This has not turned into a attack on the EAA, I just stated the Facts...!! Now since you feel Quilty...let me make a few things clear:
Zachary...If you work for the EAA, then do you draw a payroll check from them every week or two..?? If so... your payroll money would come from all the money collected from Memembership, EAA Sales of clothes, hats, patches, decals, coffee cups, pens, pencils, polo shirts, jackets, Grant Money, State Money, Company Money ...etc etc... I could keep going. All of this helps to run the program, from people out here sending money in there. We are all owners in one way or another in the EAA. Except they have a Board of Directors to run the program, and sometimes their idea is not the best according to some. But we all could not have a say, or it would be terrible. Someone has to be the Chief, and everyone else has to be the Indian.
I stated that the EAA decided to stop flying their Corsair right before the Gathering, they knew about the Gathering, and the Corsair was still flying, and the Corsair was going to be paid to appear. I was not asking it to show up for FREE, like what alot of the other Warbirds do every year to come to Oshkosh. They do not pay for fuel unless you are flying in the show, then they say how much. The Gathering was paying for all the Fuel , Oil, Rooms , Transportation, Food, and flat out FUN..!!! Not to Mention the History that was made and all of the 300+ WWII and Korean Pilots and Crew that Built, Flew, Maintained, and today Own a F4U Corsair. And lets not forget that Vought Paid the Bill for this Show. 'Thanks"...!!!
Believe me I have a REAL good idea of what it takes to run and maintain a warbird today. I have done it since 2002, took care of the bookings, cleaned the aircraft every weekend after a show, paid the Bills, took care of Insurance,..etc etc. Let me say it one more time, The EAA knew about the Gathering, and I wish they would have put a little more consideration into an event that was taking place "other than Their Own" and showing invovlement 1 more time before they decided to put the bird inside for a long time. The Corsair was donated to them, they did not buy it. Just like alot of other aircraft and artifacts that they house in the Museum. The EAA has done nice things for General Aviation and handling some of the problems with the FAA, so has AOPA. Thank You.
The Mustang Gathering, I can not speak for as to how they handled their sponsorship or paying anyone to come to help cover expenses. I know alot of Owners and Museums went because they wanted to, and Im sure that the People that put together the Mustang Gathering would have liked to have seen the EAA's Mustang there as well, as a few others that did not show.
It is getting very expensive to fly and maintain the warbirds today, and Owners, Museums, Investors, Board Memembers have to decide what to fly and for how long. I never picked on the EAA, I was just disappointed in their Non-Involvement.
BDK...Thank You.. the memembers and Non memembers have flown those kids, I have...!!! The EAA did not refund me any money for fuel, or time on the Hobbs meter to run a Stearman, or T-34.
Vlado...Thank You as well. !!! I have let them know of my opion at the time, with no answer back. I had talked with Bill Harrison several times and he tried to help get the Corsair there. He wanted to be part of the Event.
And on a closing, you talked of being paid to interview WWII Vets, I paid to have a 8 Hour DVD made of the Gathering, and the F4U Corsair People we talked to while making that DVD was paid for by Me, and 2 other people that are Co-Owners in the Corsair Experience. We have the Masters with over 25 hours of interviews that are now "Locked Up" in the National Archives. I am a F4U Corsair Historian.
Have a Nice Day, and No One Turned this into an Attack on the EAA, I am just Disappointed, and I would say there are a few if not several more people out there just as upset with things the EAA has done. You can give Everyone a Gold Bar, and someone will say They wanted "Silver"
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Gotcha! I just had to get in on the April 1st shennanigans... 
