kind of guy. One Son is working at the ski shop at Alta, Utah, and the other one is riding his motorcycle through South America after completing law school.

How goes your flying? I am strongly considering working on my CFI rating soon.

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Mon Jan 11, 2010 8:41 am

Being a CFI is fun, frustrating, and you realize you've got a lot of responsibility. It can be hard to make enough doing it, and that's frustrating, but when you get a good student (and I have one right now) it's fun flying with them! The responsibility comes in when you have a student that you know could go out and buy more plane than he's ready for right now. :shock:

I don't mind him wanting to do that, and think he'll be perfectly capable in the near future, but right now I've got to make sure he has as good habits as possible so he can be as ready as possible to stay ahead of that plane.
If I can pick up about three more students I'll be just a bit happier as I have a financial goal that is keeping me from another goal...

Ryan

corsair166b · **Posted:** Mon Jan 11, 2010 11:59 am

Bill...

But you do have Denise and I, situated about 15 miles from the place, cameras at the ready....only trouble is we don't get along with Ray so well due to his inconsistent photo policies in the shop (get along with Skurich just fine, actually wrote an article on that Zero for Classic Wings)....but if you want to clear the way for us to pop in and get pics, we'd be glad to...we know where the shop is...

Mark

Bill Greenwood · **Posted:** Mon Jan 11, 2010 12:51 pm

Hi Mark. Sometimes the airplane owners don't want the plane photographed, It may not just be the policy of the shop alone. I think some owners of really rare restorations sell the photos or the story when it was done.

I have had a long and very good working relationship with Ray, Jackie, now Tim and the shop and I consider them fiends as well as experts in their field.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that they can get it done before the money runs out and that I get to fly her some more. Maybe we can have you guys get some photos then at Gxy or Fnl.

Take care and keep your lens clean. Bill

SPANNERmkV · **Posted:** Mon Jan 11, 2010 4:03 pm

If there had to be only three I am glad to be one of them!

You will always have my support in getting your treasure back in the air.

Godspeed,

Don

b747cf · **Posted:** Mon Jan 11, 2010 8:12 pm

Bill,

Glad to hear that the Spitfire is being fixed here is a photo I took of it at Lakeland.

http://picasaweb.google.com/b747cf/Figh ... 8467150994

Mark Fidler

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Question About Work On My Spitfire

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