Real Deal Warbird AP/IA Career Position

EDowning · **Posted:** Sun Dec 02, 2007 9:09 pm

I have decided to hire a full time Mechanic/Manager for my warbird collection. If you are interested or know someone that might be right for this position email, PM or call me at 314-494-5824. This is a career position that requires a person, with experience and industry contacts, that can represent Midwest Wild Relics Refuge properly and can coordinate all mechanical and logistical aspects of maintaining multiple warbirds. Compensation will be very competitive.

Currently I have a Skyraider, T6, NA-64 and a Bonanza. I plan to add a multi-engine in the very near future and a fighter (or maybe a project) down the road. Midwest Wild Relics Refuge is located in the Saint Louis area at Creve Couer Airport (1H0).

WWW.WILDRELICS.COM

muddyboots · **Posted:** Sun Dec 02, 2007 9:45 pm

rich bastard. You need a janitor?

N3Njeff · **Posted:** Sun Dec 02, 2007 9:52 pm

AWWWW I cant take these job offerings!!!! Dare to dream, but I would probably be taking a pretty big pay cut. Topp'd out at a regional airline.

Eric, dont forget Historian would help too!!!!! Love what you have done with the AD..........cant wait to see what you do with a fighter and a Multi.

JDK · **Posted:** Sun Dec 02, 2007 10:01 pm

N3Njeff wrote:

Eric, dont forget Historian would help too!!!!!

Or maybe not. May as well get part-number-spotter and have done.

Historians. Don't want to encourage them, they only bother the drivers, airframe.

But seriously folks, good luck Eric.

EDowning · **Posted:** Sun Dec 02, 2007 10:31 pm

N3NJeff wrote:

Quote:

AWWWW I cant take these job offerings!!!! Dare to dream, but I would probably be taking a pretty big pay cut. Topp'd out at a regional airline.

Assuming that you or anyone else makes too much money to consider this position would be a mistake. I am not going to oversell the opportunity, but I do my homework, and I know what the Airlines pay, the FBOs, resto shops etc. I want top quality, and experience first and foremost, and I will figure out what it takes to get the exact level of expertise and quality I am looking for.

If you or anyone else has what it takes, consider the opportunity, we will talk and see where it goes. I said career in the posting title beause there is a difference between a career and a job.

Taylor Stevenson · **Posted:** Sun Dec 02, 2007 11:03 pm

Mr. Downing, I don't know how dad'll react, but I can skip college and help you out

you can pay me in Avgas!

EDowning · **Posted:** Mon Dec 03, 2007 12:06 am

Taylor wrote:

Quote:

Mr. Downing, I don't know how dad'll react, but I can skip college and help you out you can pay me in Avgas!

I should be so lucky. You stay in school and keep flying warbirds as well. Without people like you, I won't have anyone to leave these warbirds to, when my turn as custodian is over. :lol:

JBrawner · **Posted:** Mon Dec 03, 2007 12:12 am

if i didnt just start schooling for my AP& avionics it would be great... but i have another 12-18 months

and ive only worked on a couple of warbirds... a B17 and B25

EDowning · **Posted:** Mon Dec 03, 2007 12:20 am

JpBrawner Wrote:

Quote:

and ive only worked on a couple of warbirds... a B17 and B25

Remember, that's 2 more than most A&Ps and your just getting started. Hang in there.

N3Njeff · **Posted:** Mon Dec 03, 2007 10:04 am

EDowning wrote:

JpBrawner Wrote:

Quote:

and ive only worked on a couple of warbirds... a B17 and B25

Remember, that's 2 more than most A&Ps and your just getting started. Hang in there.

Eric is sooo right. I work with over a 100 mechanics and only a very SMALL handful have done ANYTHING outside Jets!!!! Before I even went to A&P school, I was helping wrench on our N3N and the uncles Bt-13. Our school had a twin beech, nobody would touch it cause it was more work. 9 cylinders instead of 4 and it was old, it leaked oil and smelled and was dirty. When i left after 2 yrs, that airplane was in the best shape it had ever been and ran GREAT!!! I was luck to help out Bob Garside and his OVH shop every now and again tearing down some 1830's and two 985's for my uncle. Later i took a job working for my uncle in upstate NY working on Be1900's for a regional airline. One of my 4 days of work was dayshift and that was working on restoring one of the owners J-3 cubs or working on one of the companys four DC-3's and a private owners as a fifth DC-3 (this being the one i got my 1.7 hrs in) It would be a DREAM of mine to work for a museum or a collection like Eric's. Maybe in a few years I will be in a position to really put in a offer. Until then, I will keep helping out others and putting in more time and love into it. That brings me to my trip in 08 for the "BIG PUSH" for Texas Raider.

N3Njeff · **Posted:** Mon Dec 03, 2007 10:09 am

Eric, just checked out your website......................Pretty cool. You ever consider collecting Military Vehicles???????? If you did, boy I would need to consider moving to ST. Louis!!!!

My collection
http://linehaulrvn.tripod.com

51fixer · **Posted:** Mon Dec 03, 2007 10:21 am

N3Njeff wrote:

EDowning wrote:

JpBrawner Wrote:

Quote:

and ive only worked on a couple of warbirds... a B17 and B25

Remember, that's 2 more than most A&Ps and your just getting started. Hang in there.

Eric is sooo right. I work with over a 100 mechanics and only a very SMALL handful have done ANYTHING outside Jets!!!!

After Steve Hinton signed me off to the FAA as being worthy of taking the A&P tests I went to a place in Riverside to shotgun through the writtens. There were a number of Air Force guys doing the same from March AFB. The things that sticks with me is one of them commenting " Whats a nine cylinder radial?".
The standard FAA question reads- What is the firing order of a nine cylinder radial?
Rich

N3Njeff · **Posted:** Mon Dec 03, 2007 11:13 am

very sad!!!!! I see it all the time. I am trying to get a few guys over to IAH to help out with Texas Raider. I am trying to find the ones that have a genuine interest. I will be the only one with any radial exp. I just wish I got to do it more often.

N3Njeff · **Posted:** Mon Dec 03, 2007 11:20 am

Funny for me...................When i showed up at the base. I was looking at all the toolboxes. One had a bunch of sticker,was covered with Pratt & whitney. Hamilton Standard, Curtiss props, Allison engine. "I love round engines" & some warbird stuff. Most mechanics consider there tool box a Resume!

I though how cool, another guy to talk to. Finally found him and found out that they were aparently "just stickers". He did not know what engine was on a B-17 or B-24. Never worked on a pistion engine other than A&P school. Not to mention his knowledge of warbirds was weak at best.

K5DH · **Posted:** Mon Dec 03, 2007 11:39 am

Hey Eric,

Just checked out your web site. Nice job!

I love your big-block '69 Corvette! We have a bright red '71 convertible with a VIN-matching LS5 454, and the same Saddle Tan interior as yours. Fun stuff, but what a maintenance hog! I have some pics on my ham radio web site if you're interested. Click on the "Our Classic Cars" link on the left side of the page:

http://www.qsl.net/k5dh

Good luck with your talent search. I'm sure you'll find just the right person... maybe even a WIXer!

BTW, do you have any plans to bring that beeeeeeautiful Skyraider to the D/FW area next season? I'd love to see it in person (and maybe bum a ride?). Come visit us at VFM some time. I'll buy the beer! :drink3:

Cheers!

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