LSFM news

[WIXerGreg]

This is from two days ago and posted in the Collings thread:

https://www.wfsb.com/news/vintage-plane ... b2443.html

Other than the quote in this thread I don't see any statements from Collings related to it. Hopefully it's temporary; ground tour revenue isn't going to support them touring.

[67N20]

Thunderbird completed four flights yesterday. I was fortunate to Crew Chief flight #3. I joined LSFM in June 2011, was asked if I wanted to be a crew chief in October of that year. After 11 months of training I did my first solo crew chief flight in Sept 2012. . Have no idea, a how many flights I've done over the past 7 years, somewhere in the 30-40 range I would guess. Most memorable flight was a flyover at a Texas A&M football game with my daughter in the stands. In talking to management yesterday, then plan is to run the plane every so often and keep in in annual, hopefully that will happen and more hopefully, Tbird will return to flight sometime in the future.

[Adam Kline]

I certainly hope so. This is just horrible news though. Everyone works to pay the insurance company. I guess in this day in age if makes sense to say no. Hopefully this might be temporary.

[WIXerGreg]

Thanks for the insight, 67N20. Hopefully she doesn't stay on the ground for long.

[Lynn Allen]

It was announced on Facebook that LSFM's B-17 Thunderbird will fly for the final time in 2020 this Saturday the 25th. They haven't specified if it's just for the remainder of the year our if it's a permanent thing. They cited rising costs as the main reason. They encouraged anyone interested to be there, and are selling rides for the event.

Woah. Hmmm. I'd bet insurance after last year's crash.

Everyone's insurance has gone up 20%, mine did...

[OD/NG]

It was announced on Facebook that LSFM's B-17 Thunderbird will fly for the final time in 2020 this Saturday the 25th. They haven't specified if it's just for the remainder of the year our if it's a permanent thing. They cited rising costs as the main reason. They encouraged anyone interested to be there, and are selling rides for the event.

Woah. Hmmm. I'd bet insurance after last year's crash.

Everyone's insurance has gone up 20%, mine did...

For warbirds, it has and will go up many multiple times over that. Insurance is killing everyone now in the warbird world. Unfortunately, it will get a lot worse.

[lucky52]

Does that make the CAF B-17 out of Hooks(KDWH) the last flying B-17 on tours?

[TAdan]

Liberty Foundation is still touring with Erickson's Ye Olde Pub.

[airnutz]

Does that make the CAF B-17 out of Hooks(KDWH) the last flying B-17 on tours?

Lucky, Texas Raiders is based at Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport (KCXO) nowadays...as for your question...I dunno.

edit

Last edited by airnutz on Tue Jan 28, 2020 11:02 am, edited 1 time in total.

[kalamazookid]

Does that make the CAF B-17 out of Hooks(KDWH) the last flying B-17 on tours?

B-17s that currently tour and offer rides still include:

Sentimental Journey - https://www.azcaf.org/tour/
Yankee Lady - https://yankeeairmuseum.org/fly/
Texas Raiders - https://b17texasraiders.org/index.php/t ... s/schedule
Aluminum Overcast - https://www.eaa.org/shop/Flights/B17.aspx
Ye Olde Pub - https://www.libertyfoundation.org/schedule

Most of these aircraft do not have extensive tour dates posted yet, but all are quite active on the airshow and touring circuit.

[67N20]

Basically duplicated above post, have deleted mine.

[lucky52]

Thanks.