Warbird Information Exchange

I'm 29...

Started in 1989 when I attended a summer camp at the National Warplane Museum in Geneseo, NY at the age of 10... two weeks of learning and hanging around a B-17, P-40, PBY and a whole lot more... go figure! I became a member after that and enjoyed many years volunteering as a tour guide (youngest one at the museum) and other odd jobs.

My orthodontist was Dr. Bill Anderson (owner of P-40E AK940 at the time) and my monthly appointments became 2 hour talks with him... he took me up for my first light plane ride in a J-3 Cub. I was to fly with him in the P-40 the summer it crashed... thus ending that chance. I subsequently flew with him to other shows in the ME-208 he had (Nord 1101) and was introduced to the Canadian airshow folks at the Spence airfield in Muirkirk... thus resulting in my first mention in a major magazine... "Canadians know how to party!" in an article written by Eric Dumigan (AIRIC)

My first warbird flight was in a BT-13 owned and flown by Bob Moses of Geneseo. He let me fly it for most of the flight... even though I was 14 at the time.

Became a charter member (#250) of the 1941 Historic Aircraft Group when it split from the National Warplane Museum. Led the youth group there for a few years and became the airshow announcer for the 1996 show (after the original announcer backed out at the last minute). Was invited back the year after to announce again!

Went to college at Daniel Webster College for Aviation Flight Operations (Professional Pilot) and got through my Private Pilot certificate there. Changed to Aviation Management major after I realized that airline flying wasn't for me.

First job after college was working for the Collings Foundation as the National Tour Coordinator and Director of Marketing. I managed the B-17 & B-24 tour for 5 years, built the website (most of what is at http://www.cfdn.org today), and did all the PR and marketing work. It was amazing that I was able to WORK for a living in warbirds!

Now I am the Associate Director of Marketing for Daniel Webster College, working mainly with the MBA for Aviation Professionals program and the recruitment for the aviation program at the undergraduate level. I also have started my own aviation marketing consultancy and have been working with some performers and airshows on developing strategic marketing plans.

Became great friends with Scott (WRG and WIX) midway through my time at CF and have been active on WIX since 2002.

Now live in Chandler, AZ where I am anticipating lots of new adventures in aviation and warbirds!

That's pretty much the quick story for me!

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Ryan Keough
Stow, MA

Couldn't you just make it under 40!!? At 39 I'm already having over the hill issues thanks!

Im on the edge of old at 33 . I always loved warbirds but got heavy into it 5 years ago with a trip to a crashed Banshee near where I live. Plus when I started dating my wife, her grandfather was a B-24 waist gunner in the Ploesti raids during WW2. Ever since then, WW2 history and aircraft have me hooked.

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Some people are like slinkys, good for nothing but bring a smile to your face when pushed down stairs.

I'm 25, been into aviation as long as I can remember. Does help that I live under the flight path of RAF Northolt, the Home of 32 Sqn, the Queen's Flight. The earliest memory I have of warbirds is watching one of the BBMF spitfires practising a dsiplay over my local park. They used to visit Northolt a lot when i was younger. This love turned into a hobby with my model collection, currently standing at about 20 1/48 and 1/24 scale models.

I also studied aircraft engineering at University but the career has had to be put on hold for the moment.

Make an annual trip in July to Duxford for the Flying Legends show to get my fix of Warbirds, but I usually have to beg someone to drive me there.

I'm 25, I guess what really got me interested in warbirds was my dad taking me the the CAF shows at Holman Field in the late 80s and early 90s

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Dan Johnson

I had a similar flight suit and a leather jacket at age 3. BTW your dad is a great guy

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Taylor Stevenson

Good god I'm old

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Don't touch my junk!!

Just turned 34, so I guess I qualify as a "young WIXer".

Been a warbird enthusiast as long as I can remember, and have had a goal to fly them for the same duration. I haven't gotten there yet (unless you consider current-day warbird fighters and trainers in service -- which, by definition, I don't).

Like others have stated, I've always been the youngest guy in the crowd whenever I've been participating in restorations, or airshows, or other events. The good news is that I get older, that observation seems to be less and less correct.

It IS tough for younger folks to break into warbird maintaining/flying/owning these days -- significantly more difficult than the half-generation before us.

The airplanes are becoming so much more costly to own, insure, maintain, and operate than in years past...it makes the warbird game so much more for the wealthy than ever before. By definition, this will cause the clique to get smaller and smaller, even in organizations like the CAF, Collings, and other big groups/museums that keep 'em flying.

I don't have a good answer for it, but eventually as the "CAF generation" of original warbird owners starts to get too old to fly, the torch will have to be passed...and we will be there to pick it up someday.

Thanks, Taylor. Had the chance to meet your dad last weekend too. Also a great guy.

Well... assumed I was one of the younger ones at 34! Been attending Warbird shows since I was about 10. Spent many a Memorial Day weekend at Breckenridge. Been flying since I was 16. Bought my first airplane at age 19 - a 1946 Taylorcraft. First Warbird ride was with Taylor's dad in their first T6! Awesome ride with a flight of 5 T6s! Bought my second airplane - 1956 Cessna 170B at age 22. Turned wrenches on alot of vintage airplanes. Look forward to flying some Warbirds as PIC in the future. The disease still all consuming...

Great to see the younger crowd in here.

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Blue Skies,
Dan
http://www.flytoanothertime.com

Wow, it is interesting to see the ages here. I'm 27, and I never thought there were so many wixer's in my (our) age bracket. I'm not sure if this thread makes me feel young or old..... I always felt young on this board, I think mostly because of the people I work with at MAAM. Its very good to know there IS a next generation, and its bigger than I thought. If anybody's coming to Reading, send me a PM... and that goes for those old guys too

My 9 year old son says anyone over 16 is old.

Over 16 is old!?! No wonder my hip is bothering me... Anyways, I'm off to drink my ensure...

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Taylor Stevenson

28.

My dad was an air force guy in vietnam packing chutes in phantoms and f100s. He started taking me to airshows when i was 2. I don't remember it but apparently I was terrified of the Corsair and ran away during it's flyby. My first airplane memory is spending the day underneath the wing of 'Briefing Time' while it rained all day at an airshow in York, PA in 1983. Growing up airshows were more exciting to me than Christmas.



Heck I practically live down the road from you! I have thought about joining MAAM and volunteering some time. Someday I will stop thinking and start doing

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Jeff

Yeah, I'm an old geezer like CH2T driver.......39. Let me give you younsters some advice: Take your flying lessons while you still can. He did it and has his multi-engine rating. Once you settle down, have kids, and buy a house, the money becomes tighter and you might be still dreaming about it like me!