Warbird Information Exchange

From my other "job" writing about the collector car business (and from just being observant) we are seeing a lot of liquidity in the world.
Some deferred post-Covid spending plus people are buying assets to hedge against inflation.

So, likely, the new buyer might be having some fun and an investment.

Nothing wrong with that.

If he sells a few I'm sure they will go to a good home, it's not like they'll be abused and scrapped.

The trouble with large collections is they are concentrated in one place (duh!) and if you are not nearby, tough luck.
Another is the individual aircraft may not get flown as much.
So even if some aircraft are sold and end up somewhere else, that's not the end of the world.

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.
Note political free signature.
I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.

Consider me trolled LOL

With this "purchase" how many doubles would the "new" collection have?

I think just the P-51D. FHC has a spitfire but it is a Mk V the alleged new owner has a Mk XIV.

XVIII

Yep, people post stuff like that just because they feel part of the 'insiders' when most of those posts are made from someone who heard it second-forth hand and is an outside themselves...

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Life member, 91st BG Memorial Association
Owner, 1944 Willys MB #366014
Former REMF (US Army, O3)

The addition of the FHC P-51 would bring that total to 3 as well as the aforementioned Spitfires. Would also double up on the Fi 156 Storch and Corsair since they already have a Super Corsair (if that can be considered a duplicate).

EAA did a story on Game Composites which Steuart Walton co-founded and Thaden Field where they are based about a year ago. Seems they have plans to attract people to the airport so hopefully there is a plan to publicly display the warbird collection.

The museum has a farewell video with the official confirmation now. And the collection will be moving to Bentonville, Arkansas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqcwEVjLs2I

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"They done it, they done it, damned if they ain't flew." December 17, 1903

That Youtube channel has no association with FHCAM. Its been produced by a local photographer/videographer.

Thanks for the great video ! I find myself wondering what will become of the unfinished projects? Will the B-17 and Stuka head to Arkansas to be completed. Where is RACE 57? And what of the Crusaders and other projects. Allen also had armor, artillery, and God knows memorabilia? Were they included in the sale?

The local (Everett, WA) newspaper Heraldnet.com is reporting the sale to the Walton's.
But they reference some Danish aviation website and then add a disclaimer;
"But again, The Herald has not been able to confirm the report. Steuart Walton did not immediately respond to email inquiries. "

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remember the Oogahonk!
old school enthusiast of Civiltary Warbirds and Air Racers

Since the collection was not going to continue under the Allan family ownership. I believe this is a
best case scenario for the collection to stay together, that is unless you live in the Seattle area. This is
way better in my opinion than it being broken up and sold around the world. Even that is better than what
also happens, airplanes stashed away from the light of day for decades. My hope is the Stuka
is a priority after the move.

Everyone seems to be jumping to the conclusion that the new owner:
1) is intending to open a museum
2) will replicate the infrastructure that existed at Paine and Arlington (and took Paul Allen well over a decade to put into place)
3) will be able to recruit the skilled workforce that existed in abundance in Boeingland
4) will carry on with the restorations
5) is intending to keep everting together as a collection

On the other hand, he could quite possibly have decided that it was easier to just buy the whole shebang as a job lot, cherry-pick what he wants for his private collection, and store or sell the rest on

AFAIK there has been no announcement whatsoever by either the seller or buyer, just RUMINT put into print by O’Leary.

That sounds like a heck of an estate sale. I can't wait for the auction!

Re #3...
People will move if there is a job for them. There are plenty of first rate warbird shops in smaller cities....after all, Breckenridge and Granite Falls aren't exactly huge.
But I do agree a major museum in a small Arkansas town seems unlikely unless it is a simple (low overhead) open the doors to let people see the collection.

_________________
Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.
Note political free signature.
I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.