Flyable F-86 (Skyblazers) to VAC

[wls3]

The F-86 owned by Mrs. Righetti and flown by Dale Snodgrass arrived at the
Valiant Air Command museum last week. The Sabre is now on permanent loan to museum located in Titusville FL..

http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20090103/NEWS01/901030319/1086

The F-86 owned by Mrs. Righetti and flown by Dale Snodgrass arrived at the
Valiant Air Command museum last week. The Sabre is now on permanent loan to museum located in Titusville FL.

Thanks for the update on that Sabre, Bill.

I last saw it at Andrews AFB in May 2007 shortly before Dale Snodgrass ending his air show flying of it. The article is interesting and it is nice to see that it has a home at the VAC musuem in Titusville, but I wonder what the chances are if any, that it will be flown at all in the near term future. The museum has a great collection of vintage warbird jets, but it does not seem that the resources or inclination are there to make or keep many of them flyable.

I hope to attend the air show in Titusville in March, and I look forward to seeing this Sabre again

[Rob Mears]

Amazing that it was donated to a largely stagnant museum. Are there any plans at all to keep it airworthy? I know of at least two people who have been in the market for an F-86 for some years. Hate to see one end up as a bookend with so many willing pilot/owners out there.

[David J Burke]

'Stagnant' seems a little strong. Being a U.K visitor to Valiant on two occasions I have been impressed at the quality and effort of work being put in there on the aircraft. Certainly the C-47 'Tico Belle ' is well on her way back to flying - sad that everything cannot fly again but they seem to be doing a pretty good job of saving machines that are in need of tlc.

[N3Njeff]

'Stagnant' seems a little strong. Being a U.K visitor to Valiant on two occasions I have been impressed at the quality and effort of work being put in there on the aircraft. Certainly the C-47 'Tico Belle ' is well on her way back to flying - sad that everything cannot fly again but they seem to be doing a pretty good job of saving machines that are in need of tlc.

Ditto on that, I have attended many VAC shows in the 90's and after the Tico belle incident, any other museum just would have looked for another C-47. But they decided to lick their wounds and try it again and from what I have seen, they have earned it!!! My dad now teaches at FIT and is not far from there. He says that they have done wonders for the belle and she is about ready to go for 2009!!! My hats off to them

Slightly off the specific topic, but it does involve a Sabre and Dale (Snort) Snodgrass (I thought better to ask here then dig up the very old topic again), can anyone give us an update on the grounded for over a year Cavanaugh Sabre, that Dale was going to fly last year? Is there any progress with getting the overhauled engine and any chance that we may yet see this Sabre at shows in 2009?