Airsho pics

[Randy Wilson]

Just FYI - I got volunteered to fly the second O-2A in the show today after doing my other mini boss duties earlier in the show. I gather that the Vietnam segment of AIRSHO is growing in popularity. It looked pretty good to me at 300 feet behind Karen a.k.a. Christy - sorry, you had to be on the airsho freq to undersand. We do it all again tomorrow. Neat to see the Spads, Slicks and Cobras with a Spooky overheard. Fly safe, y'all.

Randy

[JDK]

The paint job is that of a British Commenwealth (I believe New Zealand) Martlet. It is authentic for the type. Originally, it had a U.S. paint job, but was in need of freshening.

Thanks, Rick, but with respect, if I may: On several occasions, the scheme has been claimed to be 'authentic', and reference made to a colo(u)r photograph it was based on. Despite several requests, this alleged photograph has never been published.

New Zealand never operated Martlets.

It's not a 'Commonwealth' scheme.

It's clearly based on a poor-quality reproduction of a famous colour profile of a (British) Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Martlet, even down to 'flipping' the colours on the side not shown in the profile, rather than following the wrap-around. The profile represents the standard RN FAA scheme of Extra Dark Sea Grey, Dark Slate Grey and Sky (these are actual colour names, not approximations.)



[The 'reference' used.]

The man, Bob Reese, had also donated the airplane. Along with that, he donated the I-16, I think the AN-2and the Stringbag before his untimely passing. This year a chapel in the Memorial Garden will be dedicated in his memory.

Bob's generosity and the fact that the Wildcat flies is more important than paint, but as has often been said, a correct scheme should cost no-more than an inaccurate one. There is ample evidence just on the internet to come up with a decent effort (including the 'Long Island Aviation' thread on this very forum).

See:
http://www.fleetairarmarchive.net/Aircr ... ildcat.htm

http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/wildcatfaaba_1.htm

There are several knowledgeable experts who will often put incredible work in to ensure an accurate scheme, and sometimes for free.

It's great that someone in the USA chose to paint a Wildcat in FAA colo(u)rs. It's a a pity it's such a poor execution.

Before anyone asks, no, I don't have a Wildcat, and if I did, I certainly wouldn't be able to maintain it or fly it. I would know how to get it painted 'properly', even though I can't afford it. I have, however helped numerous people get aircraft back in the air, obtain parts, connect with museums, and am currently helping someone get an authentic scheme on their RN FAA warbird. (And I don't claim to be an expert of any kind - but as a writer, I do know where to find people who do know their FAA colours.)

I'd hope than in 2007 we'd moved on from warbird snobbery stopping operators learning from modellers; inverted star & bar quality schemes; and automotive paint matching in our warbird paint jobs.

Finally, it is easy to be a critic, and hard to get a scheme right.

Regards,

[Dan Newcomb]

FYI I have had the pleasure of working on the FM-2 and no matter what you think about the paint, I don’t like it myself, it is a very clean restoration and I hope it comes back to CMA and stays. It compliments our Hellcat and Bearcat. Great photos.

Dan

[Second Air Force]

The little racer looks even littler behind a T-6!

Scott

[Curtis Block]

Kind of tough to see the old OFM SPAD with someone else. Looks like she's getting some use though, and that is good. I do miss her however, even in that god awful blue.

[ebramhall]

Does anyone know the gentleman's name representing the 352nd Fighter Group in the ACAHOF induction?

--Eric

[Old Shep]

First, answers to a few questions....Elmer Smith and Richard Henderson represented the 352nd FG here during their induction into the Combat Airman Hall of Fame. Second, Bob Reiss did indeed donate the Wildcat to the CAF. Several years later he asked if it could be repainted as a Martlet. I was only very slightly in the loop when it came to finding the correct scheme prior to paint going on, but I can tell you that Mr. Reiss thought it was beautiful. I did point out that the colors weren't exactly correct, but...About the Airsho itself...A successful Airsho, at least from my perspective as the Chairman/First Target for all complaints....above all it was SAFE, we had good weather, the pilots and crew who talked with me with only a few exceptions were complimentary, and we had a good crowd who enjoyed themselves. Several broken airplanes hurt (as Alan Brooks has listed) and several more broke down here...Eric Downing's Skyraider, one of the Hueys, a Texas Air Guard F-16, but we carried on. Sorry I missed visiting with more WIXers. Maybe next year?
Bill "Old Shep"

[ebramhall]

Thanks for the info Bill. I agree, it was great airshow, albeit the wind. Still brushing the dust from my gear. Taking a little of West Texas back to Iowa.

--Eric

[Bill Greenwood]

In my eyes the Martlet looks good, although I don't know anything about the authenticity. The Wildcat is a very small plane, looks like a toy even compared to a Spitfire. This paint with the light blue sort of helps the plane stand out, and something different is always of interest.

[Young Shep]

This year's Airsho was fantastic. Brought some non-aviation fellows with me back home who were mighty impressed and didn't expect to see that many airplanes. Plus, I took my first Mustang (at least one was left in Midland) ride and am still grinning

[JDK]

Glad to hear everyone had a great and safe Airsho.

Regarding the Wildcat... Excuses, excuses.

I wonder if anyone would accept such poor excuses for an equivalent lack of effort in maintenance or flying safety? As Dan Newcomb follows up with my acknowledgement of the differentiation between restoration quality and paint scheme, the fact remains only excuses have ever been offered for a remarkably inaccurate and poor paintjob on the 'Martlet'. Coupled with the squirts of disingenuous and misleading ink when it's been challenged, it does no one any favours even if it 'sort of helps the plane stand out'.

It would 'stand out' better if it were painted in something a bit closer to an accurate scheme, and as I demonstrated above the first two hits on a sub-one minute search on Google provided significantly better references than were used. I'd be interested to know if recently any other warbird was painted with nothing more than a single off-colour profile view.

Yes, it's not my 'plane, and I'm expecting to be told to get back in my box or cough-up to paint it better. But before we go down that worn route, let's just take a moment's thought.

Most of us like to claim that we support warbirds to honour and acknowledge the effort and sacrifice those who flew and died in W.W.II. We'd also agree it behoves us to try and get those tributes right, in fact, history, tone and approach. It's harsh to say, but it is ignorance, and a lack of respect, at base, that comes up with such a careless approximation of something that should be a creditable and appreciated rendition of a close allies' aircraft.

Yes, it's offensive to get the colours of another nation's aircraft so wrong. It's like flying a visitors' flag upside down. Good manners and etiquette.

The Martlet (as a type) was flown by Captain Eric 'Winkle' Brown, among many other great, brave and mostly no-longer with us pilots. He achieved kills on the type, against Focke-Wulf Fw-200 Condors. Eric was one of the most skilled pilots of W.W.II, and remains one of the leading authoritative test-pilots of W.W.II aircraft of all major combatant nations. It would be nice to have the aircraft better presented for him, wouldn't it? Doesn't he deserve it?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_%22Winkle%22_Brown

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets/case_na ... rview.html

There is plenty of noise here about 'dumbing down' and poor history. This is a fine example of it within our own arena. An accurate scheme provides a learning opportunity, and stands as a credit to all - those who flew in it, those who restored the aircraft. A very poor scheme, like this only reinforces ignorance and as we've seen encourages myths: (A 'New Zealand' aircraft).

I know many of my American friends care enough to try and get it right, and my British friends are keen to help. The recent restorations of Jim Smith's Seafire 47 and 'Captain Eddie's' Firefly in America are examples of successful collaborations resulting in excellent, near perfect Royal Navy schemes.

He!l, the RN FAA Wildcat and Martlet colours originally varied so much for various reasons, you've got a lot of latitude already; but not this much.

As has been shown here, WIX can help! Django's wonderful 'Ol 927' artwork inspired by Gary Austin's thread is an example where a new voluntary effort can be an incredible success - so there's opportunity aplenty.

Just a couple of final caveats - this is not intended as a personal attack on anyone, alive or dead, and I'd appreciate any constructive feedback. Finally, I reiterate, paint's nothing to safe aviating, which is what really matters.

Rant over, thanks for bearing with me.

[Chad Veich]

Don't let the nay sayers tell you you're not allowed an opinion JDK, whether you contribute financially or not. I agree that the CAF Wildcat stands out in a crowd but for all the wrong reasons in my opinion. Besides, who can click the link below and then honestly say they prefer the paint job on the CAF FM-2 to the TFC example?

http://www.fleetairarmarchive.net/Aircr ... uxford.jpg

[Taylor Stevenson]

several more broke down here...Eric Downing's Skyraider, one of the Hueys, a Texas Air Guard F-16, but we carried on. Sorry I missed visiting with more WIXers. Maybe next year?
Bill "Old Shep"

Don't forget a beautiful broken cub! Crack in the exhaust stack... and maybe muffler troubles.

Taylor

Oh! I'd like a copy of the photo of me and the twins... who do i talk to!?

[Bill Greenwood]

James, I wonder if you are at Midland and have ever seen the Martlet in person. Not counting the authenticity queston, when I see the plane, my first impression is not that it is ratty paint; I've stood next to the plane and it looked good to me. Maybe I do not have as critical an eye as you do, I have only be around warbirds and a CAF member for 25 years. I am all for using an authentic paint scheme when you can, such as when a plane needs repainting, and certainly in the Smitsonian or AF museum. Are you a CAF member, have you offered you services to find schemes for anything they need? When I had my plane painted, I did research and tried to make it authentic, not counting the fact that it represents when it was built as a single seat high altitude day fighter, rather than the airsick green of the Irish Air Corp. The red spinner is from the IAC service the rest from RAF, but I am sure some partof it is not exact. Many people say it looks good. Finally you are of course entitled to an opinion. It has more impact if you offered CAF a sponsorship to paint something that needs it. Money is never equal to the demands.

[Dan Newcomb]

Well said Bill.