Warbird Information Exchange

Well my flabber is well and truly gasted!!
A major Hurricane has hit one of the most famous and historical Cities in the USA. Many people have died, the flood waters are still rising. Families have lost everything.

And you lot are worried about a few lously aircraft.

Well this is the Warbird Information Exchange, not the Homeless Families Information Exchange, Nick... I personally don't see any problem with people being concerned about irreplaceable historic aircraft as well as irreplaceable people and I'm sure every poster here feels for those caught in the devastation.

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Awfully nice aeroplane piccies available

The topic here is definitely in context with the forum's intent. I doubt any posters in this thread actually would place a material object as a priority above a human life.

regards,

t~

No airplanes at the D-Day musem (no real ones at least) and even these reproductions are hanging. There is a Higgins boat at ground level but I'd assume it would float if the museum floods.

I was under the impression that the Spitfire at the D-Day museum was real too.


What ???????? something original by Stephen Ambrose???????????

You know its a copy if its by Ambrose!

But no-one actually said it did they, not even a nod in the direction of "its not as important as human life"

I just found that odd thats all.

The scope of the devestation speaks for itself. To point out the obvious would be unneccesary. Those of us who have loved ones in the affected region are not offended by the curiousness of aircraft lovers. All people who have special interests are looking for intel about the damage in any shape or form. The thoughts and prayers of all of us go out to the survivors and the families that lost loved ones.

A simple question was asked regarding the items of particular interest of the participants of this board. That question was actually asked before the storm hit the area. It was a valid question, so were the answers. Blasting those who were discussing this topic is uncalled for.

Maybe a little background is called for here...

Those of us who have grown up on the Gulf have learned to live with the threat of hurricanes. What happened to the east of us is unprecedented but not unexpected. Sooner or later what can happen will happen. The initial problems with loss of life and now the rescues were caused by one thing...people CHOSE to ignore the warnings and ride out the second strongest storm in recorded US history ! Doesn't mean I don't sympathize with them, thought it was poor planning on their part, but I sympathize with them.

Some of those people live in a city that is built below sea level between two bodies of water and surrounded by a swamp and others live directly on a coastline that has a mean elevation of about 10-20 feet , the structures that you see wiped off of their foundations are no more than 1/2 mile off of the beach, some of them are literally across the street from the beach and their alevation is probably 10-15 ft. Storm surge was estimated at 20-27 ft with 20-30ft waves on top of the surge ! And they STILL chose to stay! In 1969 there was a storm called Camille that hit in almost the same spot but it didn't get N.O. as bad but the Mississippi coast was devastated, a bunch of people were killed in an apartment in Gulf Shores/Biloxi. They stayed to have hurricane party, they died. The pictures taken after Camille look just like the pictures we are seeing now. Those folks rebuilt anyway and we all knowingly take the chance to live where we do. It's a random existance where these storms are concerned, last full blown storm we have seen in Houston was Alicia, in 1984, we've been lucky. We could have one in a few days, they could have another one over there next week or 30 years.

Trust me, I've ridden out 4-5 storms since I was a kid here in the Houston area, I live near Ellington Field , roughly 50 miles from the Gulf but only 10 from the bay, if we have a storm moving in of that magnitude coming in on us we're out of here !!

EFD is 34 ft, Lone Star at Galveston is 7ft, The planes left at Galveston would be under 20 + feet of water, I understood the decision to put Lone Star where it is because of tourist access and economic incentive to do so, but I always questioned putting historic aircraft on that airport for just this reason. Those hangars are climate controlled but NOT water tight . We'll be discussing them someday. Hope its not soon.

ManOnTheFence,

I take high offense to your posting on this message board that people here in the U.S. are more concerned about aircraft over the people. During the time I have watched tv on this storm, I have been glued to 5 different channels that are showing constant coverage of this event. Watching and hearing the heartache that the people of the affected area are going through just makes me sick. They have lost everything and may never recover fom this disaster. As I have, I'm sure there are many more on this board that have made monetary donations, etc. to the Red Cross and other organizations to help with the relief that is going to be desperately needed.

I've survived earthquakes, a tornado, and helped friends that have had flood damage in the past.

edited: okay I've settled down a litle bit. Yes we are more concerned about the people, that was not what this orginal post was about.

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Roger Cain
www.sfahistory.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Stearman/


We must limit politicians to two terms:
one in office and one in jail.

I don't think Nick was even slightly out of order and certainly doesn't deserve the berating he's getting.

After the London bombs there was genuine concern shown on the Flypast board by WIXers.

I've just logged in expecting to find a similar thread here and I find somebody being shouted at and told to keep their nose out.

Not entirely fair in my opinion.

I just attempted to bring up the D Day Museum's website to see if they had an update on the damage (I know, its probably to early for this) but the site isnt working.

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

I'm sure everyone on this forum feels terrible about the unimaginable losses as a result of the hurricane. That however will not stop me from thinking about what has happened to places like the D Day Museum! My wife and I have taken a step further by making a donation to one of the organizations asking for assistance and I encourage everyone to do the same to help out our fellow Americans. Just sending in a few bucks will help. (My 2 cents worth of thoughts on this matter.)

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

The headline in the San Francisco newspaper yesterday ran along the lines of "55 dead, millions without power".

Never mind the billions of dollars worth of damage, families who have lost homes, businesses, everything, there are a million people out there who can't use their microwaves to re-heat their pizza, cool their beer and watch sports on TV!!!

very witty, smart assy & appropriate

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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!!

Finally! The one person who appreciates my odd sense of humor. I feel verrrrrrry sorry for you sir...

I dont care if people take offense at my posting or not, the simple fact is not ONE SINGLE mention was made of the millions of people who have been devastated by Katrina before my posting.

I find that odd. I can understand that there is concern for historical artefacts but lets face it, they pale into insignificance when compared to the fact that a whole City and most of 3 States have been devastated.

I'm not saying it shouldnt be discussed but have a care for the victims please. How many times has a Warbird crashed and relief been expressed because the pilot survived, its the same thing just different circumstances.

Would you go up to the relative of someone who died in a car crash and ask about the car?

Call it decorum, tact or diplomacy, its lacking in the start of this thread.

With respect Rob this is a bit bigger than and ice storm, this is possibly the worse natural disaster that has hit your fine country.

I apologise if I have upset people, I just think that asking about the effects on a few museums before the disaster has even abated is a bit, well, odd.

Roger

Great you've watched it all on TV, its not really relavant to this discussion is it.

bdk

I got it and chuckled as well.

My final word, we clearly have a difference of opinion. I have had my say and I will withdraw on this matter. Yesterday I had a stand up arguement with the manager of the local Red Cross shop for not having an appeal for the victims of this disaster. Today I will do the same at Oxfam.