Warbird Information Exchange

But the notion of financing someone can set a damaging precedence. What's to stop the other warbird drivers from saying "he's getting paid, so should we"...

Which in turn might lead people who gets pissed off to not return to Oshkosh, and that can't be good!

T J

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Make my day, punk!

Most warbird drivers and owners do have this mentality, especially Foundations and Museums. They are expensive to operate and not getting reimbursement for the majority of the time they fly can be crippling.

Some owners decide to make the exception for Oshkosh because it is a unique event, but the majority don't. Most major museums in the country don't participate at all, and the ones that do tend to still be backed by a well funded owner. The CAF participates heavily, but each Wing is still expected to cover the costs of their own aircraft.

As for the F-4, yea it will be USAF, and probably the last time you'll see one. I believe all drone QF-4's are expected to be shot down by the end of the year. Tyndall has already moved on to F-16's and the remaining F-4's sent to Holloman.

I'm certainly no expert on this topic - I didn't even stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night!

But it seems to me that this is all about EAA not establishing what they would view as a "bad" precedent. If they even pay for the gas for the Mossie, then all other warbird owners will want to be paid as well - reasonably so.

Keeping in mind that most of the attendees to the Oshkosh event go to see the warbirds, it is not unreasonable for the owners to receive expenses - at least - to attend the event. Those warbirds are the very reason people go to the show. When one attends any entertainment event, the "entertainers" are paid. When you go to Vegas to see a show, I can assure you that "Penn and Teller" aren't working for free! (I started to cite "Sammy Davis Jr., but thinking that just made me feel very old!)

When the Oshkosh event first started, AVGAS was xx cents per gallon, warbirds were cheap and operators could afford to attend the event just for the fun of it. Obviously, that is no longer the case. AVGAS is $5.00 per gallon, +/-, oil doesn't come cheap, and I can assure you that the little lizard from GEICO doesn't insure these aircraft, and flying any warbird - much less an irreplaceable Mossie with (2) Merlins, is an expensive proposition.

I also think that when one considers how much money the EAA makes over the course of the week, they could afford to pay the "entertainers". Realistically, the EAA has 100k visitors at $50 (or more?) per person. They could/should pay owners expenses, but choose not to.

Mr. Yagen continues to do amazing things to help this community/hobby/passion that we all enjoy so much. Asking for expenses to send one of his VERY expensive planes to a long distance event, is completely reasonable.

I will now stand by for the verbal brickbats, rocks and general abuse. Thank you.

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"Thou shalt maintain thine airspeed, lest the ground reach up and smite thee."

You actually hit it on the head. A lot of us feel that EAA should be paying for warbirds to attend....but they aren't..and it would be even more chaotic if they started to pick and choose who they did pay for. Then you would probably have more not show up in protest over the ones getting paid.

My only point in my original reply is that everyone of us who brings a warbird to Airventure pays their own way...my airplane costs a pretty penny to bring ....and certainly a greater percentage of my income than the subject owner....and I am willing to do it because 1) it is great to get the airplane out to tell a story 2) because it is a heck of a lot of fun. If Mr. Yagen chooses not go for those reasons, I respect that.... but I am not interested in subsidizing its attendance. Others may feel differently, and that is certainly their choice.

I'd agree with most of what had been said above, but would disagree strongly with the statement that "most of the attendees to the Oshkosh event go to see the warbirds". It simply isn't that kind of event. Warbirds are only one single facet of the many diverse forms of aviation that are what Oshkosh is all about.

Also, Ed, can you give us a number on the profit EAA makes after expenses? Rather than just a general 100K times $50? Maybe that answer would better support the theory that they "could/should" pay for everybody's expenses to fly in over 2,000 display airplanes.

It's like anyplace else, they make the rules, if you don't like them don't go. The owner paid the bills, if he wants expenses and won't go otherwise, not a big deal really, his prerogative. And he can paint his aircraft any color he wants.....



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http://www.biplanerides1.com/

Are aircraft owners allowed to sell t-shirts, hats, do tours and other things at the event to help offset their expenses?

Mike:
"I'd agree with most of what had been said above, but would disagree strongly with the statement that "most of the attendees to the Oshkosh event go to see the warbirds". It simply isn't that kind of event. Warbirds are only one single facet of the many diverse forms of aviation that are what Oshkosh is all about."

I would agree with you 100% Mike. I am really interested in Warbirds, but I am the minority by far in my Chapter. I have camped with upwards of 40 people in Scholler from our local EAA chapters from either Ohio or Pennsylvania depending upon where I was living. Those people were all there for general aviation interests ranging from homebuilt construction, to the latest avionics for the 172, to ultralights, to scouring the fly market (when it was still good, now the Aeromart) for the missing pieces from their Taylorcraft restoration. Heck most of us go to be around other airplane people for a week of aviation immersion of all possible types.

CoastieJohn:
Yes, many of the museums especially offer shirts and tours at the aircraft to bring in some money.

Just in case my post came off unclear, this is my point exactly...

However, if they manage to secure sponsorship from a corporation, or through a fund like this, good for them. But for the reasons mentioned in this thread i wouldn't contribute to it!

T J

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Make my day, punk!

Word from Virgina (see Fencecheck) is somebody stepped in and paid the balance of the fund to get the Mossie to Oshkosh.

Good to hear!

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