Preserving Our Aviation Heritage

[Robbie Stuart]

My original post was a reprint with permission from the Aero News Network. The piece was written by Rich Davidson. While I agree in some aspects to Rich's opinion, I probably would have worded it different. If you want to read the piece, go to
the Aero News Network & do so. I have deleted my original post at the advise that it might be taken as my opinion, which it was not, sorry if offended anyone, that was not my intent.

Last edited by Robbie Stuart on Wed Jun 06, 2012 10:49 am, edited 3 times in total.

[k5083]

Wow, some silly statements there. Since I'm in the mood,

This weekend at The Wings Over Gillespie Airshow, the only operating Fairey Firefly in the U.S. suffered a gear collapse on landing. To the typical airshow attendee this may look like a disaster.

But what, it's actually good news?

Myself, I think we should fly and rebuild them until the very last one is no more.

And when the very last one is no more, we're supposed to remember our aviation heritage how exactly?

Already today, a large and growing segment of aviation doesn’t even know their history or care if these old birds live or die.

It's unfortunate that a segment of "aviation" doesn't know their history, but that is completely unrelated to whether they care if the old birds live or die.

Society at large places no value on them and in fact a growing segment of that population despises the idea that some person of wealth could have the freedom to fly such an exotic aircraft.

If society places no value on them, why can't I afford one? The second part of the sentence is just stupid.

Meanwhile, some of our most prestigious museums strive to ground them forever, our government fears citizens who own them, and aviation’s best weapon is a few lobbying groups that always seem to fall on the side of politics vs. reason. What are we to do?

Ooh ooh, let me guess -- abandon silly, exaggerated stereotypes in the hope of finding common ground and working toward a solution?

I’ll tell you what we do. We fight tooth and nail to keep these old girls flying; we support the people who spend their money to do so, and we enjoy every moment we have with them. We push for the easing of restrictions on aviation; we tell the people in DC to shove it up their collective rear end; we quit rolling over for the FAA and TSA; we put heat on the rule makers and bureaucrats until they walk down alleys looking over their shoulders, and we never ever quietly assume our alphabet groups are actually working in our best interests.

Aw drat, that would have been my second guess. Insult and mischaracteriize people and organizations, question their motivations, refuse compromise, and adopt an antagonistic attitude -- yeah that'll work much better. It's done so well in Washington lately.

Here’s to you Captain Eddie and everyone else who keeps these old crates flying. If it weren’t for you a lot of people wouldn’t know the glory of these great machines.

Okay, this part I can agree with.

Our numbers may be dwindling but those of us who are left are willing to fight to help you keep them alive.

Every indication is that the ranks of warbird fanboys are growing, but I guess we couldn't look like victims if we admitted that.

August

[airknocker]

Here is where Mr. Davidson is coming from and yes, he is opinionated. Checkout the newsletters:
http://www.leebottom.com/

[PinecastleAAF]

Funny stuff. He sounds like he has it all figured out.

Last time I checked at 2 mill a pop society at large does seem to place value on Mustangs.

[k5083]

Robbie, I'm sorry you deleted the original posting. You attributed it clearly to Mr Davidson and I don't think anyone mistook it as your own words or opinion. Although I disagreed with most of it, I thought it was an interesting piece worth discussion. I hope new viewers of the thread follow your link and read it.

August