WIX Archives

Re: Why not?

Posted by Balbo on Wed Mar 06, 2002 05:44:32 AM

In reply top Why not? posted by bdk on Tue Mar 05, 2002 07:37:34 PM

bdk replied,"As for air racing, I think that it is safe to say that air racing has saved more aircraft than it has destroyed. It kept interest in warbirds high at times when these inefficient aircraft were not really collectable for any other reason."

I don't dispute that for one second. But the true value of these aircraft is, rightly, appreciated today. And therefore they should perhaps be allowed to grow old gracefully, still flying, but in a perhaps slightly less aggressive way.
I don't doubt that Reno is a 'planespotters' dream, and I would probably even thrill to the sound and sight, but does that make it right?
Cutting historic airframes down to make them go faster as in the case of some of the Reno Racers, is IMHO one step too far to go faster. I know, I know, it's his plane, he paid for it, he can do what he likes, if he didn't race it, it would be pots and pans now, etc etc.
But would you cut up a Renoir or a Monet just to make it fit in a frame?. Well it's his, he bought it, he can do what he likes.......

OK, to the Spitfire is question. The answers provided seem to be reasonable. It will be an awesome sight. No doubt. We'll never see it over here - a shame.
Looking in one of my books, The Spitfire Story by Alfred Price, there are quite a few pics of Griffon engined aircraft with conta-rotating props, so it's not historically inaccurate. If it proves to be a crowd puller, thats a good thing, keeping interest in these aircraft alive.
I asked a question - I've had some answers.
Thanks

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