Panchito damaged at Sun N Fun

[Warbirdnerd]

If it was done on purpose I hope they catch them...

A B-25 nicknamed “Panchito” was damaged during the Sun-N-Fun event in Lakeland and police are investigating.

Sometime between 6 p.m. April 13 and 9 a.m. April 14, a large scratch was made in the left side of the twin-engine, World War II aircraft, police said. The mark is about 18 inches long and about 6 feet, 1 inch off the ground, police said. The plane was parked near the beer tent.

Police hope someone might have seen something or have a photo or

video showing when and how the damage occurred.

The estimated cost of repair is approximately $30,000. Police said the owners participate in Sun-N-Fun each year and support Lakeland and the community.

The bomber is one of two that are part of the DAV Airshow Outreach Program, which is intended to increase public awareness of disabled veterans.

Anyone with information in the case is asked to call the Lakeland police at (863) 834-6900. To be eligible for a cash reward, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-8477.

Last edited by Warbirdnerd on Wed Apr 24, 2013 7:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[mike furline]

$30k?

[bombadier29]

While this is no doubt sad and deserving of a beating, I just don't see that being a $30K scratch! I know aviation is expensive but that just doesn't seem reasonable. If it is, I'm coming out of retirement!

[Nathan]

Wow that sucks. Someone had too much time on their hands. 'I guess I'll key the B-25".

[JohnB]

Whattheheck?

What kind of lowlife drunk would do that...especially at an EAA event?
I could see some anti-military type doing it at a regular airshow or parked at some airport....but at Sun & Fun?

[JohnCFord]

30k comes to 500 hrs at 60/hr. not including materials. Looks like a whole lot of rivets. Should also be about 30k in medical bills for the d-bag that felt that Panchito needed a scratch.

~J~

[ZRX61]

30k comes to 500 hrs at 60/hr. not including materials.

There are places that only charge $60/hr???? Try doubling it...

[Ken]

Wonder if that height corresponds with the top of a golf cart? Sad thing is, while folks are up in arms that it was a B-25 and national treasure, the truth is that (for instance, if it was a golf cart) that whomever did that would just have easily sideswiped a tent, vendor trailer, street sign, whatever. Larry Kelley is a nice guy with a nice airplane. He's already had enough headache recently, sorry to hear this.

Slightly OT, but we've created a climate where even honest people are hesitant to admit wrongdoing or step in to help someone in need for fear of being drug into a bottomless legal tangle. Darn shame, darn shame.

Ken

[N3Njeff]

1st Class dirt bag!..............Though I do need to ask, has there always been a "Beer" tent and Sun n Fun??? One would think that maybe this is not the thing for a event like this. I would think the beer tents should stay in Daytona for Feb.

[Rob W]

If I were the owners of Panchito, this would be the last time that I send my priceless warbird to Sun 'N Fun or any other EAA sanctioned event.

The amount of disregard that people have for virtually everything these days is absolutely appalling.

[Boeing666]

That is terrible - but we are quick to say that it was done deliberately. I think the scratch came accidentally by someone carrying something that rubbed up against it, or by a golfcart, or some other equipment nearby that was being moved - but then was too scared sugar to tell anyone. It doesn't look like a deliberate scratch - its not like someone wrote words in it, or did a zig zag pattern. Unfortunately, people are not being honest with what I think was someone rubbing against it carrying a metal chair on their back or something - then too scared to go to one of the DAV members and letting them know what happened thinking they will have to foot the bill.

That is just not the Sun N Fun crowd. With the lack of military/T-birds being there, there was a lot less general public and most of the people there were out of town guests and aviation enthusiasts. I could also see it happening maybe at a military base airshow that is free to get in.

Now last year (or year before I can't remember) when the military was there - some crazy lady I was riding in on a tram with was telling me she was meeting with other people inside to protest chemtrails. I told her it will cost them $37 each to get in and I think she changed her mind.

It could have been done by workers however if Panchito was still there after the show was over and they were tearing down the tent - either deliberately/accidentally. I didn't see when Panchito left - because I didn't go to that side of the field on Sunday, so I don't know if it left early Sunday morning or stayed after the show Sunday.

I still seriously doubt deliberate vandalism, but I think the person that did it was accidental but was too afraid to tell anyone.

[K5DH]

If I were the owners of Panchito, this would be the last time that I send my priceless warbird to Sun 'N Fun or any other EAA sanctioned event.

Rob, I wouldn't blame the EAA for this damage. The same thing could happen at any air show, fly-in, or any other event where the public have access to the aircraft. Obviously the damage to Panchito happened during the night, when no one was supposed to be around. But it could have happened at any event where the aircraft are parked overnight. Heck, it can just as easily happen at their home field, or at a shop where the plane is being serviced, and so on.

There is still the very real possibility that the damage was accidental.

The amount of disregard that people have for virtually everything these days is absolutely appalling.

I will definitely agree with you on this. Back when I was crewing Chuckie, we fought a constant battle to keep the public at air shows and fly-ins from mistreating her. Kids would swing from the tail gunner's .50s and hang from the elevators and ailerons. Adults would poke at the control surfaces with their fingers. I once caught a guy trying to climb out of the radio room hatch to the top of the airplane so that he could get a better vantage point to shoot photos from. We had to post a tour guide in the pilot's seat to keep people from trying to climb up there; a "keep out" sign and a rope didn't stop them. When it was time to fly home, we had to check inside the engine cowlings for FO before engine start. We would find soft drink cans, paper cups, and similar debris which people had tossed into the cowlings. When we got home, a crew member would typically walk through the airplane and remove the trash and debris that had visitors had left inside. Appalling? Yep. Commonplace? Yep.

[Zachary]

...especially at an EAA event?

Just to be absolutely clear, Sun 'n Fun is its own organization with its own board and staff. It has been for many years now. While it was originally started by an EAA chapter working with various other aviation orgs in Florida, today SNF has no official affiliation with EAA. Yes, EAA has a presence there, but EAA has absolutely no control over the event or how it is organized.

Zack

[p51]

I handle automobile claims for a insurance company. That's not vandalism, the line is way too even to be intentional. Looks like something passed by did it, especially as it's almost perfectly horizontal. That close to the nose, it wouldn't be caused by the plane moving against something unless it was being towed at a very slow speed (and that would have snagged the barrel of the .50 cal if indeed that's what happened, and someone would have noticed it happening in such a case anyway). The roof of a golf cart could be a likely culprit in my opinion, too.

While this is no doubt sad and deserving of a beating, I just don't see that being a $30K scratch!

Beats me what A&P hourly rates are, but if that was a normal car, you'd be looking at several hundred bucks to fix a scratch like that. A higher-end car would be well into 4-figures. $30K might be excessive for a B-25, but I wouldn't be overly shocked it it turned out to be that much, or close to it.

[phil65]

Looks like an accident to me.

"If I were the owners of Panchito, this would be the last time that I send my priceless warbird to Sun 'N Fun or any other EAA sanctioned event.”

What would you do with it?

Just tell everybody its battle damage from WWII and charge them a buck to touch it.

Boston Strong