Warbird Information Exchange

Taken from the top of the Rare Bear race trailer, at Reno 1988. Some Texas participation here.

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Neal Nurmi

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Neal - the AD-4NA "409" was owned and flown by Jay Cullum, an old friend from the Dallas area back then. He flew it in the filming of the Flight of the Intruder. Thanks for the memories.

Randy

Great stuff Neal! Keep em coming.
Robbie

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Fly Fast Make Noise!

I got to know Jay a bit when he put on that race in Sherman Texas. His aerobatic show with ordnance on the wings was great fun. I also enjoyed his stories of growing up with a Mustang in the family. Another interesting Texas character indeed...

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Neal Nurmi

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I don't remember if he actually ever got to race -- Reno had a lot of entries each year in those days, and there were always some too slow to go, But Cullum surely did seem to have a good time tooling around at 150 feet AGL.

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Neal Nurmi

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Neal Nurmi

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Now Wiley Sanders, on the other hand, did get to race his Skyraider, and did pretty well too. The second shot shows him showing a couple of Corsairs the way down the "Valley of Speed".

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Neal Nurmi

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That wasn't Wiley Sanders, Neal. Skyraider 404 was Jimmy McMillian in 1985.

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Offer me solutions, offer me alternatives, and I decline......

Was it one of these gentlemen who had the Skyraider at Madera in 1985? That was my first time seeing a 'raider and whomever it was put on a very impressive display with the airplane after the show on Saturday. We managed to get down pretty close the end of the runway along with a hand full of other die hards and we got one heck of a show. Up to that point I equated the Skyraider to a rather clumsy old dump truck. Not after that day in 1985 though! Good times.

You're right, I think, Brad. I hate it when that happens.

So he sold the airplane to Wiley soon after, right? And then got that nice Mustang?

So did Wiley ever race the Skyraider at Reno? I know he did race it in Texas in 1990.

I'm trying to remember if I think I'm getting old. All this stuff is starting to blend together in a most disconcerting way...

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Neal Nurmi

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I can't answer as to who it was, but the Skyraider does make a remarkably good aerobatic display airplane. Jay Cullum sure impressed me at that Dallas race.

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Neal Nurmi

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Speaking of interesting raceplanes, and if Neal will forgive me for intruding upon his thread, who remembers this early attempt at a home built unlimited? (Sorry for the rather poor pictures!)

Wasn't that a John Parker special?

This is the "Pony Express" of Tony D'Allesandris. Entered in unlimited in '82 but I don't think it qualified. Wonder if it would be competitive in the current sport class?

If I remember correctly, McMillian sold/traded the Skyraider and a T-33 (in Blue Angels paint scheme) to Rick Sharpe for a P-51.