Warbird Pilots

warbirdguy · **Posted:** Wed Jun 14, 2006 11:22 am

Say someone wants to open an air museum with a B-25 and TBM and is in the need of pilots for those aircraft. Where would someone go to find men and women already qualified or easily to qualify to operate those aircraft. Do you think it would be easy or difficult.

jcw · **Posted:** Wed Jun 14, 2006 12:20 pm

i'll do it... already qualified and retiring soon... where is it going to be???

warbirdguy · **Posted:** Wed Jun 14, 2006 12:23 pm

This is just a informational question to see what people think!

Paul Krumrei · **Joined:** Sun Apr 03, 2005 11:06 pm **Posts:** 1757

Thinking is too much work. :lol:

N3Njeff · **Posted:** Thu Jun 15, 2006 6:45 am

Wow, talk about waving a fat steak infront of hungry dogs!

RickH · **Posted:** Thu Jun 15, 2006 8:47 am

Jeff, I think RABID dogs might be a closer description. :lol:

srpatterson · **Posted:** Thu Jun 15, 2006 9:57 am

It's all about insurance...

Eric Friedebach · **Posted:** Thu Jun 15, 2006 10:10 am

In the past if I were to pick any one group, I would say pilots that work for a major airline. They would have the experience in complex aircraft obviously, time in their schedule and disposable income.

The ability to fly for free on their carrier or ride the jumpseat on other carriers so the airshow aircraft does not necessarily need to come back to home base at the end of every weekend is also a big plus.

Of course, we all know how that has changed in the last five years.

Actually, this topic has been kicked around a bit in airshow circles. Where is the next generation of civilian acts going to come from?

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Thu Jun 15, 2006 12:01 pm

I would say pilots that work for a major airline. They would have the experience in complex aircraft obviously, time in their schedule and disposable income.

When we got the B-25 and started shopping for insurance through Bob Cannon, the bottom line was heavy prop time and lots of it plus round engine experience. These are things you won't find in your standard Mark 1 Mod O airline pilot. If Jeff "Mr. C-130 IP" Wright wasn't around and available we'd have never gotten off the ground.

Chuck Gardner · **Posted:** Thu Jun 15, 2006 12:12 pm

There are people who are qualified for these aircraft and plenty more who would want this experience and would do whatever it takes to make it happen. Some would even pay a fortune for the opportunity to do it.

Robbie Stuart · **Posted:** Thu Jun 15, 2006 12:43 pm

It has always seemed to me, that if you know one guy that's let say "B25 Qualified", then he knows someone else (somebody had to teach him), & that guy knows another guy, & so on. Like a lot of things in the aviation community, a lot of info can be gained by word of mouth. Now for the tough part. A B25 is not too hard to find a qualified pilot for but say a B23. 20 something years ago we had some trouble finding & getting people qualified in the ole Dragon, I could only guess what it would take now. (I still know of one or two of my Hero Pilots could still do it) Lets face it these planes are getting older & our qualified types are getting older too. The other deal is being able to find guys that are avialable. Most Warbird pilots I have known have to work for a living, & they can't always drop what they are doing to reposition an aircraft or fly an airshow. There are a lot of factors involved getting together a pilot pool to fill your needs. And one more thing. If you get an operation going, make sure you have equipment that is safe & taken care of. If you got junk, anybody thats worth having won't fly it, & the word travels fast who's operating junk. Its a hard reptutation to shake. Thats just my 47 cents worth. :roll:

Robbie

Eric Friedebach · **Posted:** Thu Jun 15, 2006 1:43 pm

Good point guys!

I should have been clearer. I was thinking of someone who started building their time hauling freight in Twin Beech or a DC-3, then kept their stick and rudder skills sharp by later on being a partner in something like a T-6, or some other activity.

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11324

warbirdguy wrote:

Say someone wants to open an air museum with a B-25 and TBM and is in the need of pilots for those aircraft. Where would someone go to find men and women already qualified or easily to qualify to operate those aircraft. Do you think it would be easy or difficult.

I think that they would start coming out of the woodwork. You just need to make sure the person you pick is known and well qualified. Being an airline pilot or a former military pilot is no guarantee of skill or judgement.

oscardeuce · **Joined:** Wed Jul 27, 2005 3:34 am **Posts:** 1021

As Bill Murray said:

"I'm willing to learn"

I'll try to help, I'd love to fall in with those willing to pass on their skills to the next generation.

Eric Friedebach · **Posted:** Thu Jun 15, 2006 10:04 pm

bdk wrote:

I think that they would start coming out of the woodwork.

Our little hypothetical 501(c)3 has had a busy winter booking shows.

Are they prepared to support that schedule? Can they bring the plane in a day early for press or VIP rides?

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