JimH wrote:
In the eyes of collectors/investors and the FAA, the paperwork says that this is 227884. Provenance has an entirely different meaning in the historic aviation world and valued as such. The rest is semantics and one of the reasons this board chased away most, if not all owners and everyone involved. It was a monumental effort on many levels and an incredible achievement for all those involved. Can't wait to hear the comments on Thunderbird with its "D" model wing. I can say, with my own exposure to warbirds, that owners, maintainers, builders, and most pilots...don't give two hoots what anyone thinks about what they own or fly or how its painted. In this day and age it's, dare I say, a complete waste of time to put all that effort in a static airframe. Unless it's a government funded static Aviation Museum or a well heeled specialized collector, static museums have a limited draw...just ask Kermit. Very few are willing to spend upwards of six/seven figures for a static display. Tax write off or not.
Jim
BS!!! ... I've got to know plenty of warbird owners / restorers / pilots over the years of being a WIX member. Many of them contact me regularly asking for help researching things and all of them appreciate much of the things 'we' Wixers post here. Not one has stated "Discussing Reality about Provenance" was their reason for leaving WIX. And trust me A LOT of all the folks above are still here. They just don't post much for a whole slew of reasons, most notably they have better things to be doing with their lives. You may know several that give you the excuse you believe in, but I know that's not entirely true. As for semantics?. Some may think a dataplate or a bucket of bolts is good enough to categorize a warbird as a combat veteran restoration and that's fine, but it's not reality ... no matter what paperwork states what.
And NO ONE'S calling out a lack of
"It was a monumental effort on many levels and an incredible achievement for all those involved", so lay off the nonsense. Also your
"I can say, with my own exposure to warbirds, that owners, maintainers, builders, and most pilots...don't give two hoots what anyone thinks about what they own or fly or how its painted". yet you claim they all got chased away.
It's always the same ole BS! ... No one dare try to discuss reality vs fantasy regarding warbirds built back to flight from all new parts. Wouldn't want to upset any owners and chase them away even though they don't give two sh*ts what we think. Some people may think it's important to kiss rich peoples asses, but I live and work with them all day, every day and most of them can kiss my ass ... and they know it!!
Sorry owners / restorers / mechanics / wives / mailmen .... most recent flying warbirds are replicas!! but if it makes you feel better then they're restorations. Just enjoy them and don't kill yourselves.