Warbird Information Exchange

I don't post a whole lot on here probably due to previous antagonistic threads in the past. Anyways, is there a A/C that you so desperately love to see fly for the first time in your life, that as the anticipation builds up there is a bit of a let down when you see it? My case is the Vultee Vengeance, its a unique plane, but it's rather obscurity during the war, doesn't invoke the same passions as say a P-40, or a Corsair. This is not a attack on anyones hope or dreams, just want to hear your response, thanks.

_________________
Negative Ghost Rider the pattern is full

I love obscure aircraft of ww2. i'm burned out on the zekes, 109's, 190's, b-17's, p-51's etc. if there are any vengeance carcasses lying around they would probably have aussie or new Zealand insignia. don't forget to this day there are regions of new guinea that are uncharted to this day. no telling what may pop up anytime. 1 can only hope.

_________________
tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

I totally agree. I was on the old Spirit of Waco for 3 years going to different airshows and I did get tired of all the Texans and other typical planes. But I agree also with the Vengeance. That is one cool and sweet looking plane. I would love to see one at a show.

The New Zealand Air Force did not operate the Vultee Vengeance. The RAAF operated them in New Guinea and Australia. The RAF and Indian Air Force flew them in combat in Burma theatre too... The only complete example sits in the Thomas Collection at Camden, NSW [Sydney area].... It is unrestored and a time capsule.

Speaking of Vultee, I'd like to see a P-66

_________________
GOOD MORNING, WELCOME TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Press "1" for English.
Press "2" to disconnect until you have learned to speak English.

In terms of feeling disappointed when I see or hear of a much-anticipated, previously extinct type flying again, I honestly can't relate to you at all. I anticipate it, it flies, I love it. All good. The only let-down is when it gets retired or wrecked before I get to see it. As has happened with, e.g., the I-15, I-153 and Ki-43 projects, or the Hughes racer. Maybe my biggest let-down in recent years has been the Shearwater Firefly, which got half-wrecked and seems fated to get retired without ANYBODY seeing it fly. But I have been fortunate to see several special restorations fly that got retired or wrecked before most of my fellow enthusiasts saw them, so overall I count myself lucky.

August

Yeah, I have to agree with k5083, Im only saddened when an aircraft is retired or wrecked. (RACE 74) If anything, Im overjoyed to hear a extinct (or close to extinct type) will fly again.

_________________
Keep Em' Flying,
Christopher Soltis
Dedicated to the preservation and education of The Sikorsky Memorial Airport

CASC Blog Page: http://ctair-space.blogspot.com/
Warbird Wear: https://www.redbubble.com/people/warbirdwear/shop

Chicks Dig Warbirds.......right?

my thoughts on exiction is the final example of something should be benched. retain a reference copy that does not circulate (i work in a library). but fly the heck out of anything there's more than 1 of. i bet i'm in the minority here. walter would be very unhappy about race 74 don't you think? i wouldn't wanna cross his ghost! speaking of uncharted new guinea, they'll find amelia and fred one day. on PNG! i'm a believer! i'm excited about continuing new finds in the deserts and swamps and canyons and mountaintops of the planet. those polikarpovs are retired? why--too twitchy to fly? they do look a bit dangerous. i have fancy air to air calendar shots of those....

I am a little confused. There isn't a flying Vengeance anwhere and you expect to feel let down if one ever flys?

I remember when younger being a little disappointed at seeing a T-6 fly in a rather pedestrian fashion. But once I realized that above all the pilot has to be safe and there is a huge performance difference between modern military types and warbirds and between combat types and trainers it was easy to focus on the sight and sound and try to relate to the events of years ago.

_________________
"I can't understand it, I cut it twice and it's still too short!" Robert F. Dupre' 1923-2010 Go With God.

I know it wo'nt be a let down to see pic.s of P.O.F 's O-47 take to the skys again, man, I love that big a$$ bird!! Way COOL! Belly & all!

F-82, Blenheim, Bolingbroke, Beaufort, P-61, FW-190D, Tony, B-17E....

None of these will disappoint me when they fly!

Nor will the ones that I'm sure I've missed!

August, I very much agree, that the loss of the Hughes racer (and especially Jim Wright) was a huge heartbreak.

No doubt the Firefly debacle will put an end to the "fly it once" practice at Shearwater.

Andy Scott

I don't think I've ever been disappointed seeing any airplane fly. Even seeing a ubiquitous Cessna 172 departing from the local general aviation field still puts a smile on my face, let alone any kind of Warbird. If a plane has a round engine(s) up front, regardless of age or type, that is an automatic thrill...just something about the sound of a radial engine that is unlike anything else.

guess you gotta see something to then evaluate if a disappointment of course so my order would be thus for types i have not personally seen flying
p38 - heck i live in uk...these things are rare! Flying legends 2014 hopefully will fulfil that bucket list item
mossie- "we" need one in the UK skies again, i live close to chester, home of the last flying one that sadly crashed many years ago in the UK and i cannot believe for a second i will be disappointed when we finally get the chance to see one again...please please soon!
beaufighter - keep seeing the one in the TFC hangar at Duxford and would love to see it in the air. Many years of going to Duxford and i still feel no closer

not sure i have ever been disappointed by any of the planes i have seen over the years as i personally appreciate the tremendous efforts put in by owners,pilots, volunteers alike..regardless of perceived beauty, status of type. Every plane in the air should be celebrated...IMHO

guess you gotta see something to then evaluate if a disappointment of course so my order would be thus for types i have not personally seen flying
p38 - heck i live in uk...these things are rare! Flying legends 2014 hopefully will fulfil that bucket list item
mossie- "we" need one in the UK skies again, i live close to chester, home of the last flying one that sadly crashed many years ago in the UK and i cannot believe for a second i will be disappointed when we finally get the chance to see one again...please please soon!
beaufighter - keep seeing the one in the TFC hangar at Duxford and would love to see it in the air. Many years of going to Duxford and i still feel no closer

not sure i have ever been disappointed by any of the planes i have seen over the years as i personally appreciate the tremendous efforts put in by owners,pilots, volunteers alike..regardless of perceived beauty, status of type. Every plane in the air should be celebrated...IMHO

I guess the therapists must be on spring break, or I just can't feel the WIX love....

If you're depressed or let down when something flies after hundreds of thousands of dollars, thousands of hours of work, and countless numbers of small problems, deliberations, and solutions, I suggest you take up something less "challenging" to your emotions, like beanie babies, or the National Enquirer, or perhaps Miley Ray Cyrus' twitter feed. Or perhaps a rousing men's marching and chowder club would be to your liking. Too much excitement for somebody like that might not be good- it might bring the vapors up, or a Mexican Heart Attack, or a socially inexcusable fart.

I'm late for my sensitivity training. Tonight, we're going to share cookie recipes and angst....

_________________
REMEMBER THE SERGEANT PILOTS!