Warbird Information Exchange

Hi Warren;
Looks like you've got a great event gong there.
I have a question about the "530" Stearman. Do you know the N-Number?
It looks like one that was based here in CT with a friend of mine a few years back. (15yrs or so) If it isn't that one it sure brought back some flying memories in the dark blue color!
Thanks for posting.
jerry

Jerry

This is a parts a/c built up in 1995 by Marvin "Lefty" Gardner for his son Ladd. We purchased it in 1998 with about 250 hours on her. 530 was put on around 2000, no significant reason for the number other than seeing a picture of PT-17s on Randolph AFB flightline from a Stearman book, the number 530 was the only number clearly visible and I guess he liked it. Other than redline brakes, and painting the wheel covers yellow, it pretty much the way Lefty built it up. The N number is 38LG, as it pays tribute White Lightnin

If I recall the story that Lefty told us, the frame was found will driving somewhere in the Texas Hill Country, as they drove past this ranch the frame was sitting up like an oil derrick flying the Texas flag. They stopped and approached the owners after some bargaining they bought it on the spot. Other parts were more than likely left over from his cropdusting days. Texas tall tale or not, it adds to the lore of 530.

On a side note Bill Greenwood, has taken a ride in 530, he brought his Spitfire down to San Marcos for a Fairchild sponsored event at the CAF hangar. Fairchild was trying to sell their -328 to the regional air carriers. 530, Bill's a/c and about a half dozen other warbirds were all paid to give rides to airlines execs and vips. Bill if you read this my brother Brian never did get his ride in your Spitfire, but, since I'm in Denver and he's back in Texas I'd be more than willing to take his place.

Warren

Any show with Cole Palen flying in it!

The worst part of ANY airshow is the anouncer.

Jet teams:Blues-Tbirds Not a big draw to me, but they are for your average airshow goer.

Aerobatics: For the most part, no. Over the years I have only seen a few acts that I would go out of my way to see. The big one was Jimmy Franklins jet powered Waco, that had to be the most memorable act I had ever seen.RIP JIMMY. Bob Hoover- Shrike commander EM, well I guess thats about it.

Warbirds- I don't know about you people, but I could watch the same B-17 take off 50 times a day and video it every time, lol

ACC teams- F-15C&E do a great show, also F-16 and to a lesser extent the F-18 demo

Heritage flights- Always a blast, but it would be nice to see a variety of A/C do a display. Im still waiting for a B-17, B-24, B-1, B-52 flight my self

Warbird aerobatics: In a word, yes!

Parachute team: No thanks, If you have seen one, you have seen em all

Helicopter Act: ANYTHING BUT OTTO


Static Displays, one time ( Arival/Departure) Performers: Its always a plus to see things like a heavy bomber, transport, AWACS. There not something you see at alot of shows.


Antiques, Clasic airliners- Always nice to see an asortment of antiques biplanes and a connie/dc3/whathaveyou, but again nota big draw for the average atendee

At first blush this seems like a great idea but upon reflection it would be inadvisable for safety reasons. You don't want to put a pilot in a demanding flyby environment if he's not comfortable there. Also, the top award contenders are often new restorations and the owner/pilot may not have many hours in it yet. I certainly agree that it is frustrating not seeing them fly but I figure that beats them not being there at all.



Jerry is being a little bit modest here. I was only able to attend CoC for an hour or so due to the attention span of young children with me, but in that time all but one of the Corsairs flew together and did just as nice a little racetrack circuit as a Corsair buff could want. It was really an excellent event, suitable as a model for how to do these small scale one-off things, and the kids had a ball climbing on the halftracks and perhaps absorbing just that faint little glimmer of understanding of airplanes of long ago.

Likes: Warbirds, Warbirds, Warbirds. Can't have too many.
Good marshallers and volunteers.
Pilots and aircrew who are friendly and answer questions.
Lots of free cold water. It's an airport and it's summer, supply some water so you don't have to bring a cooler that is as big as a '54 Buick.

Dislikes: Loud PA announcers and music.
Too many Pitts acrobatics.
Unfriendly "I am better than you" pilots.
Too many corporate tents blocking the spectators view. I know
they have paid big bucks, but so has Joe average so that his kids can see some flying up close.
No free cold water.
Jet toilets, trucks, bed pans, whatever...show them off at the drag strip.


I can go either way on the Heritage Flights. It is kind of cool to see vintage and new fly together, but I would rather just see and hear the WW2 planes by themselves.

Hot, humid weather.

I understand how people want cold free water but that would kill an orginization on just giving the stuff away, but it doesn't need to be 3 bucks each.

_________________
"There are two types of people here; airshow whores and airshow prostitutes. The whores, like you and I, do airshow stuff for free, whereas the prostitutes are paid" - Reg Urschler