Brad Pitt buys WW2 Spitfire

[marine air]

Thee's nothing wrong with selling off a few items, downsizing, for any reason even, if there was a desire for cash flow , reduce crew training requirements, overhead, or to relieve a debt of some kind. If you look at what Mr. Yagen sold, he brought in some major bucks and still has one of the best collections in the world.

[davidwomacks]

He may not fly it himself. I know of a guy who owns a P-51 Raceer, A bearcat ,a metor and, a cessna 421. He only flys the cessna 421 everything else is flown by a very experienced warbird pilot.

[k5083]

That's what the last film star who got hooked on Spits while shooting a WW2 movie and bought one did.

August

[CH2Tdriver]

That's what the last film star who got hooked on Spits while shooting a WW2 movie and bought one did.

August

And graciously displayed it to the masses at Airshows for years, in the capable hands of Jerry Billing.

IIRC this one is on static display at the Seattle MOF? Was it donated or on long term loan?

[Warbirdnerd]

Looks like Brad and Angelina could use a Professional to oversee their aviation interests...

Angelina Jolie has been banned from flying her personal plane after she failed to renew its registration in time.

According to FAA documents, the 38-year-old movie star did not file a new airworthiness certificate for her $360,000 red-and-white Cirrus SR-22 before the current certificate expired June 30.

A renewal application was sent to the agency by Jolie’s team for the plane, one of the world’s fastest single-engine aircraft, but we’re told it didn’t arrive on time.

An FAA letter to Jolie’s Chivan Productions, sent at the beginning of September, said the certificate could not be renewed because the application was too late.

Despite this, flight records allegedly show the plane was flown in Montana in October. The documents don’t indicate who piloted it, but show it was flown without a valid certificate

Found it here:
http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/20 ... p=features

[bdk]

I've never heard of an Airworthiness Certificate expiring, unless it is the triennial registration they are talking about.

http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry ... rtxt=805MX

Surely it can be re-registered without too much complication? A lot of people move and the FAA paperwork never catches up to them.

Looks like Brad and Angelina could use a Professional to oversee their aviation interests...

Angelina Jolie has been banned from flying her personal plane after she failed to renew its registration in time.

According to FAA documents, the 38-year-old movie star did not file a new airworthiness certificate for her $360,000 red-and-white Cirrus SR-22 before the current certificate expired June 30.

A renewal application was sent to the agency by Jolie’s team for the plane, one of the world’s fastest single-engine aircraft, but we’re told it didn’t arrive on time.

An FAA letter to Jolie’s Chivan Productions, sent at the beginning of September, said the certificate could not be renewed because the application was too late.

Despite this, flight records allegedly show the plane was flown in Montana in October. The documents don’t indicate who piloted it, but show it was flown without a valid certificate

Found it here:
http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/20 ... p=features

[jtramo]

Its sad how that made the news, and was not even reported correctly.

[kalamazookid]

That's what the last film star who got hooked on Spits while shooting a WW2 movie and bought one did.

August

And graciously displayed it to the masses at Airshows for years, in the capable hands of Jerry Billing.

IIRC this one is on static display at the Seattle MOF? Was it donated or on long term loan?

The ex-Cliff Robertson Spitfire is the one at Seattle MOF. If I remember correctly, it is on loan from a private owner. I was lucky enough to see Jerry Billing fly this Spitfire once when I was very young. It was an awesome display and something I feel fortunate to even remember seeing.

[Vital Spark]

I don't want to be contentious, but wonder why there is would be any less likelihood that an actor who decided to become proficient in a high performance aircraft (by enrolling in a highly regarded conversion course, according to the Daily Mail) ( for what its worth) than an industrialist, doctor, lawyer, or investment banker. Most of the gems of the warbird movement belong to people who found their funding in other realms. Steve McQueen was pretty handy with machines and he spent his life playing make-believe; just like Brad Pitt.

[airnutz]

Steve McQueen was pretty handy with machines and he spent his life playing make-believe; just like Brad Pitt.

Blasphemy! McQueen was a motorhead first order and an actor second.

[Vital Spark]

Steve McQueen was pretty handy with machines and he spent his life playing make-believe; just like Brad Pitt.

Blasphemy! McQueen was a motorhead first order and an actor second.

He spent money on machines; he made money by acting He was an actor by profession and a "motorhead" by way of a hobby.
I said I did not want to be contentious. I just want to express a belief that anyone who feels compelled to undertake a 1940's fighter should not be dismissed. since most of us will never have a bank balance to allow it. Who among us would not rush to be a Spitfire pilot?
Go back to your sniping.

[airnutz]

Sorry, I wasn't sniping...just a bit of tongue in cheek. His motorheadness slightly preceded his acting arc. He owned and was racing bikes before he became a box office success while he learned his craft. But yes the success in acting eventually enabled him to finance his wildest dreams in motorsport. As for Mr. Pitt, he's a bit of a nube but welcome to join the fun!

[jtramo]

Hey if he keeps it flying and doesn't paint it in a scheme we disapprove of then booyah!

Imagree, it takes guys like him (successfull in their professional non aviation endeavors) to bankroll these aircraft and keep em flying. They can't all be owned by the same five expert warbird pilots we see flying every cover plane on Air Classics or Warbirds.

Welcome to the party Mr Pitt! Hope to see it in the east coast skies.

[k5083]

I don't want to be contentious, but wonder why there is would be any less likelihood that an actor who decided to become proficient in a high performance aircraft (by enrolling in a highly regarded conversion course, according to the Daily Mail) ( for what its worth) than an industrialist, doctor, lawyer, or investment banker. Most of the gems of the warbird movement belong to people who found their funding in other realms. Steve McQueen was pretty handy with machines and he spent his life playing make-believe; just like Brad Pitt.

I agree with you. In fact, an actor should have a lot of down time between gigs to focus on gaining or retaining proficiency. As opposed to other high worth individuals like doctors, bankers or lawyers who work all the time and can be hard pressed to get the flying hours in.

August

[Firebird]

Sorry, I wasn't sniping...just a bit of tongue in cheek. His motorheadness slightly preceded his acting arc. He owned and was racing bikes before he became a box office success while he learned his craft.

Indeed, plus the fact that McQueen did 3 years in the Marines as well.


Pitt however, isn't in the same league as McQueen by any measurable means, but, anyone 'famous' investing in and learning to correctly fly a vintage warbird has to be good for the 'industry' as a whole.