Warbird Information Exchange

I am wondering what year to cut off what would be defined as a warbird for Warbird-central.com

I MAY go back to Post WWI as well.

Back in the late 1960s, when the whole, so-called, warbird movement started, a warbird was defined simply as a civilian owned aircraft of a type (mostly from the World War 2 period) once used by a military force.

In the beginning it generally referred to fighters and bombers, but was later changed to include trainers, transports and any other types (again, mostly from the World War 2 period) once used by a military force.

However, when jets and helicopters entered the movement, things changed again.

So nowadays, techanically, a 747, 737, DC-9, C-130 and hundreds of other types that have been used by a military force, but now operated by a civilian, can be called a warbird.

So, to answer the question as to . . , where to cut it off?

I'd say, when the government(s) finally make it impossible for private aircraft to fly.

How about when a Military aircraft type leaves active duty status. Along those lines then the C-141s and F-14s would now become Warbirds.

This has to have some exceptions of course. For instance the C-130 while it is still on active duty someone could restore and maintain a Veitnam era Herc or Spectre and I definatly think it would fall into the realm of Warbirdism. Just my thoughts

Shay
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Semper Fortis

My definition of Warbirds, and the one I use to qualify an aircraft for the registry is that it survived military service and entered civilian hands, either privately or at a museum. There are of course exceptions but that is the rule I use generally.

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Scott Rose
Editor-In-Chief/Webmaster
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