Warbird Information Exchange

All I can say to those of you who said I'd never get this 6'6" 250 lb. body in the back of a P-38 is: YOU WERE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!!
I got most of me in. Problem was, I was in the fetal position and my head was still outside the cockpit. Figured that wouldn't be a comfortable position at 300+ mph so I aborted.

To make a short story longer...On Thursday, we walked into the PoF gift shop and met Cindy. Told her that Steve Hinton had said to look him up when I got there and that he'd let me "try on" the P-38. I didn't get any hassle about him being too busy. I Was simply told to go through the hangar and I'd find him somewhere outside working on the P-38. (Got a picture of that happening at most other similar facilities?) I don't. Anyway, we go out to the P-38 and there he is with his head stuck in a wheel well. He popped out and I introduced myself and reminded him of our meeting at Duxford last year. He stopped what he was doing and said, "Sure, come on, let's see if this is gonna' work." I don't have a picture of that happening at many other places either. Here's this guy concerned about getting one of his planes ready to fly and he stops in the middle of what he's doing to accomodate me. The embarassing part was me trying to hoist myself up the little ladder on the back of the gondola. My left leg doesn't work too well and I couldn't make the transition from the ladder to the wing. So now here's "Mr. Warbird" hauling this 70 year old geezer onto the wing. I felt not a little chagrined. (For you folks in Rio Linda, that means humiliated.)

Wandering around on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday we encountered Steve probably half a dozen more times and each time he waved and spoke.

It probably goes without saying that we found him to be one of the nicest people we'd ever met. Given his position at PoF and his status in the flying community, he could easily be an arrogant, overbearing, SOB. We found him to be just the opposite.

Now that the Steve Hinton "love fest" is over, you may all go back to whatever you were doing before I bored you to death.

Mudge the epistlolary
(Yes...that's a word. Roughly translated it means...LONG WINDED.

Mudge,

This must have been a severe disappointment... but worth the try.

If it is any consolation even with the 'M' model (knowledgeable will correct me) it is still a very very tight squeeze.

I clambered in behind Frank Strickler some many many years ago.

"How many hours have you got on the P-38 Frank", I enquired.

"First time I've have flown one ", he replied.

PeterA

Hey, too bad. But at least you tried.

Plan B: Get one of your own!



I've met Steve as well, and I'd agree - but actually, the experience you've had at POF is one I've had in half a dozen countries across three continents; generally the guys doing the job are real nice and good to help. I've only had a bad experience a few times - sad to say each time in the UK. That said they were a few 'bad-apples' amply made up for very generous others. Another Stephen - Mr Grey - has been very generous and helpful with is time to a keen enthusiast or two. Problem is they also get attacked by the roundel-size-obsessed nerds, which develops a cautious attitude. It assists a lot if you are polite, know a bit about it, and don't waste too much time. Nowadays the problem is getting past the so-called security geeks; some do the job they are meant to, others...

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Raven

Well sorry it did not work out. As been said, at least you had the opportunnity to try. Now you won't be wondering any more whether you can tuck in there. I too spent a little time with Steve back a year or so ago when he was flying Glacier Girl here in Atlanta, he is a fine pilot & person.
Ok time to start planning your next adventure, & better luck with it.
Regards
Robbie

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Fly Fast Make Noise!

Too bad it didn't work out Mudge. Now you can concentrate on your first C-130 ride ! Bet you can fit in the back of that one ! Maybe you can wrangle a ride in one of the Hurricane Hunters so you won't get bored during the flight !

Boy you are baaaaaad!
Robbie

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Fly Fast Make Noise!

I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself .

At least I didn't say C-5 !

That's right...pick on the old, fat guy 'cause he can't fight and he can't run.
My day will come. You know what they say about "pay-backs"!

Mudge the vindictive

I just have to ask, any pictures of you trying to jam yourself into the P-38? That stinks you could not get in, that would have been a blast to fly in.

Tim

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www.tailhookstudio.com

Hey Mudge, I got a right ! I'm sorry to say that I had to use the seat belt extender in the F-4 and very nearly wasn't able to clip into the survival kit. But I got it done ! Everyone gave me all kinds of hell over that one and one of my "buddies" took a picture of me all squeezed into the harness ! I looked kind of like this . I was so glad to be able to provide them with so much joy.

Tim...Sorry, no pics. Even if there were I wouldn't make them public. My acceptance of humiliation only goes so far.

Mudge the sensitive

Mudge...mind if I take your ride. Porky II..AKA..Skidoo will be at the Columbia, MO Veterans' Airshow this weekend. I'll be glad to jump in and tell you how it was.

BTW, last year, Mr. Hinton was kind enough to invite my father, a friend, and myself across the line at the Columbia, MO airshow, to get up close and personal with the P-38. I have to agree that he is definately a cool dude and a gentleman to boot.

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-Dante Cosentino

At Duxford's Legends 2002 I was leaning on the fence watching the flying on the Friday - lots less crowd and still lots of flying. After years and years of seeing Steve in Air Classics, et al, here he comes with Stephen Grey. They walk right by me through the gate. Um um um ... it's Steve Hinton! Cool. I watched him give Stephen a cockpit checkout in the A-36 - after a short time away from the field, Stephen then proceeded to beat up Duxford for about 25-30 minutes like nothing I've ever seen!

Later, on Saturday or Sunday I was in the very busy cafe and Steve and Stephen come in to grab a quick bite - I could tell they were in a hurry, but I just had to go to the grave saying I shook Steve Hinton's hand ... I walked up to their table and introduced myself to Steve. I used the excuse that we had a mutual friend (we do).

He could of course tell that I was American. He asked where I was from, how long I was in the UK, etc, etc. I was sort of embarrassed at how much time he was taking with me knowing I was keeping him from what was meant, I'm sure, to be a very quick bite. I let him get back to his meal in short order.

So good to meet 'famous' (to us) people you've admired and when they exceed your expectations it's that much more memorable. He's the real thing, for sure.

Wade

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Website: http://www.wademeyersart.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Wade.Meyers.Studios

Another Steve Hinton story...... I had been working for several years as a volunteer on the Northrop Flying Wing project. I barely knew Steve at that time because the wing had been off of the airport for most of the restoration. One Saturday afternoon as things were winding down at Chino Steve pulled up in Darryl Bond's WWII jeep and asked me to go with him. We drove back to the ramp at the museum where Steve's P-51 was sitting. He looked at me and winked and said hop in. The next hour.... yes a full hour... was spent doing aerobatics, a high speed pass down El Toro's runway and a trip down the coast almost to San Diego.

I was happy just to be turning a wrench on an historic acft like the Wing and never expected anything like that in return. I have had many warbird rides since then, but that one will always be special because of the way that it was presented to me by a true gentleman.

This episode of Bad luck got me thinking. Getting a ride in a Lightning seems to be only for the smaller folks and even then it's still not comfortable.

Then I wondered, are the any of the Path Finder "Droop Snoot" nose sections still around. Seems to me like a chance to earn some extra income while display a unique obscure type of Lightning. As well as offering a great chance to fly in the P-38 to a wider audience.

Shay
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Semper Fortis