PBY Scrapped?!?

[Flat 12x2]

I thought the airplane still belonged to us, when in reality, the City of Brownsville took possession of it after all several years ago.

Without getting into the gory details, all I can say is that I am still trying to keep the airplane from getting scrapped and have been bidding on it personally.
IF I'm able to get the airplane, I will see that it goes to a better home somewhere.
I reckon we'll just have to wait until the auction is over to see what happens.

Gary

Gary
Do you need extra funds ?
How about a new WIX thread suggesting a collection to help you out , I'm not suggesting a WIX buying of the PBY , just a straight donation to yourself if it would help[/code]

[retroaviation]

Martin, I appreciate the offer. And who knows, I may have to take you up on it. My fiance' and I just want to save the airplane. There are also two DC-3's that are being auctioned off as well, but we cannot get them all. Heck, I will have a hard time just winning the PBY auction.....but I'm gonna sure give it a try! This is just frustrating to me.

Gary

[Chris]

Gary, Is this a public auction? I take care of a friends T-6 and he is very interested in a DC-3. Is there a website that I can get info from? Thanks again. Chris

[retroaviation]

Here are the links to the two DC-3's...

http://www.lonestaronline.com/listings/ ... 057765#TOP

http://www.lonestaronline.com/listings/ ... 057764#TOP

[Chris Brame]

Here's a link to the history on N14636/42-93482, formerly a troop carrier in the Pacific:

http://www.centercomp.com/cgi-bin/dc3/story?1347

Haven't found much yet on N89HA/43-15137.

[JohnH]

Here's a pic of better times, the CAF PBY departing for Australia. Click the arrow button and go left to see other pics.

JH

http://www.pby.com/WebPages.nsf/6918d81 ... enDocument

[B25PBYGUY]

Boy Gary, give a guy a ride in a couple of PBY's, and the next thing you know he wishes to acquire one! That must have been the seed that was sown 3 yrs ago at GKT. And, a great DVD that was superbly constructed was another result.
Bob

[retroaviation]

Boy Gary, give a guy a ride in a couple of PBY's, and the next thing you know he wishes to acquire one! That must have been the seed that was sown 3 yrs ago at GKT. And, a great DVD that was superbly constructed was another result.
Bob

Hmmm, so I can tell Betsey that this is all YOUR fault then?
The truth is that I, like anyone else that frequents this webpage, hate to hear about the possibility of an old airplane being scrapped. For several reasons that I really can't explain here, the circumstances surrounding this particular airplane just got me going. So, rather than just sit back and grumble about it, I thought I'd at least try to do something.

I really couldn't even come close to predicting if I'll win the auction or not. There are some pretty savvy folks out there that I'm sure are just waiting until the last moment to pounce on the bidding. All I can do is try.

I reckon if I do get it, I can make another DVD, huh? I'll even let you sit in the pilot's seat again.

Gary

[aerojock]

Here are some photos I posted on another thread of the PBY being airlifted from Harlingen to Brownsville in 1993

Aero

[Miscue]

Just to set the record straight....Mike Wansey was very upset about what happened to the PBY. When he bought the aircraft in the late 70s, he then conditionally donated it to the CAF and became the soul sponsor. Mike had a signed letter stating that at any point and time if Mike was not happy with what was being done with the PBY, he could buy it back for $10. Mike attempted this in the early 90s, but the CAF HQ in Midland would not honor the agreement.
The aircraft did fly to Australia and back in 1981 and even made a water landing "down under". It was assigned to the Pacific Wing in Oakland when it returned and flew at several airshows as well as the Harlingen "homecoming" airshow. In the mid 80s CAF disbanded the Pacific Wing while the PBY was stranded in Harlingen with a blown engine. While the PBY was sitting at HQ in Harlingen, no body did anything with her. After the CAF HQ moved to Midland, the PBY sat in Harlingen for a few years. Finally, Stan Stanley and a few other folks arranged an airlift of the PBY to the Brownsville Wing. Since they were in a hurry, the wings were indeed cut off of the aircraft instead of being removed properly. Several attempts were made to get interest up in the aircraft to at least restore it to static condition but they could not get any support.

[jcw]

Miscue
i see you are in Conroe Tx. So what happend to Maynard & Maynard the carb rebuilders??? are they still around and is anyone still working the shop????

jcw

[Miscue]

Sorry, never heard of them...not listed in the Conroe phonebook I have either.

[skydaddy61]

The before and after photos here show what a team of volunteers can pull off:

http://www.itasca.net/~corrie/B36-2827/

[tom d. friedman]

just remember..... when you take the letter "s" off of the word "scrap" you get crap. bottom line!!!

[FG1D Pilot]

Just to set the record straight....Mike Wansey was very upset about what happened to the PBY. When he bought the aircraft in the late 70s, he then conditionally donated it to the CAF and became the soul sponsor. Mike had a signed letter stating that at any point and time if Mike was not happy with what was being done with the PBY, he could buy it back for $10. Mike attempted this in the early 90s, but the CAF HQ in Midland would not honor the agreement.

Just to set the record straight... I was involved in the PBY deal at HQ. The city of Harlingen wanted it moved. I was there when it moved. I never saw or heard of the letter you are refering to. And by law you cannot have any conditions on a donation to a 501(c)3 non-profit, so if a letter was given, it was invalid. No one wants to see a aircraft scrapped. But it's been offered for years to anyone who will take. It was stripped of anything usefull and is a corroded hulk. If he was the "Sole Sponsor" then why did he let the PBY come to such disrepair? As a sponsor he was responsible for it's care.
You state in the P82 thread, " The facts"... Since you are not on the Board of Directors of the CAF, ( I am). And since we are under a gag order to not discuss the p82 until the courts decide, and since you haven't been in any of the meetings with council, your "facts" are opinion. The facts are known only to those involved.
I, being completely involved in the CAF for close to 30 years, at just about every level including serving on the board, which is not a paid position and costs each of us a great deal of time and expense, get a little tired of those who want to turn thier opinion into facts. If you want facts, attend a board meeting, they"re open to any member. You can be part of the problem or the solution. Get involved or keep your opinions to yourself. It's because of constant complants from people like you that made me make the descision not to run for the board again. It wears you out after awhile.