F-86 crash

Jul 25, 2006 22 Replies

Yes there is attrition, unfortunately. But if we ground them then there will be NO flying warbirds. Most types are well represented in museum collections so your argument that there will only be pictures is as I said, moot!

There are a lot of T-33s left but Canada has just retired there last active ones and they are up for sale. Those that are not bought and moved by the end of August this year will be scrapped. Those that are bought for restoration either to static or flying condition will survive ( for an unknown period of time but they will survive) those not bought will face certain destruction in the smelters.One hopes most of them will be saved. Most of the types extant today are due to a few guys who bought them to fly them. Some types have been resurrected from extinction due to the same reason. One only has to look at the Warbirds Worldwide directory book and Ogden Museum aircraft series of books to see just how many aircraft are preserved in Museums and those that are kept flyable.

Responsible ownership is the key. 98% of warbird owners are responsible but it all boils down to if I have the $ and go recover a wreck from Russia or the South Pacific and spend my time, effort and money to restore it. Then I and only I have the right to say what is done with it.

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too bad there isn't an organization with the capital to build replicas from original plans. i believe there are enough powerplant alternatives for almost anything. i'm wondering if there is enough interest tomake it self sufficent. too bad one of the gate's allen types hasn't done it. is it allen that has the collection? wonder if antone has suggested it. i'm wonderin if a replica might even be more economical than a restoration considering how much work goes into some of them. i've hear of 90% replaced parts on fliers. i know a static display doesn't need that, ie, the enola gay looks amazing but is not airworthy. (was that the right b-29? i read about either it or bocks car being strictly static display.) perhaps there might even be a market for 1.1 replicas. i winder how many units are needed to pay expenses? i may have missed something obvious that prevents this.... i'm sure you smart guys will tell me. ;-)

There are a couple of outfits making replicas. Me 262 and Grumman F3Fs come immediately to mind, but there are others.

There are a lot of great stories about vets and emotions around warbirds, but there was one last year that is a little different. We have a nice 4th of July parade every year which includes some pretty diverse people (it is Marin County, after all). We have all of the traditional things such as color parties, bagpipe bands and the like, but we also have the local contingent of Peacenicks. Last year a B-17 flew low over the parade when the Peacenicks were directly in front of us. The woman holding a sign closest to us looked up and said "Wow! How beautiful.". I told her quickly about the PCAM airshow held in Santa Rosa in September and she actually showed up with her entire family.

PCAM is a great group. They have a good selection of aircraft from many sources. Each aircraft has a crew, I'm on the T-33. Static displays only, conditions from superb to wrecks. When it comes time to paint the T-Bird the crew picked "my" mount from the 84th FIS at Hamilton AFB. Unit hack with full squadron markings used for proficiencey time and hauling TDYs around on sightseeing tours. Never did get a ride in the squadron't F-106B.

Tom

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