WIX Archives
Re: Them & Us
Posted by Tom on Sat Mar 09, 2002 05:42:36 PM
In reply top Them & Us posted by Mick on Sat Mar 09, 2002 02:08:39 PM
Steady on old boy! I think I could put myself in the 'enthusiast' mould and as such, with help from work, I have met numerous warbird owners. Granted there is the odd 'wanker' out there but I have met some cracking owners, one was so chuffed with what we'd done he brought us all a bottle of wine. Also when one of the tours I took part in, we arrived one day at 'Shadetree Aviation', totally unannounced, expecting the hangar doors to be swiftly shut when they saw 40 odd 'plane nuts' pile out of the bus, when the owner said 'come in and have a look around'. At the end he was even offering one of the group a flight in one of the YAK 9's, you don't see that every day. Basically I try the 'softly softly' approach and generally they will be very friendly as long as you don't jump down their throats (I have witnessed the sight when someone tried this approach and a pretty sight it is not!). I have also found out that most owners can quite tolerate an enthusiast but really detest number crunchers, the owner of the NORD we look after was recently miffed when a spotter came up to him to say 'nice Harvard' you can see why they get annoyed can't you? Just my twopennies worth.
Tom ;)