Warbird Information Exchange

I want to know your favorite warbird, plain and simple. The only condition is that I am asking not for a type, but for a specific airframe. I would like to know what makes it your favorite, but it's not required.

I'll start. I have to say the Battle of Midway survivor at the NMNA; SBD-2, BuNo. 02106 "Midway Madness" is my favorite; simply because of all the history it has behind it. If you have time to kill, here's a lengthy, detailed research paper covering the aircraft's history, recovery and preservation: DAUNTLESS IN PEACE AND WAR

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Tri-State Warbird Museum Collections Manager & Museum Attendant

Warbird Philosophy Webmaster

B-25

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

The CWH Lancaster. Because of all the warbirds and warbird types I have ever seen, and I have seen enough to be respected by anybody who respects such things, no other gives the sense of other-worldly anachronism, heroic preservation and restoration effort, and just plain awesomeness. And yes there is another Lanc flying out there, but a private restoration effort of a former planesicle is an order of magnitude more impressive than the maintenance by a major air force of an airframe that was never far fom airworthy.

Runners up are Fifi and Glacier Girl for much the same reasons.

August

P-47

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Had God intended for man to fly behind inline engines, Pratt & Whitney would have made them.

CB

http://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Desrt_Wings.html

Moonbeam McSwine

B-17s are my favorite, especially the one in my avatar picture.

Oops, double post.

Airworthy. It flew 102.5 hours last year and tomorrow will get the first 2 or 3 hours of the new year.

My L 4

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Flying Piper L4-J 45-55209

I understand the gist of your question but I think to narrow it down to a specific airframe is asking a little too much. For instance, I have a favorite bomber/attack- A26K, Favorite fighter-P47 favorite airshow warbird-TBM. Really tough to narrow it down to a specific type let alone a singular airframe. I also like the Martin Mauler at P'cola.

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The more I learn about aircraft, the more I realize I still have to learn.

The Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation's Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter is my FAVORITE warbird. It is under long term restoration to airworthy status up at Floyd Bennett Field.

http://www.spiritoffreedom.org/c97.html

I was at Millville, NJ in May 2002 when the C-97 took off on its last flight to Floyd Bennett Field. It had been 24 years earlier in April 1978 that I had last seen a Stratofeighter in the air when I saw one of the last flying Air National Guard KC-97L's at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ. I have just always liked the look of the big Stratofreighter with its 4 Pratt & Whitney R-4360 engines.

Can't wait to see this big beauty take flight again some day. I am very optimistic that it will not be another 24 year wait (12 1/2 so far) until I see and hear a C-97 in the air again.

If you must know you! The P-40 E-1. Why? Because many were lost stateside and never recovered, that is until now!!!!!

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A&P/I.A., A.A.S./Aviation Maintenance technology
Warbird salvage/recovery
One day I'll get that P-40!

TBM Avenger Bu No 91426 (ex-FPL Tanker 18), the soon-to-be CAF National Capital Squadron bird. Why? Because it is the first warbird I had an opportunity to work on. I'm sure I'll have the opportunity to work on other warbirds down the road, but there can only be one "first" one.

Close second is MAAM's Avenger, which was Jack Kosko's first Avenger restoration...that is just a beautiful bird, period.

Spitfire Mk IX

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...it was a plane adrift beneath the moon moving serenely thru beams like an angel of the night .....fair as a song ........aloof from mortal dreams

The Swoose. Beautiful lines, great history; sure it won't ever fly again, but he11, its flying career lasted way longer than what any B-17D was expected to have. Plus it's going to look cherry once the restoration is finished.

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

Mine is also the Swoose.Just the coolest hotrod out there,flying or not.If I had a B-17G I would convert it to a D model.In a heartbeat.

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Hang The Expense