Warbird Information Exchange

.... put a damper on the whole 2008 airshow season, I wonder how many warbird owners are going to "sit this year" out? I wonder how Oshkosh, Reno, Midland, etc. are really going to fare this year, I've seen the lists of warbirds proposing to show at various airshows ... but the price of gas is getting worse everyday. I wonder how many are having second thoughts about traveling any distances and just thinking about staying local?

On the bright side, I don't remember a year when there has been so many new and wonderful restorations taking to the skies.

Of you folks who own a warbird, or warbirds, what do you think this year is going to "put you back" further than last year?

I have been to 4 airshows so far this year, all have higher attendance because people are not leaving town & can stay for the show. FYI.
I will do my usual/normal airshow appearances......
VL

We all know that Vlado parked Moonbeam for so long since maintenance is so much cheaper than actually flying.
Ask Jimmy about March of 05.
Rich

a few extra bucks is not going to bother you.

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EVERYTHING that CAN fly should be ALLOWED to FLY!
IWO JIMA'S best narative..."GOD ISN'T HERE"
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P: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer.

S: Took hammer away from midget.

I'm hoping that it means that a couple of aircraft that don't use too much gas, are relatively cheap to maintain, and have a ground crew that's happy to talk with the general public about a relatively unknown part of the WWII will get some ramp space - even if they're just fillers.



It looks like we may be at Lackland this year. It probably only takes 2-3 gallons to get there! I wish we could go take the L-5 to WOH since I may be driving out there otherwise. It wouldn't hurt my wallet that much more (than driving) and the time would be worth it.

Ryan

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Aerial Photographer with Red Wing Aerial Photography currently based at KRBD and tailwheel CFI.
Websites: Texas Tailwheel Flight Training, DoolittleRaid.com and Lbirds.com.

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. - Prov. 21:31 - Train, Practice, Trust.

What is your usual/normal appearances? .... Very interesting to know where and how far you usually go each year ...

Also I don't really know you vlado. Are you an owner?, ... pilot for an owner? ... hope you don't mind me asking. And I wonder if I have seen you fly somewhere. ... Best wishes and a safe season for you as well.

Better check this first.

http://www.airshowbuzz.com/videos/view.php?v=1c7831b0

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

Yep!!! .... got it .... thought so ..... very nice indeed ...

Hellcat........yes to both questions. I don't get out west at all, unfortunately.
Thx,
VL

It looks like the Moonlight Fund airshow in New Braunfels is off this year... unless some sponsors come through in a major way. . I missed it last year and was really hoping to go this year. Seems that corporate sponsorships are down.

Ryan

_________________
Aerial Photographer with Red Wing Aerial Photography currently based at KRBD and tailwheel CFI.
Websites: Texas Tailwheel Flight Training, DoolittleRaid.com and Lbirds.com.

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. - Prov. 21:31 - Train, Practice, Trust.

Hellcat,

The oil thing is not putting me back and I'm flying as much as I have in previous years, even flying more air shows. The airshow budgets are clearly squeezed but that just means their marketing folks gotta work harder with sponsors. Vlado and I just did the Quad Cities Iowa Air Show and the air boss estimated they had 100,000 for the weekend attendance. IMHO it's cheap entertainment for a family vs the cost of gas and driving a few hundred miles to Wally World for a weekend.

It has been widely reported that local events like airshows are benefiting from people curtailing long-distance travel in favor of "staycations" and a few of the smarter ones are even advertising with various forget-the-Mouse campaigns to remind people you don't need to go to Orlando for a good time.

Oshkosh may be hurt, since it draws attendees from all over the continent. Normal airshows should do fine.

They can't count on it, though, so they probably will cut back on invited aircraft. This year's swollen crowds won't really notice a missing warbird or three, anyway.

Two shows in particular, Thunder and Geneseo, seem to continue to be willing to write the checks for fuel this year, based on their posted rosters. Kudos to them. I predict they will be rewarded with very good attendance. I'll be spending about $400 in gas and accommodations to go to Geneseo this year, my first time.

August

Why is that vlado? Is it strictly due to the cost to fly so far, or are there other reasons?

I've said it before and i'll say it again. As long as the pilots are willing to show up i'm more than happy to go see them and their planes. Is it getting expensive? You bet, but it's my passion and it's gonna be hard to keep me from going to the shows.

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-Al Sauer
http://www.flickr.com/photos/spookythecat

Man, I remember when auto gas busted $1 in the early 1990s and I was forced to take some empty drums in a friend's pickup to the gas station to buy gas for my Stearman because avgas was getting so expensive. Some things never change I guess!