This is the place where the majority of the warbird (aircraft that have survived military service) discussions will take place. Specialized forums may be added in the new future
Mon Oct 19, 2009 2:25 pm
We made a slight detour Friday (16 OCT) when bringing the Yellow Rose home from Midland. She had to stay there due to the IFR conditions on the 11th. Brownwood has a fly-in, drive-in BBQ every quarter at the airport. We were invited to stop in to sell PX items, aircraft tours, and to see if we could sale rides. The airport manager arranged some wonderful publicity, we even made the front page with a photo and short story about what we were there for (rides, etc.).
Unfortunately the small town economy wouldn't support ride sales. We only had one person who wanted a ride. T-shirt and cap sales were decent, as were cockpit tours. However, the best money maker was something I just came up with since we got back in the air. A cockpit tour is $2, so it takes a bunch to make any money. We never have opened the back of the plane, all the way to the tail gunner's position, up to the public before. This time we did, and offered a "Nose to Tail" tour for $10, and people who took that tour were entered in a "door prize" drawing. A beautiful digital print of the Yellow Rose.
This raised $170, which was the biggest source of income from this short stop. (Thanks, Chris!!!) The plan, when we do this, is to limit the tour to the first 25 people. We had people waiting around, until the event was over, for the drawing! Yes, we are going to be doing this a lot more for the coming season, and buying more prints! I let this one go with the frame, but in the future I think we'll keep the framed one as the display, and give away one in a packing tube. That would make it easier for the winner to get home, then they could pick out their own frame (and we would be spared the cost as well!)
Mon Oct 19, 2009 9:50 pm
Mike you all don't use the old pictures we had for years any more? Every stop we sign one for the FBO for there wall. You all taking anything to Reklaw this weekend??
Lynn
Tue Oct 20, 2009 7:55 am
Hey Lynn!
I'm not sure if we have any of those old pictures left. They marked the price WAY down to get rid of them. They were getting worse for the wear.
We usually do carry a new photo of the Rose with us to leave at FBO's, but we didn't restock after Midland, as the Rose didn't come home between Midland and Brownwood. The new photos were used up in Midland as we give a copy to everyone who buys a ride.