Warbird Information Exchange

Does this museum have a website?

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

I agree with several of you about condemning the flyable F4U-1 to a life on static display.

What really gets me irked is that Pratt & Whitney bought that aircraft and donated it to TAM. Then, just recently, P&W bought Vern Rayburn's MATS Connie and gave it to the South Koreans, again for permant static display.
I'm not so upset about aircraft going to museums for display, but that Pratt & Whitney wouldn't give even one dollar to help with the "Corsairs Over Connecticut" Show last year. Sikorsky Aircraft donated $5K, but sadly, the other former partners in the Corsair's history didn't help one bit. Nothing from UTC, Hamilton Sundstand, P&W or Vought.

It was a real black eye that none of them helped even one bit, and the Corsair was even named by the State Legislature as the "Official Aircraft of the State of Connecticut"!
I guess they have enough cash to buy a flying Corsair, but not $5K to help celebrate their history right in their own backyard. Very, very sad.

We did it without their help anyway, but then again, I'm sure they would've helped us out if we had signed an order for new engines!!!!!!

I've kept pretty quiet about their lack of ANY support, but this thread just got me going!
I apologize for ranting!
I guess I shouldn't expect so much from the corporate world, especially when a group decides to celebrate the achievements of a company's products and honor their former employees.

I'd be ashamed if I was a former P&W employee.
Sorry, just my Five Cents worth!
Jerry

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

The blue and white plane in front of the connie is a ? Can't tell for sure from that angle a Me 108?

Jerry,

I feel your pain!
I'm an ex-Pratt & Whitney employee and current UAL employee.

I know this is off topic, but here goes. UAL has recently emerged from bankruptcy, all the employees have taken paycuts and given up benefits. What does UAL do? Donates $53,000,000, thats right, $53 million to build a habitat for 3 Panda Bears at the National Zoo. The Panda's who don't have any bills to pay, will get a better raise than any employee.

Regards,
Mike

looks like a French built Nord 1203 Norecrin II to me....

Martin

PANDA's!!!!
That's exatly what I'm talkin' about!!!!
Sad, sad, sad, sad!
Years ago P&W use to put on multi-million dolar air shows for their employees and the genral public...at NO CHARGE!

Last year, for their 80th Anniversary, you know what they did for their empolyees to celebrate?
They opened up the Customer Training Center (it's like a small engine museum) to the employees and their families...for just an afternoon!!!!
I think they even brought in a "Bouncy House/Moonwalk" for the kids!
Wow! Thank God they're making engines and aren't in the celebration business anymore!
A good friend of mine who has worked at P&W for 40 years attended for about a 1/2 hour and said it made him sick!

I guess it's the wave of the future for Corporate America!
Disgusting.
Jerry

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

Thanks Jim for posting the link to these pictures! It looks like a beautiful facility with some cool warbirds.

Thanks Dave for the link to their official website. It's curious that their Mk IX Spitfire is listed as a "Mk X" in one place on the site and as a "Mark IV" in another place.

It will be fun to see their Flug Werk 190 displayed next to the Bf-109G.


Dennis

[quote="Airdales]
I guess it's the wave of the future for Corporate America!
Disgusting.
Jerry[/quote]

I think you are correct there, I want to find a small business to work for...

Tim

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www.tailhookstudio.com

One of my co-workers visits South America for company business and flys TAM. He loaned me a copy of the airline's magazine that they give out and from what I got out of the article, the Corsair is supposed to be made flyable, as well as most of their other planes. The Corsair was a gift from P&W to TAM's owner for all the business TAM gives P&W in buying engines for their airliners. "Goodwill" gifts are expected in many parts of the world as the price of doing business. There was quite a big write-up in the magazine on this Corsair and they were quite proud of having the oldest FLYABLE Corsair.

Now before anyone gets mad at me, I too was put-out with another US warbird leaving our shores, especially a Corsair as I am a certified Corsair Nutcase, but I know I don't have sufficient funds to have purchased it. Maybe someone with deep pockets can broker a deal to trade for it....

Kenn

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May all your bent wings be F2G Corsairs!

I think its time to go give them a bunch of fiberglass and composite full size models and get those birds back in the air were they belong!!
Scott.....

Mike and Jerry I agree with you both, it is a sad state of affairs of how corporate America has lost sight of the little things to keep their work force happy. They are just too busy looking at the bottom line and stock reports.

I seem to recall the ex-MoF Spitfire IX was bought by Rolls-Royce and donated to the Museum.

Looks like a nice place, though.

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Cheers

Daren

where did brazil get a bird cage corsair??? what it is with batman spreading what i hope is guano???

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

New Zealand

The "Birdcage" was originally restored in Florida by Harry Doan in the early 1980's, it was sold and then found it's way to New Zealand.
I would've love to see it stay here or eventually come back. There are so few Vought built, early Corsairs in existence. Most are FG-1D's.!
Jerry

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."