Warbird Information Exchange

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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)

I always get a little 'loopy' on just what the consensus is again when determining a "Combat Vet' restoration. I've read it all from just a dataplate to an actual full pile of aircraft parts of a particular combat aircraft. I have a hard time with the dataplate thing. I always use the example of P Allen's FW190 as an actual combat vet restoration. Is just a dataplate from a combat veteran aircraft good enough to warrant a new restoration as being that of a combat veteran?

Fire away again on this debate if you like.

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“With bottomless pockets...anything is possible”

Thanks for posting that, Bryan, in the long run, it's going to be great to have another P-38 restored. At my age, just knowing that there's hope for another Classic fighter to be restored is something special, I look at a TBF, at least 7 more B-17s, 4 F8-f Bearcats, More Corsairs, Spitfires and many others being ready to take to the sky again, I'll say the future of restored WWII Warbirds looks good!, Thanks again, Tony

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WWI & WWII Warbird Fan.

I'm just mind-blown that for just shy of a half-million dollars, you basically have a pile of parts and a data plate. With a 5 to 6 million for a complete restoration -- is that the going rate for P-38s right now? It would be nice to have that kind of money to plunk down without thinking twice about it, though!

I believe (and again, someone please correct me if I'm wrong) that the data plates are so valuable, even if the rest of the plane doesn't have a single original part, is because there are different rules for registering and certifying the flightworthiness a restored aircraft versus a completely new build replica that does not have a data plate.