Gathering of Corsairs 2009?

[richkolasa]

Hi,

Over on ASB, Mint Moore is talking about a gathering, potentially in Texas. He stated that due to there being 7 Corsairs registered in Texas, it would be the logical place.

I disagree. I think that most of the "regular" airshow-visible corsairs are in the upper half of the States, and it would be better to shoot for Akron (Goodyear history there) or Indy or Columbus.

Here's my basic run-down of Corsairs that might attend in Akron, for instance:

FG-1D- Michael Potter (Ottawa, Ont)
F4U-5N- Collings (Mass)
FG-1D- Clyman (Long Island)
FG-1D- Tom Duffy (NJ)
FG-1D- Jerry Yagen (VA)
F4U-7- (Manassas, VA)
F4U-4- Doug Matthews (FL)
F4U-5- Mike George (IN?)
F4U-5- formerly Jim Read (MI)
F2G- Bob Odegaard (ND)
F2G- 2nd plane? Bob Odegaard (ND) (would that be AWESOME!!)
and I think the CAF and POF Corsairs would also be "gettable" since they've both appeared at Cleveland in recent years, plus the Lone Star's -5 has certainly gotten around over the years.

Anyone care to add some planes that might make it, and your opinion? Not looking for a battle, just would like to hear what some others think. Howard Pardue I assume still owns at least one, and he's been to Oshkosh plenty, so I think he'd be able to be gotten.

Now, who's got a fuel sponsor in mind? Do you think that Goodyear might be talked into sponsoring based on the success of the Gathering of Mustangs? How about a blimp/corsair formation?

Anyone know the status of any restorations? Jim Tobul's? How about the late Gerry Beck's Corsair?

Rich

[warbirdguy]

Mike George is based in Springfield, IL not Indiana.

[kenlyco]

I think Jerry O. can tell you how much fun he had

[planenutti]

Jerry Yagen's might not be ready after the incident earlier this year.

[Nathan]

There is a psosible Corsair Gathering for Geneseo next year. Thats just rumor and I know you all hate rumors but it gets a dreaming thats for sure.

[warbirdguy]

Here's the count I've been able to come up with to give you an idea as to where Corsairs are currently based. I may have missed some but it's a general idea.

CALIFORNIA 3+
TEXAS 5
NEW JERSEY 1
NEW YORK 1
CANADA 1
NORTH DAKOTA 2
FLORIDA 2
MICHIGAN 1
ILLINOIS 1
VIRGINIA 1+
MONTANA 1

Though there is a significant number in Texas there are at least 8 based in the Northern/ Eastern US & Canada that could easily make the trek to the Midwest.

Hopefully another gathering can take place in the next few years!

[richkolasa]

How about some of you "in the know" people talking about current restorations? Who got the one that used to be at Tom Reilly's (in the late 1990s)? I think it was a -4.

Rich

[jaybird]

The -4 project formerly at Reilly's supposedly was sold to the same entity that obtained the former Pardue and Cavanaugh -4 remains, and would be used for parts only toward either one or 2 completions...I have heard one for sure being done at Ezell's. As far as I know Howard does not have any Corsairs, his former owned -5 is in Montana, former owned FG-1D in California, and former owned -4 now the project mentioned (plus all the other Honduran machines brought back). I sure wish the secrecy would end and we could start enjoying some photos of these projects (former Pardue and Cavanaugh airframes). But the airplane I would really love to see a barage of current photos of would be the Goodyear example that recently left Soplata's farm for California.

If you really want to know any history or current information on existing Corsair airframes, just ask Wixer Rob Mears, there's no one better to answer.

[Jack Cook]

former owned FG-1D in California

N67HP was purchased by Mike Smith a number of years ago
is still owned by Del and in the EVG Air Museum.

[marine air]

My suggestion is Breckinridge , Texas, They have two being worked on at Ezell Aviaton, plus the ten or so you guys say are flyable. The airport environment hasn't changed much since the last airsho I went to in the 1980's. It would be a sentimental favorite.

[Jerry O'Neill]

I think Jerry O. can tell you how much fun he had

Besides the extra gray hair, the stress and burning the candle at both ends, it was the coolest thing I've ever been involved with!

It was more like a family reunion than a show. We even had Vought and Sikorsky family members attend. We tried to keep it interesting and low key so that participants could enjoy the sight, sounds and people who made history. I think one thing that really made it special was that the entire infrastructure from WWII (except for the tower on the side of the hangar) still exists. It made it easy to visualize what had happened there so many years ago.

I'm always interested in any multi-type gathering, but for obvious reasons, I'm partial to Stratford!
Blue skies,
jerry

[richkolasa]

I'd have no problem with a CT gathering, that's for sure. That's one hour away for me versus 6 for Akron, I was just thinking that the more central a location, the better chance of getting more aircraft. I see your points, though, with the history.

If I was working on this, the first thing I'd do is see who (whom?) might be interested in a corporate sponsorship. I'd tell the interested parties that I'd just seen a fortune-teller who told me that avgas will be $3.50 a gallon in 2009. That should get the ball rolling. Like I said at Geneseo, if just one stupid "institution of higher learning and wasting money" (major college) would put some endownment money into a historical outlet rather than a sports one, there would be fuel aplenty for such an event. I wish I hadn't turned down that job offer of the presidency at Yale, dang it!

Seriously, I hope something comes of this. There's no other heavy warbird like the Mustang when it comes to lore and flyable airframes, but I think the Corsair would be the logical "other" type to have their own big-time gathering. I'd love to see fifteen of them together.

Rich

[Lynn Allen]

My suggestion is Breckinridge , Texas, They have two being worked on at Ezell Aviaton, plus the ten or so you guys say are flyable. The airport environment hasn't changed much since the last airsho I went to in the 1980's. It would be a sentimental favorite.

Now we are cooking with gas here, I vote for Breckenridge,Texas as well, seeing I'm going over there next week for lunch......

Lynn

[k5083]

Like I said at Geneseo, if just one stupid "institution of higher learning and wasting money" (major college) would put some endownment money into a historical outlet rather than a sports one, there would be fuel aplenty for such an event.

If you could explain how a warbird gathering has anything to do with history, as opposed to a bunch of airplane buffs having a good time, I'm sure any major college would be interested.

Sports is a profit center for major colleges; on net, it builds endowment money (to support the history dept.!) rather than depleting it.

August

[richkolasa]

Yeah, warbirds have nothing to do with history. Call the Smithsonian right away and demand that they stop calling the recordings of veterans "oral histories".

Rich