Warbird Information Exchange

Authentic' or ''original?'' Since both contain substantial amounts of new metal, surely they cannot be described as 'original'.

The 0-2 at MAPS would have to be the most original that I know of. Right down to the paint.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

I guess the newer we go, the more 'original'. For types which come straight out of service or storage into 'warbird' ownership, they'll be very original. For WWII types and earlier, which were first civilianised as working aeroplanes (transport, firebomber, sprayer or whatever) or racers or sportplanes (Bearcats, P-51s, etc) then only recently restored to military spec, that originality is lost forever (however much time, effort and money is spent on replicating wiring, placards, etc, and however good the result, it's never going to be quite the same as having the original, unmolested item)

You're right, Mike, only the newer types have a snowballs chance of being original as released from service. There wasn't much attempt to keep the WWII types original because of the alternate usages they were originally saved for.

The newer types were saved for exactly the existance they are now being operated for. They were saved to be warbirds from the very start, very few of the previous class were saved for that purpose and those that were have been rebuilt and modified through the years for various and sundry reasons.

Mustangdriver, we have been fortunate to get pictures of BuNo 153524 throughout its Navy career, it never left the states. It was used by various Navy test squadrons, finishing its career with the Naval Test Pilot's School at Pax River. The paint currently applied pays tribute to the Marine H&MS 11 Playboys, the unit wrote the book on fast FACing. It is, however, photo documented as to application of the markings, depicting DaNang, 1969-70.

Might be authentic, but the P-40 is probably one of the least 'original' around. 'Bite sized chucks' were all that was recovered from the crash site, it is a new airframe.

One of the most original and authentic will be Paul Allen's Fw190A-5, right down to all but two of the original skins and paint matched from chips found on protected parts of the aircraft.

Dave

Hey DaveM2,

Is Paul Allen's Fw190A-5 that you mentioned that one that has the youtube video of it being discovered in a forested area of Finland? I can't seem to find the link to that video though.

And Rich, you're very right. It's much easier for newer airplanes to be more "original" especially because it seems these days we appreciate the preservation of retired military planes more than say, after WWII.

My favourite experience to date has been the chance I had to sit in George Maude's P-40. The cockpit is pretty much untouched since 1945. It's amazing.

The reason I like the "original" concept so much is because when I touch an original plane and when I see it up close, it's the same way it was when some young man was flying it many decades ago. It's that sense of connection with the past that I love. Like the feeling of putting your hand on the control column and your feet on the pedals, and your other hand on the throttle... and knowing that over 60 years ago, some young man was doing the same thing, and grinning the same way I was. The only difference was that he was risking his life, while I was indulging in a guilty pleasure. It's a neat feeling to sit there and realize the last person to have flown this airplane was a real WWII fighter pilot.

Cheers,

David

Steve, Bill was telling a story. It did see combat flying off the USS Yorktown with VT-88. That TBM had been sold to several Firebomber outfits, but it was not used that much, mostly as a spare. It was restored by Gorden Plaskett. He installed the Turret and Bomb bay doors. There are no original radios installed. The cockpit does still have the plotting board installed. I was planning on installing the original radio gear and had even located a complete radar set. but since I am no longer working with Hans, that will not happen. Last I heard the plane suffered a engine failure and is now in Buckeye awaiting a new engine.

Thanks. She looks great. So does the F-4.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

Not flying, but probably could with some work, but Connie Edwards' P-51D out in west Texas is pretty undisturbed.

It is VERY undisturbed.

Gary

I will never understand why people make up stories like this.

As is said in the firearms community, "buy the gun, not the story."

What about Lil Margaret? I thought it had most of her original equipment still in her.


Aero

ditto, I can't find it either; should be on here somewhere though:

http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/

And yes, it is the same aircraft, and iirc it was found in Russia.

cheers

greg v.