Warbird Information Exchange

Rick,

Thanks, there was a lot of midnight oil burned on that project. The molds came off of a real Corsair and a steel frame was welded together. The big fiberglass sections were put together like a big plastic model. By the time I got involved in the project the frame had already been built and I spent many hours sanding and painting the fiberglass and assembling the fiberglass engine which was molded off of real R2800 components. We got some real landing gear and wiring harness from Aero Trader for extra detail. There was a whole warehouse down in the Ontario area of LA that had probably 20 or so of these fiberglass models in various states of completion. It looked like an aircraft factory.

There were 3 fiberglass P-38s lined up as well as ME109, P-80 and P-51. They also had skins for TBFs and I heard a B-17 but never saw those. That sled that it was on we built that as well for the crash scene. There was a pulley system that carried the Corsair down the deck with smoke generators going. It looked really cool. The design was done by friend Tim Cruise who was a real genius when it comes to innovation and fabrication. He had done a similar setup using a real Corsiar for a movie that they play at the NASM.

Thank you Stephanie!

It was good to get a fresh peek at things. But where were the Spitfire and 109?

Until moving to north Idaho, I volunteered on Saturdays in 2002-2003 as a docent, and across the street at the Library on some weekdays. Loved every minute! You will too. Always make a point to strike up conversations with visiting and ever less frequent veterans. You'll spot the old air crew members and ground crew mechanics easily by their countenance when transfixed on the old airplanes.

Oh, and I have a 20 yr.old son, also a warbird nut, in Oregon City that I'd like you to meet...

Tallichet's operation no doubt!

Great photos. First time I've seen a photo of the inside of the wing of the Spruce Goose. Amazing you could through it so far. I saw it when it was next to the Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA but they didn't have tours at the time. Any photos of the cargo bay/main deck?

Yeah it was. The place seemed mostly all closed up when I saw it. I wouldn't doubt if most of them were still sitting there. Tallichet always has weird stuff going on.

There is a $50 tour, but I charmed my way in. No . . . really! Yeah, I made friends with one of the volunteers there and he asked if I wanted to see inside! You bet I did!!!

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"It is the greatest shot of adrenaline to be doing what you have wanted to do so badly. You almost feel like you could fly without the plane." Charles Lindbergh

I heard that most of it is still flyable. The only one she mentioned in particular was the B-17, I know they still fly it every summer!!!

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"It is the greatest shot of adrenaline to be doing what you have wanted to do so badly. You almost feel like you could fly without the plane." Charles Lindbergh

I did! Thanks so much... hopefully there will be some more pictures from inside the Goose once I start spending more time down there!

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"It is the greatest shot of adrenaline to be doing what you have wanted to do so badly. You almost feel like you could fly without the plane." Charles Lindbergh

Wow...

Thank you. That's amazing... I feel really honored to have been able to taken them in the first place.

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"It is the greatest shot of adrenaline to be doing what you have wanted to do so badly. You almost feel like you could fly without the plane." Charles Lindbergh

I should scan the list in for you to see... there are many many more than I thought. Those pictures only scratched the surface.

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"It is the greatest shot of adrenaline to be doing what you have wanted to do so badly. You almost feel like you could fly without the plane." Charles Lindbergh

Hey Steph, I would love to see that. I think it is awsome tha tyou are volunteering there.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Thank you for the story Ryan. I definitely hope you get up here for the tour sometime... definitely worth the trip. My question is, how the heck did you know about my camera?! LOL!

We may need to switch states on vacation, I've never been to CA, and I am sure you have lots of fun planes down there I'd love to see!

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"It is the greatest shot of adrenaline to be doing what you have wanted to do so badly. You almost feel like you could fly without the plane." Charles Lindbergh

My my, you got skills Miss Steph...I see a bright future for you in aviation! I'll pay my $50 like the rest of the world and feel good knowing it's going to a good cause. Bet you could talk your way into the VIP cabana at Reno or Oshkosh!

I have pictures of the spitfire too I think... I took about 200 and so I might have missed it somewhere in there, but I do have it! I will see if I can find it.

I am really looking forward to volunteering. Every one of the volunteers I met while I was there had really great things to say about the museum and how much they enjoyed being there. I think that speaks very highly of the museum. I can't wait to have the opportunity to meet the veterans and other pilots, aircrew, etc., I think it'd be a great learning experience as I am sure they all have a story to tell!

A 20 year old son, eh? Woohoo! Although, at 26 he might think I am an old lady!

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"It is the greatest shot of adrenaline to be doing what you have wanted to do so badly. You almost feel like you could fly without the plane." Charles Lindbergh

I do have a few, they were from behind glass before I got the tour, I will post what I have though!

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"It is the greatest shot of adrenaline to be doing what you have wanted to do so badly. You almost feel like you could fly without the plane." Charles Lindbergh