CAF also selling their C-131

b29driver · **Posted:** Wed Feb 13, 2008 9:23 am

This is from AIRNAV:

Fuel price report Summary of fuel prices at 3662 FBOs nationwide
FUEL TYPES 100LL Avgas Avg Min Max
Nationwide $4.67 $3.00 $7.81

Few want to hear it, but in the future people will have to come to the airplanes instead of the airplanes coming to the people, especially the big ones.

Dan Newcomb · **Posted:** Wed Feb 13, 2008 12:32 pm

FYI: China Doll is NOT for sale. Tinker Bell is. I have worked on both and am currently helping to get the Doll back into the air.

I am also very familiar with the C-131. I have worked on her and flown in her. She is a great airplane but she just about bankrupted our wing. We spent over $250,000.00 squaring her away and I see she is for sale for $200,000.

Do the math. The whole C-131 experience we had makes me sick.

Dan

CAPFlyer · **Posted:** Wed Feb 13, 2008 3:54 pm

Dan, no one said anything about China Doll being sold or up for sale. We were talking about how China Doll is in a unique position among the "unglorious" transports in that between your wing's marketing efforts, location, and other factors, you've been able to do pretty well with the airplane. Your location (middle of film land) and being the only C-46 in the area makes it easier for you to be able to get better deals than say the R4D and other Goon's in Texas where there are 6 of them. That's all.

planenutti · **Posted:** Wed Feb 13, 2008 6:44 pm

All the transports have a bad time getting paid their value be they a C-46, C-47, C-54, C-60 or C-131. Like folks say, there ain't no guns or bombs, so why pay their value?
1. Funny how the transports make almost every show they contract for as compared to the fighters.
2. Let me see you load a PX full of tee's and stuff into your fighter.
3. Look at a flightline during a show and see how many folks make use of the shade provided free of charge. (BTW "Sir, please put out your cigerette, you do know that there is about 300 gallons of fuel right above your head", sorry pet peeve).
4. Find your niche, some folks have museums in their cargo holds and others drop parachute teams.
5. For those rainy day shows that we have all been to, besides the cover of the wings, how many folks can hide in the belly of a bomber as compared to your basic trash hauler.

coldaffyduck · **Posted:** Wed Feb 13, 2008 8:15 pm

As a member of the staff of the Old Dominion Squadron, I can garantee you that at this particular time we are not interested in another transport. With all the cost increases by HQ and rising fuel prices it will be nearly impossible for a transport to make a profit or even break even on its own in this air show market. You never know, at this time next year you might also see "Lady Lodestar" on Courtesy's website.

JBoyle · **Posted:** Wed Feb 13, 2008 11:52 pm

RNDMTRS4EVR wrote:

My dad used to fly one of those for the Nevada Air Guard! Really liked flying the Convair, he said "it was a pilots airplane" just a real nice airplane to fly, not too bad on the maintenance side of things either.
Scott.......

My dad flew them too, actually a VT-29 that was assigned as the base hack at Richards-Gebaur in the mid 60s.
He loved flying it, thought it was the nicest plane he'd flown...this coming from a guy with B-17, C-82, C-124, C-47, TB-25 time.

NathanT24 · **Joined:** Sun Jul 25, 2004 11:27 pm **Posts:** 252

Ok I MUST win the lottery, I would love to keep the C-131 flying. At Airsho 2004 I fell in love seeing the Convair fly! Now time to go buy $20 worth of lottery tickets so I can keep some warbirds flying!

Airlift48 · **Joined:** Sat Oct 29, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 746

CAPFlyer wrote:

As such, most airshow organizers are spending their money on the fighters and bombers (stuff that makes things go boom) instead of the transports because they're often in the situation of being able to afford one or the other and not both, so the transport looses out.

We have been struggling with this for years. The simple truth is, we continue to survive because the C-54 has a story to tell. The Berlin Airlift.

I can guarantee you that if we did not have that exhibit in the airplane and constantly make improvements such as the Video man, the music, and other interactive exhibits, we, too would not survive.

As Bob said, you have to find your niche.

Unfortunately, the transports simply dont have the glitz and are not celebrated like a bomber or transport. That is the plain truth. We manage because of what we can offer the public in the way of the museum. Those of you who have been aboard the C-54 know what I'm talking about.

Its just the nature of people. They like things that have guns sticking out of them. (Not that I can blame them. :wink:

)

Airlift48 · **Joined:** Sat Oct 29, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 746

coldaffyduck wrote:

You never know, at this time next year you might also see "Lady Lodestar" on Courtesy's website.

That would be terrible, Craig. I hope you guys get her back in the air soon!

Airlift48 · **Joined:** Sat Oct 29, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 746

coldaffyduck wrote:

You never know, at this time next year you might also see "Lady Lodestar" on Courtesy's website.

That would be terrible, Craig. I hope you guys get her back in the air soon!

Nathan · **Posted:** Fri Mar 07, 2008 8:50 pm

NathanT24 wrote:

Ok I MUST win the lottery, I would love to keep the C-131 flying. At Airsho 2004 I fell in love seeing the Convair fly! Now time to go buy $20 worth of lottery tickets so I can keep some warbirds flying!

Me too Nathan. Someone here HAS to win the lottery sooner or later. :lol:

Who ever wins gotta share the money though. :lol:

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CAF also selling their C-131

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