Warbird Information Exchange

http://www.fighterfactory.com/ new builds, im buying how about you?

Nah....wait for a few years till they become 'restorations' and acquire a 'combat record'.......

Dave, stirring the pot

It dosen't make any difference combat vet or not the price stays the same,People think if you have a combat vet the price goes up.

Gerry Beck has an A model that should fly in the spring, that is for all intents and purposes a scratch built airplane. He is making parts for 10. It has some original parts, gear legs etc, but most of it is new stuff. It is beautiful!!!!

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Tailwinds,
Doug Rozendaal

your right, but i think it does raise the price if you have a wartime identity for the a/c.

the basic airframe here is 550k minus engine, electrical ect, if you could call it a 1944 model P-51 your looking at 1.5 million.

BTW, do you have a P-40N-1 fuselage forsale?

No we only have N5's at the moment.
Why not something something Japanese.

huh

Hi Mick:

Home werote:




I think he's saying he'd like to see you build a new Ki-84 or something like that.

THanks,

Chris

Japanese planes are weak

Well, I certainly *would* buy a Fighter Factory Mustang if I had the cash. By the time I ever have the financial means to do so...that might be my only option!!

As far as not being a "real" P-51...well, I know that many of the warbird restorations out there have so much new metal in them that they ought to be called new, anyway. The thing is, it doesn't really bother me. Would I rather have a real NAA Mustang -- sure. Someday, though, all the data plates hung on new-built airframes (there are certainly a lot of crashed airframes being resurrected, eh??) will be gone and reproductions may be it.

I was considering how I feel when I walk past one of the "new production" Yak-3s out there -- I usually don't even think about it not being a real warbird, and generally just enjoy how she looks, sounds, and smells. I suppose that I'd probably feel very similarly about a replica Mustang.

It would be *really* interesting if Fighter Factory owned the Mustang type certificate like Cavalier did.

A lot will depend on how well these airframes are actually made. If they end up being high quality products, I don't see any reason why they wouldn't be just as fun to fly and sexy to look at than a real North American Mustang. If they don't end up being high quality, then they will definitely become a laughing stock to the warbird community.

I've bought some parts (unknowlingly via another friend) from them already. They are high quality. I have obtain a pop-off valve and elevator trim jack screws with the Aussie mods. All installed and running for at least a year now.

This whole "real vs reproduction" discussion really boils down the owners individual mission. If your mission is, "to own and control a piece of history" then "real" is a big deal.

If you believe, as I do, that these airplanes are "a tool to tell a story" then "real vs reproduction" is not a big deal at all. If "stretching" the definintion of "real" makes more people interested and willing to listen to the story of WWII, and the fact that "freedom is not free" then I strongly support calling an airplane that has one original gear leg or a hydraulic tank "real."

I know the hardcores don't agree, but quite frankly I don't care, because they should already know the story of WWII and the cost of freedom. I am trying to talk to the kids and the soccer moms, and if they will pay more attention to an airplane and find it more interesting if it is real rather than a replica, then I'm gonna call it "real." No matter if it is certified limited, exp. exhibition or exp. amatuer built.

Just my opinion.

Tailwinds,
Doug

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Tailwinds,
Doug Rozendaal

Ah, for the love of bundles of $$!

Personally, I'd love a "New" P-51D - It seems a bit like racing Shelby Cobras - do you risk racing the real deal or do you opt for a "new" car and not feel so bad putting nicks and bumps in the paint and body.

Tom P
www.wendoverairbase.com