WIX Archives

Re: Thank you JACK COOK, Randy

Posted by Scott WRG Editor on Tue Dec 23, 2003 06:26:30 AM

In reply top Thank you JACK COOK, Randy posted by Angry Jim on Mon Dec 22, 2003 09:37:47 PM


: No doubt I've touched some nerves. However, I'm reminded t
: hat hundreds of individuals have worked so very hard, in a
: ll kinds of condtions and at all corners of the globe, to
: recover, restore and preseve the last remnants of these be
: autiful aircraft. Some have put their own lives and financ
: ial futures at risk and many others have lost their lives
: sharing the same vision. That vision is what this message
: board is all about.
:
: I meant no disrespect to Randy particularly, who was offer
: ing his own disappointment in the loss of the aircraft. Th
: ey were doing a very difficult and dangerous job. And Rand
: y deserves a thank you for having the fortitude to point o
: ut the warbird in the mission briefing. But the cavalier a
: ttitude of the officers who dropped the weapon did not sit
: right with me. And if there was some way, *any way*, in w
: hich this aircraft may have been spared (perhaps through m
: ission planning), then I saw no wrong in questioning it. (
: And had it been a Spit, Hurricane or P-51, I probably woul
: d not be alone on my soapbox.)

I think you touched upon a point that transcends this particular incident. With our passion for warbirds of all types we sometimes forget that the bulk of the population barely know of there exsistance. A lot of those who do know about older planes know only what they see in museums. The majority of these people have a passing interest in planes but rarely progress beyond the neato factor.

As an example I will site a surreal moment I had years ago at an airshow. I was standing on the edge of the flight line watching a P-51 warm up and a man stood next to me with his yound son on his shoulder. The kid was enthralled by the spectacle of the noise and smoke (and flames in this particular case) as well as the prop. He asked his father what it was and the father replied "This is just old junk, lets go find the jets."

Suffice it to say that I was stunned by this complete disregard for the history before him.

I feel the responsibility of informing as many people as possible on the history and technology of these aircraft, hence this site. My friend know about them even though they don't have an interest in them because I never shut up, and I drag them to airshows when I can manage it. This Christmas my friends 7 year old son will be opening a toy P-51 in my attempt to spark an interest.

If we want the warbirds to survive we have to strengthen the movement. Take your children to airshows and museums, if you don't have kids then invite your friends that do. You pilots out there, take a kid up with you next time you fly. Talk to them about flying and your interest in history.

I was heavily influenced by my father and his time as a flight engineer in the Navy. Aviation in one form of another has been apart of my life as I'm sure it has been apart of yours. Take the time to share that with the next generation.

Scott WRG Editor

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