What are the chances?

[Falcon10]

Hello everybody,
This is a great site and I have been a troll for too long. I am an aviation nut. I work, eat and sleep all things aviation much like yourselves. Currently I am a CFI building hours with students who refuse to flare an airplane when landing and use those things on the floor as foot rests not rudder inputs. I am not looking to be an RJ driver and have always been attracted to the fringe jobs in aviation such as bush flying, adventure tours in beavers etc. Now that being said, what are the chances i could be in a position to fly a WWII era warbird for a flying museum or airshow? How would one go about catering their early aviation career to be in a position in 10-20 years to be able to fly these beautiful machines without winning the lottery or being a doctor:). It saddens me when I show my students between the age 17-22 a picture of a B-17 and the can't tell me what kind of a/c it is. I feel that the pool of qualified pilots with interest in these aircraft are shrinking. Maybe down the road I could be in the left seat of a Beech 18, A-26 maybe even a F8f if the trend continues. Your thoughts and inputs are welcome. Now for those who read all of that I reward you with this beauty.

[marine air]

Welcome aboard , great photo. YOu know I have never seen an F8F restored with 50 calibers and bomb racks and appropriate ordnance. Still hoping...

[warbird1]

If you have no contacts (read rich millionaire friends) or no money (you are a CFI, so you're poor), the best way is to volunteer at your local flying musueum. I know of numerous examples of individuals who started volunteering at musuems when they were in their teens or 20's and now in their 30's and 40's are flying major warbirds, including the ones you talk about. The thing with flying museums, is that they want some kind of assurance that you are serious, committed and willing to spend the time it takes to fulfilling the museum's goals and mission statement. If you can do that, it will open many doors and contacts to enable you to fly the big iron. Nobody, and I mean nobody will let you fly their warbirds unless you have the experience and qualifications to do so. Even if they were stupid enough to allow it, the insurance company would not allow it. So, in order to do that, you must get lots and lots of taildragger time.

You must start out slow and work your way up. For example at the Planes of Fame museum at Chino, the volunteers usually start out on something light and slow, like the L-5 or Stearman, then progress to the T-6 and then the more forgiving big iron, like the SBD, then Corsair and Mustang.

If you do decide to go the volunteer route at a museum, realize that it could be at least 10 years before you get the opportunity to fly the big birds. When flying Museums check out pilots to fly their big warbirds, they only give that priviledge to volunteers who are qualified and have proven their dedication to the Museum's needs. Remember, everybody starts out sweeping floors at the hangar. It is a long road to fly the planes, but it can be yours if you have the desire.

Just my two cents from what I've seen at Museums and heard from my friends in aviation.

Good luck!

[Falcon10]

Thank you warbird1. I have got nothing but time (see young) so 10-20 years to get to my dream is a small price to pay. Tailwheel time is something i have although nowhere near whats required. Even if i wanted to instruct at my local grass field the insurance wants 300 hours TW time. When choosing between tailwheel or twin time to pay for, the twin wins 95% of the time since thats what will get me making money faster.

[Elroy13]

Welcome aboard , great photo. YOu know I have never seen an F8F restored with 50 calibers and bomb racks and appropriate ordnance. Still hoping...

The LSFM Bearcat was restored with the bomb racks and stuff on it before she was made into Blue Angel #1.

And welcome aboard Falcon10!!

[Ztex]

Hey Falcon!

PM this guy... http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB2/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=2404

I know Pat, he started out as a youngster hanging around a museum and now he has some B-17 time in his log book...

It can be done.

[Johan]

Falcon,

All I can say is live your dream. And if you ahve to sweep floors to do so, then sweep them.

Sadly enough we don'thave flying musseeums in
belgium so I have to find another way to get in the cockpit of a warbird. But I'm persistent enough to get there. Once I finish my house, I'm going for my license.

Johan

[Chuck Gardner]

I reccomend getting a summer job towing banners to build up your tailwheel time. I used to get 500 hours in 3 months flying the beaches in MD and FL. http://youtube.com/watch?v=rUJGjKMHbFY
Its a hard life without much pay, but you will need much tailwheel time to fly the warbirds.

[Mudge]

Falcon,
Welcome aboard.

Maybe down the road I could be in the left seat of a Beech 18, A-26 maybe even a F8f if the trend continues.

I could be mistaken (I was once. I believe it was 1953.) but none of the F-8s I've seen have a left seat.

Mudge the observant

[Falcon10]

I could be mistaken (I was once. I believe it was 1953.) but none of the F-8s I've seen have a left seat.

Mudge you know what I meant. Thanks for the replies everyone this will get me headed in the right direction.

[Mudge]

Falcon..."Just funnin', son. Just funnin'."
I don't know though...sometimes youse troops from PA talk a bit strange.
Might take you awhile to get on to my sometimes obtuse sense of humor.
I've been regaling these troops with it for a number of years and some of 'em still don't get it. (And you know who you are. )

Mudge the off center

[Bill Greenwood]

Falcon: contact with a local flying museum is good, perhaps a local glider tow job if there is one. I think being a CFI with tailwheel time gives you a good start. Is there a local pilot who owns a warbird? If so find a time when he is there and not busy and introduce yourself, that you have an interest in these types of planes. If he is pushing it out of the hangar or washing it, ask if you might lend a hand. Are you willing to grab a rag, some solvent, a creeper and crawl under a warbird to clean the belly (wear goggles and gloves) ? It doesn't take much skill, just work ethic. It is a job a lot of pilots don't enjoy and as you get a little older knees don't bend as well. Be realistic, no one is going to give a stranger a $2m airplane to fly; and if you buy the flight from a commercial service a T-6 hour is perhaps $550, a P-51 over $3000. But 8 out of 10 warbird owners were once at the side looking in, and most want to promote interest in aviation. Maybe the waribird owner could use a local CFI to ferry him to pick up parts to/from the shop he uses, maybe get checked out in his Cessna 182 or whatever normal plane he may have to back up the warbird. And one day the owner may be going flying and have a seat available. A couple of things are important at least to me. Be reliable, if you say you are coming in at 8 am Sat morn to help wash the plane, then be there at 7:45. No showing up at 10 with a story about how the car would not start. Another thing, be safety conscious, people's lives are at stake when dealing with airplanes. Listen to instructions and use common sense, don't get in a hurry and forget to secure the oil filler cap. Will being useful and friendly get you flight time? There is no guarantee, but I can"t count the number of times I have washed a plane by myself and it gets old, not counting fueling, going for sandwiches, etc. Most important, it only works if you like what it involves, if you feel it is a good time even if you don't get to fly. And there is a chance you may meet the rare owner with his nose in the air, especially if your airport is the high security corporate type place. Finally, the CAF welcomes sponsors if you have $1000 or 2000 and it may lead to a chance to fly, don't know if there are any in Pa.

[Falcon10]

Falcon..."Just funnin', son. Just funnin'."
I don't know though...sometimes youse troops from PA talk a bit strange.
Might take you awhile to get on to my sometimes obtuse sense of humor.
I've been regaling these troops with it for a number of years and some of 'em still don't get it. (And you know who you are. )

Mudge the off center

I look forward to our interactions as i feel we have the same humor.

Bill great stuff. TW and HP time are high on my list to build along with the multi. Contacts are a big part of aviation in general. I've gotten more hours from saying hello to airplane owners than not. Say, Bill call me when you need your plane washed, I'd love to molest a spitife

[skybolt2003]

I think Brandywine Soaring is near you. (They just had a fatal towplane accident recently and are looking for a new towplane.) I know from experience of running a soaring club that we are always looking for tailwheel pilots who want to tow. If its a club you probably won't get paid much or anything, but the flying is free. A commercial operation will pay something. You can get a lot of time in a Pawnee – tailwheel and HP.

[Falcon10]

I am about 1/2 mile from the departure end of 25 at Vansant airport. I have inquired through flying with them about towing and the Insurance Mins are a lot more than what I have logged. I know we have digressed from the warbird theme but thanks for everyones responses and I hope this helps other "uts" in getting started toward their dreams.