Warbird Information Exchange

Hello, I live in northern Alabama and I am 14 years old, and avition has been apart of me all my life. I have started on my private pilots license in a Bellanca Citabria. Yes, I am learning in a conventional geared airplane. I have about 6 hours and 12 landings. I love warbirds though. The airport I fly at ,Pryor Field, used to be a World War II traing field. The owner ,Clay Smith, has a Stearman that he restored that used to be stationed at Pryor Field during the war, and an Interstate L-6. Both of these warbirds have numerous awards at Oshkosh. The first time I saw the stearman when I was young that big exposed radial engine sparked something in me. I realy like warbirds and want to get involved somehow. My dream is to help with a Helldiver because I have a friend who flew them in World war II. I would love to help out with any warbird. BT-13, at-6, p-63, or any World War II airplane. If its restorriation, Helping with maintence or anything. Does anyone know of an airplane that is being restored near norhern Alabama. I am sorry for giving my life story but just wanted you to have a little background on me. Thank you for reading

,John

Welcome and good luck with your ambitions. I love L-6s', rare and a good performer. Any pics?

Hey John,

You sound like me. I started my "career" in warbirds at a local air museum. I began when I was 10 with office work and simple things, then when I was around your age I chatted up some volunteers on my lunch break and ended up spending the rest of the summer helping them restore our now complete Handley Page Hampden. After that I went on to do work on a Beech 18, a deHavilland Vampire, Fleet Finch, etc.

Nowadays I'm 25 and live quite far from the museum, but I help out with fundraising efforts and future planning stuff. Basically things I can do without having to be at the museum. Mind you, I'd always prefer to be around the planes and working on them.

So, my suggestion to you is if there is an air museum near by, join it, and tell them what you'd like to do and how you'd want to help. Museums will be more than happy to have "New blood" join them. Chances are you'd start at the bottom doing simple tasks, but as you gain their trust, you'll be able to move onto bigger and better things like airplane restorations.

Cheers,

David

P.S. Tailwheel all the way!!!

Ill try and get pics for you. I am trying to get a ride in the stearman but the owner has other priorties right now. They use the L-6 for local fly ins.
Thanks for the enthusasm

Welcome, there are a lot of us older guys on WIX that would like to be 14 and learning to fly. The Citabria will be fun and a good trainer; it's only negative is you can see over the nose from the front seat so you don't learn all the tailwheel stuff like a Stearman or T-6. Use and enjoy those 14 year old eyes and reflexes; but be cautious and listen to the old guys on things like weather and taking risks. Hey, at your age football was one of my top two also.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

Yes I am on the Jr varsity Football team as well. In Alabama football is a big deal. I like the Citabria. I think the one I fly has 150 HP and flaps but The instructor said not to use them on the Citabria. I love flying and to complete alot of things like the cross country I am going to have to fly a Cessena 172. The instructor said said that I will be ready to solo before I am 16. So he said that he will get me official time in a 150, 152, 172, and probbably the Warrior. I still love the citabria out of all of them. I have flown in all of them with my Dad. I love the Citabria for its power over the 150 and I love the feeling of taking off in grass. I surprise alot of older pilots when I say I am training in a tailwheel airplane. Well back to the subject I was thinking of over the summer helping the Dixie Wing CAF on there P-63. Do you think they would mind? I also want to help Mr.Clay Smith(the owner of Pryor Field) on his stearman next time he needs to work on it. Thanks

John,
Welcome! I started out when I was about your age (I'm now 17) flying a Piper J3-C65 Cub. I flew out of a little grass strip with my instructor and I had more fun than I could have ever imagined. For my Private I did most of my work in a Super Decathlon (basically a bigger Citabria) and was blown away by the performance difference between that and the Cub. Like Mr. Greenwood said, the visibility in the Citabria is better than almost all other taildragger warbirds (almost TOO good), but it is a great start. Many adult pilots have never flown a taildragger and it's something to very proud of. If you are interested in getting involved with the Dixie Wing of the CAF, call them up and go down to the hangar and start talking with them. Some of the most important and meaningful conversations I have had have been with experienced pilots and mechanics who have taken the time to talk to me. I guarantee they will be thrilled to see someone with your enthusiasm. Also you may be interested in joining the CAF as a Cadet member. I am currently one and many wings have programs that you could take part in. If you ever get down to Dallas track me down and we'll go out flying.
All the best,
Taylor Stevenson
me109me109@aol.com

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Taylor Stevenson

Hi John!

The CAF has a great cadet program. Get a hold of the Dixie Wing.

http://www.dixiewing.org/

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Check out our new website.
CAF SoCal Wing http://www.cafsocal.com/

Thanks. Getting down to Atlanta is on my to do list this summer. I am looking in to the Cadet program. Thanks for everything

Thanks. Getting down to Atlanta is on my to do list this summer. I am looking in to the Cadet program. Thanks for everything

Yeah, I have heard about Alabama football; we have a little football here in Texas also.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

The Dixie Wing is a great place, and there would probably be a way for you to help there. However, there are a couple of great museums a little closer to home which you might be able to get involved with.

First, there's the museum of Army Flying at Fort Rucker, in Ozark. They have an amazing collection of aircraft and helicopters.

Then, there is the Southern Museum of Flight, in Birmingham, Alabama. They have more of the WWII era aircraft that you might be interested in, including a B-25C which was raised recently from Lake Murray in South Carolina. One of their volunteers, Harry Ford, is a former Tuskegee Airman too, and a real gentleman.

Anyway, that's a couple of ideas at least. Best of luck to you on getting your pilots license. Your parents must be very proud!

All the best,
Richard

Thanks Richard. I will look at Birmingham. My dad is proud of me for doing it in a tail dragger. Alabama football is big and I to have heard about Texas football. My dad was born their.

Best of luck Citabria... you should contact the museum director, Jim Griffin. He's a really straight shooter, and I am sure that they would be able to use a guy with your enthusiasm.

Cheers,
Richard

PS. One of their volunteers is a chap named Col.Harry Ford, a former Tuskegee Airman!

Thanks I will have to do that soon. Probably at the very end of the school year. Thanks