Warbird Information Exchange

Doesn't a photo like this just make your pulse jump a couple of ticks...

http://ipmsauckland.hobbyvista.com/Gall ... 4u1_za.jpg

_________________
It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT DOES!

_________________
www.tailhookstudio.com

Quite Yummy

I'm a bit curious what the TAM Museum in Brazil has got going with the "birdcage" bird. As I understand it, the plane is still in semi-displayed hangar storage. The founder of the museum died around the same time the Corsair arrived, and I've often wondered if that caused some of the air to be let out of the project. I'm kind of discouraged that the plane has been shuffled away to South America and effectively grounded, though having a "flying" museum in that region of the world is definitely an imporant footnote in warbird scene. I just hope they at least keep the engine warm from time to time. An air-to-air photo shoot would be superb!

_________________
Rob Mears
'Surviving Corsairs' Historian
robcmears@yahoo.com
http://www.robmears.com

I'd rather see the "birdcage" back in the USA. I dream of seeing it. Swap it for a FG-1D if we have too.

_________________
www.tailhookstudio.com

When the 1a was owned by Don Knapp in Texas he brought it to the Breckenridge Airshow... what a machine. I am glad I got to see it fly. A friend asked Don if he could sit in it and we climbed up on it for a cockpit tour and inspection. Don had the pilots manual tied to a rope and it was tied to the seat. So if he needed to read up on something while he was flying along he felt for the rope and pulled it up into his lap to read!!! If I remember the story right the reason it survives today is because it flew off the carrier is was based on to a land base and never made it back on the ship.

There are some great air-to-air shots around of the bird over the mountains of New Zealand. Amazing photos and high on my list of favorite Corsairs. Like ya'll I hope it makes it back to the US at some point.

I'll have to dig up my pictures from Breckenridge and see if there is a good shot of it.

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

Good call on the -1A reference. Most folks don't realize it was converted from a bubble canopy type.

_________________
Rob Mears
'Surviving Corsairs' Historian
robcmears@yahoo.com
http://www.robmears.com

I spoke to one of the guys from Wanaka shortly after the Corsair moved to Brazil. He said that the aircraft needed a lot of work done on it if it was to remain airworthy.

So rather than think of TAM grounding an airworthy warbird, think of them as having an excellent basis for an airworthy project!

Cheers,

Brett

I was talking to Ross last week, he has had a few bites but as of last Wednesday his Corsair is still for sale. The Corsair has had a little bit more restoration work done on it since the photos were taken. I will let you know more in the next few weeks as he has given me permission to go and crawl all over it. Ross is selling it as his focus has moved onto military vehicles and he has relised he probably will not have the resources to give it the restoration it deserves.

It would be nice if more airframe horders had his presence of mind and released their stored airframes that everyone but themselves know they will never get round to doing anything with. This is not to detract from these peoples foresight in saving these airframes when no-one else wanted them.

Hi Hairy... since you'll be having a good tour around Ross's corsair, could you do me a favour, and take some really detailed shots inside the cockpit. I am also keen to see what the writing is on the pilot's head armour... you can't quite make it out in the photos shown earlier in this thread... thank very much!

Cheers,
Richard

http://www.nzfpm.co.nz/former/f4u1.htm

For anyone who is interested the NZFPM just released a CD of walkaround (interior and exterior) detail photos of the F4U1 and the Avenger, both of which left the collection about five years ago... The several hundred photos were misplaced (by me, not the museum) for a long time and finally surfaced earlier this year at which point they were scanned and put onto CD. Anyone who is interested should contact Ian at the museum.

Chris

Hi Everybody,
My Name is Erik Knapp. The Don Knapp that died in the P51 Mustang was my father. My mother and father got divorced when I was a boy and I was raised by my mother. We just found out in 2003 that he died. Since then I have been trying to get more information about my father. If any of you were his friend and have any pictures of him or his planes or stories that you would like to share with me and my brothers we would appreciate it if you could call me @ 732-616-7427 and ask for Erik or e-mail me your name & phone # and I will call you. My e-mail is blueclaw1@netzero.net. I am now a grown man with 2 boys who never met their grandfather and I would like to show them some pictures of him. I will be glad to pay for any pictures that you have of him. Thanks in advance for any and all information.