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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
There was a battle between the CAF Dixie Wing and the Soulth Ca. Wing over who was going to receive assignment on the P-47N. It went to the west coast and is now in storage. The Dixie Wing, with an empty shop , then took on a PT-19 center section for another wing and has now taken on a PT-17 Stearman.
There was a battle between the CAF Dixie Wing and the Soulth Ca. Wing over who was going to receive assignment on the P-47N. It went to the west coast and is now in storage. The Dixie Wing, with an empty shop , then took on a PT-19 center section for another wing and has now taken on a PT-17 Stearman.
Mike Nixon posted videos on his Facebook page of test runs for the Jumo and BMW, which I am assuming are for the FHC Stuka and Collings FW. I can forsee FHC completing their Stuka and 262 before they "may or may not" hit the market. They could both very well fly next year. The Oconnor Corsair is probably 2-3 years from flying depending on how much manpower is thrown at it. Vultures Row is making fast progress on their Corsair projects and it wouldn't surprise me if we didn't see at least 1 birdcage fly next year. It would be interesting to see how far Brent Hisey's B model Mustang has progressed as well as a few Mustangs in Salinas. Good stuff is still happening.
marine air wrote:There was a battle between the CAF Dixie Wing and the Soulth Ca. Wing over who was going to receive assignment on the P-47N. It went to the west coast and is now in storage. The Dixie Wing, with an empty shop , then took on a PT-19 center section for another wing and has now taken on a PT-17 Stearman.
When I visited the Dixie Wing back in 2019, I remember a few individuals not being too pleased with that decision as they knew they could start working on that P-47 almost immediately. Hopefully it will be resolved. I believe once you see the new CAF Airbase Headquarters in Dallas completed, you're going to see ALOT of the major birds transferred there. Leaving mostly only trainers and transports for the rest of the wings. My hope is if that maybe that will encourage the other wings with empty nest syndrome to expand and acquire additional aircraft.
Warbird Kid wrote:I believe once you see the new CAF Airbase Headquarters in Dallas completed, you're going to see ALOT of the major birds transferred there. Leaving mostly only trainers and transports for the rest of the wings.
You think it is better to centralize the high performance stuff in Texas? If the wing in Camarillo only had a T-6, a Stearman and a PT-19, I don't think I would ever go there. You can see that stuff almost anywhere. I'd rather go to Chino or Palm Springs twice. You'd seldom ever see the fighters travel all the way to California due to the expense.
Warbird Kid wrote:I believe once you see the new CAF Airbase Headquarters in Dallas completed, you're going to see ALOT of the major birds transferred there. Leaving mostly only trainers and transports for the rest of the wings.
You think it is better to centralize the high performance stuff in Texas? If the wing in Camarillo only had a T-6, a Stearman and a PT-19, I don't think I would ever go there. You can see that stuff almost anywhere. I'd rather go to Chino or Palm Springs twice. You'd seldom ever see the fighters travel all the way to California due to the expense.
I think if I was on the CAF Board, that would be a very enticing idea. Maybe a better hybrid of that idea would be to have the aircraft loaned for a period of time to the National Airbase Headquarters (anywhere from six months to a year, etc.) before going back to its original wing location. That way the main CAF Headquarters would have a constant rotation of some of the Heavy Iron: (Fighters and Bombers) thus keeping the appeal for return visits high. I have no idea what we can expect, but I I have a feeling the CAF (being the largest Warbird operator in the country) is going to "step up" as a living history organization and a business. But again, this is all my speculative $0.02 from me.
Last edited by Warbird Kid on Mon Dec 07, 2020 7:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Warbird Kid wrote: I believe once you see the new CAF Airbase Headquarters in Dallas completed, you're going to see ALOT of the major birds transferred there. Leaving mostly only trainers and transports for the rest of the wings.
I think that would be a great way to gut the local wings. Without a showpiece or two, they are gonna bleed participation.
Imagine the Dixie Wing without all the hardware that's in Peachtree City. The P-63, the Mustang, the Corsair, the SBD. I don't think the Fairchild, T-6, Aeronca, and maybe a few Tora replicas are gonna keep those guys interested.
Warbird Kid wrote: I believe once you see the new CAF Airbase Headquarters in Dallas completed, you're going to see ALOT of the major birds transferred there. Leaving mostly only trainers and transports for the rest of the wings.
I think that would be a great way to gut the local wings. Without a showpiece or two, they are gonna bleed participation.
Imagine the Dixie Wing without all the hardware that's in Peachtree City. The P-63, the Mustang, the Corsair, the SBD. I don't think the Fairchild, T-6, Aeronca, and maybe a few Tora replicas are gonna keep those guys interested.
I agree. It would be a shame for those local units. Either way, I'm excited to see what the CAF has in store. Hopefully they can make Dallas a major stop as well.
JimH wrote:Vultures Row is making fast progress on their Corsair projects and it wouldn't surprise me if we didn't see at least 1 birdcage fly next year. Jim
This video just went up showing some progress on the birdcage Corsair at Vultures Row.
I found his facebook page, but there is only an 8-second clip of the BMW for the Collings Foundation and some shop videos. Also a nice photo of the MAM's Jumo 213 "about 90% done" and ready to test soon
Warbird Kid wrote: I believe once you see the new CAF Airbase Headquarters in Dallas completed, you're going to see ALOT of the major birds transferred there. Leaving mostly only trainers and transports for the rest of the wings.
That is not the plan. The B-29 and B-24 were going there anyway but that is about it. Otherwise it will be mostly the airplanes that are there now.