Warbird Information Exchange

Sort of off topic, but when I lived in Tucson, about 1978-1980 I would visit all the airports/fields and see what was happening. I managed to catch Fyrtle Myrtle in the air. Also went back at night and got some real nice shots of it sitting on the ramp. This was back when you could actually walk around an airfield and take photos.

Good catch on the 109 and P-51A!

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Zac in NZ
#avgeek, modelbuilder, photographer, writer. Callsign: "HANDBAG".
https://linktr.ee/zacyates

"It's his plane, he spent the money to restore it, he can do with it what he wants. I will never understand what's hard to comprehend about this." - kalamazookid, 20/08/2013
"The more time you spend around warbirds the sooner you learn nothing, is simple." - JohnB, 24/02/22

how long has it been there? 7-10 years?

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" I am a nobody in aviation, but somebody to my family."

it has always been a back burner project for Aero Traders, in the time they had it they completed several B-25 restorations. There is not a large demand for A-26s, so maybe you should be glad that one was restored to the level that the B-25s have been restored to. After the hurricane the plane could have easily been scrapped as it was badly damaged by the hangar crushing it
As for those complaining about Kermits collection, put your money where your mouth is and offer to buy a plane from him, or pay the restoration. I see Kermit as someone who employs a number of companies and individuals to restore planes for his collection, Art Teeters has the P-51A, Aero Trader the A-26, Matt Denning the Boomerang, The Me-109, the Boeing F4B, The F4U in Australia, The Tony and Kingfisher in New Zealand, the Standard Me-108 and P-35 at his place in Florida, the Vega in Florida, every one of those is being funded by Kermit and no one else, and everyone of those doing the restorations benefit from the work. So what if Kermit does not get the B-29, or Lancaster flying in the time the YOU think it should, the fact is, he has those airframes protected from the environment and stored for future restorations.

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Matt Gunsch, A&P, IA, Warbird maint and restorations
Jack, You have Debauched my sloth !!!!!!
We tried voting with the Ballot box, When do we start voting from the Ammo box, and am I allowed only one vote ?
Check out the Ercoupe Discussion Group on facebook

Quote:

the fact is, he has those airframes protected from the environment and stored for future restorations.

Ditto!

How many of these airframes would have rotten to the ground if not saved / salvaged!????

Been there 3 times. Loved it.

Well said, Matt. He might not be currently working on many airplanes compared to his holdings and we all have our favorites (myself, I want to see the F6F come to life) but he's laying out one hell of a pile of money each and every month and has been for decades. The man has fed a lot of people and families. He doesn't owe anybody anything.

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Defending Stearmans on WIX since Jeff started badmouthing them back in 2005.

Who's complaining!!!!! ....

I like the idea of a "reincarstorator". I can think of a few others who would be nice to come back in some way too.

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“Knowing what’s right, doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”

So back in his car to store stuff????? Funny Mark

And he has also turned away a number of people who do have the time, money and resources to follow through with a restoration project. Airframes that still sit in long term storage.

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remember the Oogahonk!
old school enthusiast of Civiltary Warbirds and Air Racers

they are still his planes, his choice, maybe they did not offer enough $

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Matt Gunsch, A&P, IA, Warbird maint and restorations
Jack, You have Debauched my sloth !!!!!!
We tried voting with the Ballot box, When do we start voting from the Ammo box, and am I allowed only one vote ?
Check out the Ercoupe Discussion Group on facebook

how long has it been there? 7-10 years?[/quote]
it has always been a back burner project for Aero Traders, in the time they had it they completed several B-25 restorations. There is not a large demand for A-26s, so maybe you should be glad that one was restored to the level that the B-25s have been restored to. After the hurricane the plane could have easily been scrapped as it was badly damaged by the hangar crushing it
As for those complaining about Kermits collection, put your money where your mouth is and offer to buy a plane from him, or pay the restoration. I see Kermit as someone who employs a number of companies and individuals to restore planes for his collection, Art Teeters has the P-51A, Aero Trader the A-26, Matt Denning the Boomerang, The Me-109, the Boeing F4B, The F4U in Australia, The Tony and Kingfisher in New Zealand, the Standard Me-108 and P-35 at his place in Florida, the Vega in Florida, every one of those is being funded by Kermit and no one else, and everyone of those doing the restorations benefit from the work. So what if Kermit does not get the B-29, or Lancaster flying in the time the YOU think it should, the fact is, he has those airframes protected from the environment and stored for future restorations.[/quote]

who's complaining? I asked how long a a-26 has been under restoration. Your comment is a tad rude towards other people. We are all on the same team here. geez

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" I am a nobody in aviation, but somebody to my family."

"What does bother me, however, is that he has hoarded so many warbird projects, engines, and spare parts on the market, and virtually never lets anything go. Once something goes into his collection, it's like a black hole - it never escapes."

Well think of it this way:

I make the assumption that he keeps the stuff he has well - protected. So someday he will...uh...no longer be taking care of that stuff and it will then be spread out to other owners. It's a nice hoard well kept and will someday be useful

No one was complaining. That was Matt Gunsch being Matt Gunsch....

Kermit is not going to live forever. And when his collection is auctioned off it will be a grand one. The interesting part is that he probably doesn’t even know the extent of his own collection.

Just curious about the Invader: Was A-26C 44-35590/N3248G/Nightmare parted out to contribute to the restoration, or does it remain a separate project? I've asked this before years ago but I don't remember if I got a definitive answer.

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)