Warbird Information Exchange

Guys,

Careful on the personal attacks... we know this isn't the place for it.

We all have our opinions on what we prefer and why we prefer it. I think that arguement has been made and we each are entitled to those opinions. It has been shown that Air Classics and Challenge Publications did indeed help the warbird community in the early days and still to this day does as well. We all may have our opinions to what they signify to us, but yes, they were around well before many of us knew about warbirds and for us that were around, they did a service where none had been before.

Keeping that in mind, I think some of us just have to agree to disagree and will make their thoughts count when voting starts on the issue.

I can't remember a time when name calling ever changed anyones mind about a topic... and I don't think we will be the first here.

Let's just get back to the topic of the post. Thanks.

_________________
Ryan Keough
Stow, MA

I don't know what all the controversy surrounding Air Classics is, but I just want to say that growing up in the '70s, without Air Classics, the CAF, (and my Dad), I would not have a clue about warbirds.

yep...me too.

the controversy isn't really AC but more like these kind of comments.

_________________
Don't touch my junk!!

I hereby nominate Dik Shepherd for the Warbird Legend Hall of Fame.

_________________
It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

Well, I guess you can add me to that group of being in diapers in the 60's and 70's (born in 1969).

My warbird interest was nurtured as a young kid growing up on the south side of Oshkosh. My grandmother volunteered at E.A.A. every summer from the early 70's until about 1984 and was one of those silver-haired old ladies you saw working at the ticket booth. Me and my two brothers were given full run of the grounds for the entire week and spent most of our time marveling at the warbirds. Ahhh yes...those were the good old days!

John

Put me down for diapers in the 1960s, too. And I still haven't quite mastered that wiping thing, although I am getting better at ass identification.

AC was indeed a major source of info in my youth for people who didn't live near a warbird center. As to the idea that the warbird movement wouldn't have happened without AC, well that's just funny. But I wouldn't object at all to their nomination for the HoF.

August

I don't care about adding A/C to the list one way or the other. I read every issue I could get my hands on and it was a relatively easy way to find out what was going on in the warbird movement. I don't agree, however, with everything they've done or some of the practices they've used.

My biggest gripe with DIK is the way he talks down to the rest of us like he's the only one who has ever turned a wrench or been involved in any way with a warbird of any kind. He'been there done that but only his efforts mean anything, the rest of us can only aspire to be him, I guess.

I've been there turning wrenchs in the mid 1960's (well out of diapers) and Dik is right (WHOA) the warbird movement was very slow. We were seeing P-51 in Canada selling for $500 - $1500 and nobody thought much about it. But I never picked up Air Classics it wasn't that important. We always had people in the hangers at DuPage looking, never thinking the warbirds would get this big. In 1995 I asked Jack Rogers what his P-51 was worth and he thought about $550,000 would get it bought. Well what would "Cripes a' Mighty" bring today. or Ross's G-32a,

Does anyone know what became of Dick Lambert last I saw of him was at Dupage airport in the 60' his P-38 is with Weeks in FL.

Steve

OMG!
I'm so sorry, I was pretty sure I read somewhere that something was dedicated in his memory

I feel really awful for making that comment, but am so happy to hear he is still with us

to anyone offended, i want to apploligize,

one thing about the Warbirds of America Hall of fame, and the EAA in particular is how patronizing they are. In jan 1999 Carl Schmieder died in the crash of his T-6. Carl was a member of the board of EAA Warbirds and was responsiable for the huge T-6 Formations over Oshkosh from the late 80s thru 98. He lead 65+ 6s in a single formation and was able to get it over show center within seconds of the time the show boss wanted them over head. That same year, a sugar named Kennedy killed himself, hi wife and sister in law by flying his Piper into the water, He was at Oshkosh once. EAA Chose to honor kennedy by doing a missing man for him during the airshow, and ignore someone who did more for EAA. to this day Warbirds of America does not have Carl in their Hall of Fame.

Carl restored his T-6G, built a P-64 replica that is now in a museum in Thialand, restored a SNJ-5 for Bob Alexander of Caldwell, Id, He was a CFII multi engine with B-17, 749 type ratings, P-64 LOA and was a ICAS A.C. E., was one of the founders of the F.A.S.T. program as well as a F.A.S.T. check pilot. He also lead The Cactus Squadron Flight Team, doing formation acrobatics in T-6s. He also taugh and helped a number of people to get either a A&P, or pilot certs.

In my case, I got my A&P, IA, and private pilot with his help. I was his backseater at Oshkosh from 92-98 and took part as formation observer during the shows.

I think Carl qualifies for any Warbird Hall of Fame

This ones for you Carl

_________________
Matt Gunsch, A&P, IA, Warbird maint and restorations
Jack, You have Debauched my sloth !!!!!!
We tried voting with the Ballot box, When do we start voting from the Ammo box, and am I allowed only one vote ?
Check out the Ercoupe Discussion Group on facebook

Doug Arnold?
Charles Church?
Stephen Grey?
The Hannas?
OHB?
Spencer Flack?
Nick Grace?
Jean Salis?
Nash/Shuttleworth?
Peter Thomas?


TT

_________________
Life's a Beech and an Armed T-6

Hi my vote goes to Al Redick, he recovered most of the a/c that Ed Maloney now has,the million dollar valley B-26s , he was a major influence on all of the Chino kids, and many others now in the business including me! Al touched allot of peoples lives in his many adventures,and we owe many of our surviving warbrds to his efforts!A true American hero !!Thanks Mike

_________________
IF YOU CAN FIND IT WE CAN FIX IT

C.W.Peatridge!
And all of the people who have assisted him along his distinguished Warbird endevours!

_________________
"Hindsight is usually 20% off!"