WIX Archives

Re: Problems facing warbirds movement

Posted by Doug Rozendaal on Tue Oct 21, 2003 10:25:06 PM

In reply top Re: Problems facing warbirds movement posted by John Beyl on Tue Oct 21, 2003 06:14:34 PM

John,

My first flying job $$$ was warming the right seat of DC-3 hauling FEDEX freight in the summer of 1986. When that contract ended, I nearly cried, (got really drunk instead) because I "knew" the end was near for these airplanes and that I would never, ever, have a chance to fly anything like a Goonie Bird again...... You know the rest of the story, but for those who don't that was the beginning of a what has been a warbird career beyond my wildest dreams, not the end.

We will continue to have problems with the Feds, with the insurance companies, with parts, and with fuel. Money will solve all these problems but the Feds. We have to keep our house in order to keep the Feds off our backs. The days of flying a B-25 or a Mustang to an Airshow for $2500 bucks are numbered. We will have to charge more money.

I am pretty optimistic, Mustang numbers are growing due to "restoration" of piles of scrap. I predict that within 5 years: we will have several new p-51-D's (Odegaard will fly the "Millie G" anyday now) some more p-51-B/Cs, at least 2 or 3 "new" P-51-As, the ME-262s will fly, some Flugwerks FW-190s will fly, a P-82 will fly, I don't know the status of the P-40s in Kansas, but someone will build, or "restore," some P-40s.

Yes many of these are really replicas, but who could tell the difference? If you believe, as I do, that the airplane is only a tool we use to tell a story, the replica/resortations tell the story just as well as an artifact. Flying the artifacts has created the restoration business. The Warbird movement is a driving force in telling the stories of a time when our way of life was threatened.

Keeping the stories of WWII alive is important work and the only part of the process money won't solve is the Feds. We need to get to know our Senators and Congressmen. Send them money, and call them when these stupid "de-mil" bills come up or the Feds get out of hand.

I am enjoying every minute. It will get more expensive, but I plan to "Keep'em Flyin" for a long time! John Lane thought he was on a soap box! Stepping down now. ;-)

Tailwinds,
Doug Rozendaal

PS Thanks again for you help with the 50hr insp.

: Scott,
:
: Good topic...We kick it around often. My own gut feel is
: #1 Feds and public pressure, #2 insurance robbers and #3 f
: uel/mechanical but this last item can be overcome with ing
: enuity. I hope....pray I'm wrong but I give it 7-10 years
: when the final Merlin or R-2800 powered warbird roars to
: life for the last ferry flight to be pithed to it's pin bo
: ard in some dusty museum. Even if I'm wrong on my estimat
: e the date is relatively close....enjoy every minute of 'e
: m while you can!

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