Warbird Information Exchange

Hello Gents,

This past Sunday I did something I said I was going to do for a while, I joined an aviation preservation group. I decided to join the Bayport Aerodrome Society in Bayport, Long Island NY. After my T-6 flight in April, the desire to start to pursue my goal (albeit long term and hopefull) of flying tailwheel historic aircraft came forefront. Sure, there is a flying warbird museum on Long Island but something about this place grabbed me. I was invited down to the monthly meeting by a member I met whose my age (40), paid my $35 dues and signed up. The group has everything from bi-planes (Stearmans, Bruner-Winkle Bird, Tiger Moth) to PT-19, to Piper Cubs/Cruiser/Vagabond/L-4 and Aeronca's. I got to meet some of the members who seemed very happy to see "young" people getting involved. One member remarked "Oh good now the average age will be lowered to 80 from 85!"

One of the Stearman pilots/owners is 82, a WW2 veteran and still flying. Most are in their 60's though and the new Sport Pilot regs will allow them to keep flying longer. I checked out the various projects and was impressed at the knowledge of wood and fabric restoration techniques that we are so close to loosing forever if no one takes up the torch. It is a very active group and they participate in a lot of fly-outs and EAA events. The fact that I am a CFI with 2700+ hours will allow me to fly in some of the Young Eagle events when the time comes. Tailwheel time is my goal since thats lacking.

In August in addition to an EAA Fly-In they have a community appreciation picnic. It is open to the general public but the local residents(neighbors) are actually given a ticket for a free airplane ride at the event. They needed volunteers for the event and I put my hand up. I guess I got lucky because I was offered the job of working with the ride-boss and I'll be escorting people out to all the planes and getting them strapped in for their rides, and then take them out when they're done. A member said "That's great, you'll be on the flightline all day!" I figured they'd stick the new guy with trash and port-a-potty dumper!

To top my day off, I got a ride in a 1940 J3 Cub. Taking off from the grass strip, open door flying low over the south shore and Great South Bay, and a little bit of stick time from the front seat to boot! Next step when money and opportunity present themselves I hope to get the tailwheel endoresement.

http://www.bayportaerodrome.org/default.asp

Cheers,
Peter

Congratulations and welcome to the fold!
I'm not a member but I'am familiar with many of the members, both past and present. (I was VP of the Antique Aeroplane Club of Connnecticut for many years.)
Great bunch of guys out there at Bayport. You won't regret it.
Nothing like grass root avaition to get you going!

Does "Ace" still have the N3N?

Blue skies,
Jerry

_________________
"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

Good for you, Peter. Get involved and get as much tailwheel time as you can.

_________________
Live to fly, Fly to live.....

Do you have the contact info for the group. I'd like to get involved too, as I live in central NJ. The J-3 is a neat airplane isn't it? Shows the true spirit of what flying is about. I', doing my tail wheel training in a J-3 (1 more flight) and will soon be a Commercial/Instrument pilot.

Yes, Ace still has the N3N:






Pby, The website is all I have right now until I get my membership materials. The meetings are on the first Sunday of the month at 1:30 pm. Sunday August 10th is the open house, and at the end of August is the Antique Airplane Club of Greater NY Fly-In.

http://www.flyincalendar.com/event_detail.cfm?e=7506

Pete

Beautiful N3N-3!!!
I am a Pilot Sponsor of an N3N-3 that will probably never fly again (in my lifetime!)

As for getting involved...
My best advice for you as a new volunteer is... Don't promise too much.
Warbird groups have all kinds of tire-kickers and looky-Lous who come and go and they promise THE WORLD. Their intentions are good and their hearts are pure and I am sure they mean EVERY word of it when they commit...
But nothing will get you NOWHERE faster than getting a Reputation for being all talk.
And that kind of thing hurts the airplane project MORE than just keeping mum and not having people rely on something you can't deliver.

So Sayeth Rev. SPANNER
MASS is over, go work on a Warbird!

_________________
Support Your Local Warbirds! KBO!
The only reasons the airplanes matter is what the veterans did with them... and why.

Yeah, I can appreciate that. I was at a meeting and already heard some grumbling. "He said "We should do this!"....Okay, then go ahead and do it....its easy to make work for somebody else." (Okay I'll remember that one. )

It's mostly an activities group, and if I can't participate in an activity then I won't volunteer to help. The restorations are long term, even the privately owned ones. With those I'm unskilled labor, so I'm just hoping to sweep shavings off the floor and then hope someone says "Come here and give me a hand......This is what I'm doing and how its done......why don't you try..." and thats how you learn.

Pete