Warbird Information Exchange

As I agree with the above, I do wonder what measures would be taken to preserve an aircraft such as this find. What steps are taken to preserve it to last a long time. As I agree with certain aircraft being preserved "as found" I've always wondered the process.

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

Who are you to express your opinion about someone else expressing their opinion about someone else not being encouraged to express their opinion... Awwww... Never mind! This is too confusing.

Good to have bdk back...
They are opinions people, all equally valid and frankly all equally irrelevant. The people who ARE making decisions about the P-40 are not checking WIX to see which way the wind blows. I like hearing what The Inspector and the others have to say (and might just stir the pot a little...)

And shame on FHC for ruining that time capsule Fw-190 by making it fly again!



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http://www.biplanerides1.com/

G'day folks,



Baldeagle, you're correct; opinions don't really count for much. Which is why I'm going to share mine! (boom tish!)

There's a meaning and poignancy attached to this particular P-40 which I believe wasn't there with the FHC Fw-190. The German pilot survived to be captured, so there isn't necessarily an element of human loss and suffering attached to that airframe (apart from what the German pilot may have experienced in captivity). While positive identification of the P-40 is yet to be made, there is at least evidence of struggle, with the radio and battery setup outside the aircraft, and the parachute where it was left. So, if positive ID shows that it was flown by a man who didn't survive, then that gives it a level of importance that would (for mine) make it far more important as-is.

I'm not sure how I'd feel if it turned out to have been flown by a man who was rescued. In that case, I'd still argue that there are plenty of flying P-40s around, so it has more of an educational role as is. I suppose, in all honesty, if I really look at myself, I probably also have more empathy for "one of us" than "one of them", so I'm not as concerned about the full story of the Fw-190.

I've hung around P-40s since the early eighties, so I may be a little jaded as to their status, as recreated and rebuilt machines. For me, the human story of life and death turns this particular P-40 from a wrecked piece of machinery to something which approaches a war grave. Both the Fw-190 and the P-40 are fascinating as untouched (when discovered) crashed aircraft. The P-40 almost certainly has another, more important, level of meaning.

But, opinions are opinions.

Cheers,
Matt

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Matt Austin - playing with warbirds since the early 80s.

See my Lee-Enfield videos at - http://www.youtube.com/user/Jollygreenslugg

Howdy All

What about this time capsule ship , the pilot still remains MIA

http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/p ... 22687.html

This aircraft is now owned by "Jungle Bob"

Lightning

G'day folks,



Frankly, I think it's a disgrace. And I say this, having known some of the people involved for over twenty-five years.

Cheers,
Matt

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Matt Austin - playing with warbirds since the early 80s.

See my Lee-Enfield videos at - http://www.youtube.com/user/Jollygreenslugg

Thanks to you Mark, and those at RAFM who approved you being able to confirm that the RAFM is actively pursueing it, it is very appropriate for this P-40 to be recovered, conserved and displayed in the UK "as is".

For those wanting more flying P-40's I'm confident existing and skilled restorers can produce a new metal P-40 from other remains still available elsewhere - without the need to access and consume a time capsule airframe like this.

It deserves to be conserved "as is" not only for its wartime service, but what also seems to be a tragic story of one pilot's fate lost in the desert, and of course the story of the airframe's hidden survival to the current time.

(BTW can we have the static ex-RAAF P40N back in Australia if the RAFM doesnt need it anymore - smiles)

regards

Mark Pilkington

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20th Century - The Age of Manned Flight
"from Wrights to Armstrong in 66 years -WOW!"

If someone wants another flying P-40 you could copy the ID Tags from a scrapped one, and 'call' it a P-40, or go to a badly mangled wreck an get the tags. Here's my logic: George Washingtons hammer's head was changed 3 times and the Handle twice, but its still his hammer.

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My racing will fund my warbirding. Hopefully...

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hear, hear! buy this man a beer!

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You can't see me!!

That thought crossed my mind also, it reminds me of the Hawker Hurricane project now at Jerry Yagen's, discovered in Russia with the pilot still in the cockpit, and I don't recall any groundswell of opinion to conserve it as a time capsule and not restore it to fly, even though it was actually the pilots final resting place for decades.

I was (obviously I hope) kidding about the Fw, hope to see it fly some day.

As for why the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight would want a Kitty Hawk, their mission is to commemorate all RAF pilots from WW2, isn't it? Their name is a throwback from when they were formed, I think, but not completely reflective of their mission-



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Jerry has a second Hurricane?

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Gets worse I am afraid - more and more bits going missing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzkevVbZ ... ploademail



Feels like going to the pyramids and chipping bits of stone off!!

regards

Mark

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'Coups De Foudre'
(511FS, 405FG watering hole), St Dizier, France 1944/45

They must think there is something Extremely important inside that cockpit...

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My racing will fund my warbirding. Hopefully...

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChrisDRacing

That's sad.

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