Soplata collection

cooper9411 · **Posted:** Fri Dec 16, 2011 3:19 pm

I didn't know if I would be allowed or not, but when I arrived at their house after traveling the long winding dirt road, their daughter was just getting out of her car and she allowed me access to the place. Before I left the daughter confirmed with Mrs. Soplata that there was a P-39 and P-63 fuselage in the B-36, this is what they said. I didn't have the opportunity to go inside the B36 and see, I wish I would have! :drink3:

the330thbg · **Joined:** Wed Nov 14, 2007 3:06 pm **Posts:** 2713

Those would be these:

http://www.warbirdinformationexchange.o ... &view=next

the330thbg · **Joined:** Wed Nov 14, 2007 3:06 pm **Posts:** 2713

more photos here from 2009 and ones from 1984

http://pacaeropress.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=3243121

And the XP-82 is making solid progress:
http://xp-82twinmustangproject.blogspot ... anner.html

cooper9411 · **Posted:** Fri Dec 16, 2011 3:35 pm

Yep there they are. The lawn tractor with the Ford Model T front end is still sitting there. Thanks for the link, now everyone can see that there are fuselages and parts inside the B-36 :drink3:

cooper9411 · **Posted:** Fri Dec 16, 2011 3:40 pm

The path in the older pictures waqs wide enough to drive a car through, today the path is barely wide enough to walk through due to all the trees. Someone is going to have their work cut out for them if they are to remove a plane from there. :drink3:

Chappie · **Joined:** Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:40 am **Posts:** 987

All I have to say is God bless Walt Soplata. He saved so many airplanes. I look at the photos of his place and I'm reminded the the speech James Earl Jones made toward the end of Field of Dreams...."Oh, people will come Ray."

I'll bet the family would make a mint if they charged $20 for every warbird nut to just walk through the place, drool, and take pictures. I know I would.

Chappie

cooper9411 · **Posted:** Fri Dec 16, 2011 8:16 pm

You are probably right, but I really don't think the family would want that kind of attention. Walter said he didn't like people stopping in, but whenever someone did he took the time to talk with them. I'm glad he was one of the few that had the sight to see what others couldn't or should I say wouldn't :drink3:

Chappie · **Joined:** Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:40 am **Posts:** 987

I was looking through the Excel file. How up-to-date is it? I'm wondering what the status is/was of the FG-1D.

Chappie

cooper9411 · **Posted:** Thu Dec 22, 2011 12:47 pm

Chappie wrote:

I was looking through the Excel file. How up-to-date is it? I'm wondering what the status is/was of the FG-1D.

Chappie

The FG-1D was sold a number of years ago and last I heard was restored and is airworthy. :drink3:

Upon further review, the FG1D is allegedly still on the property and the F2G2 was sold a few years ago.

tom d. friedman · **Posted:** Fri Dec 23, 2011 4:36 am

there is still alot their, w/ all the legal hassles from uncle sam. if you go out their i'd recommend a tetanus shot!!! you've only seen the surface!!!! i've been through & under his house......... goodies galore!!! he was a man w/ great historical foresight.

Chappie · **Joined:** Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:40 am **Posts:** 987

cooper9411 wrote:

The FG-1D was sold a number of years ago and last I heard was restored and is airworthy. :drink3:

Really? Do you know where? I looked up the BuNo and C/N in the FAA database and found several aircraft, but no FG-1D.

Chappie

cooper9411 · **Posted:** Fri Dec 23, 2011 11:25 am

The information I have is the following:
F4U-1D bu. no. 082850 supposedly is somewhere on the property but incomplete.
FG1D bu. no. 088026, co. no. 2840 I can't find any information on other than it as well is supposedly on the property.
F2G2 bu. no. 088463, co. no. 6172, N5577N I have as being sold to someone with the name of Crawford.
When I was there a couple of weeks ago I did not see any Corsair or parts thereof, this is not to say they aren't there because I could not find any easy access to the area back where the B-36 rests. Rumor has it there is planes and parts of planes inside the B-36. I'll keep trying to research and see what I can find. The Corsair that was sold to Crawford is the ex Cleveland Air race winner. If any one else has any updated information please share with us. I am trying to keep some type of inventory as to what I saw there so we won't have any additional confusion. :drink3:

Bear · **Posted:** Fri Dec 23, 2011 11:43 am

cooper9411 wrote:

The Corsair that was sold to Crawford is the ex Cleveland Air race winner. If any one else has any updated information please share with us. I am trying to keep some type of inventory as to what I saw there so we won't have any additional confusion.

Here's some good info for you. :drink3:

http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=41290&hilit=super+corsair

cooper9411 · **Posted:** Fri Dec 23, 2011 11:49 am

Thanks for the information :drink3:

StangStung · **Posted:** Fri Dec 23, 2011 12:14 pm

Thanks for these pics. Soplata's place always kind of seemed like the mythic wonderland of lost warbirds made real. The pics reinforce that. One day, they'll all go to good homes I hope!

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Soplata collection

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