Warbird Information Exchange

for all the effort put into keeping this quiet it's got to be very embarassing
for someone higher up on the food chain than the average joe

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Don't touch my junk!!

I think maybe security was a little over-zealous because someone was running around pulling access panels off of SNJ/T-6s. Did anyone see 51fixer at Oshkosh?

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Rich Kolasa
www.crystalgraphix.com

What kind of no good, disreputable, no account, creepy character would stoop so low as to sneak in at night and try to steal a Raptor? I would never do such a low down thing. I'd never steal anything that big, that loud with ugly paint and that I couldn't even fly. And I certainly would not do it if there was something much better nearby, like the Mark V Spitfire.

It sounds like Patty's group might have had a beer too many or maybe the security guy needed a drink himself after a long hot day.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

There are plenty of security people in the world who take themselves too seriously. Like the uniformed 14 year old who called me down in the Warbirds area on the Sunday before the show opened... "SIR, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO ASK YOU TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE UNMARKED LINE YOU'RE STANDING NEAR..." You'd have thought the kid was on a Presidential security detail and I was carrying a backpack full of plastique.

Rarely in the course of my life have I exerted more effort to bite my tongue.

It just shows that not everyone at Oshkosh understands that the attendees at Oshkosh form the neatest, most polite, most respectful crowd you'll find anywhere and that all you have to do is ask politely and people will do anything for you.

Having been at Oshkosh for 31 years, I've seen a lot, and I have to tell you, it's like a running joke on the line (what LINE anyway?) the "Scooter-people". Yeah, if your toe is over the line, the show will be stopped by the FAA.

I'm a big "law and order" kind of guy, but let's get real here. I've seen the morons of the TSA try to stop the Daytona Beach airshow in the middle of it, saying "they own this airport" (the ex-Burger King morons did accomplish the feat after the show, as there will be no more shows at that airport thanks to them). I saw some woman line-person with her daughter at her side being very rude to people who just happened to be "over the line", when there was NO CLEAR LINE down by row 75. There was barely an area that had the grass killed. Why, in this day and age, do they not get a stupid line-painter from a local high school and put down a line and put signs in the cones saying "this is the line of death, don't cross it"?

Also, I've seen people acting like a vehicle driving on the grass is some sort of invasion force. People, it's an airshow. There are what are called SUPPORT VEHICLES with plane-owners, performers, Media, etc.

If said vehicle is not acting suspiciously, why act like the world is ending? They really should get their act together.

I mean, I have no facts to base this on, but Patty has been at Oshkosh about 20 years now. What are the chances that she was doing something that was really worth the trouble some "outside hire" brought to the situation?

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Rich Kolasa
www.crystalgraphix.com

I totally agree!
Harrison Ford was driving around looking at Courtesy's T-6's all by himself in a golf cart and no one was bothering him. It's the greatest group of people you'll ever get together in one place and still have almost no trash to pick up!
Jerry

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

Not to be contrarian as I'm sure that "everyone" at Oshkosh are perfect saints, but having worked the other side of the line on more than one occasion, you have a fine like to walk. For the 14-year-olds, that line isn't able to be discerned as well, but at the same time, remember that just because you know that you're a good person doesn't mean that they do. I've had more than one occasion where I asked people nicely more than once to go back behind the ropes that were up to designate the flight line and been told off. It doesn't matter how visible the line is, there's always people who think that it doesn't matter to them.

Yes, you need to ask nicely the first time, but at the same time, you have to be ready to get more forceful because there are always a few who think the rules don't apply to them.

I've been on both sides of this... Our family used to help run cross country races at a nearby university, and this used-to-be 15-year-old yelled at a lot of STUPID adults who tried to walk across an active track - sometimes right in front of tired runners. As a side note, I was helping on the official timing team with the judges - who trusted me to get the clocks set right, help them watch for disqualifications, and other responsibilities. We'd helped for a number of years, and if I'd kept it up, would've likely been a track and field official like my father was at the end.
On the other hand, I've been at two airshows as a pilot - and once got treated like a bystander until I had them inspect my badge further. Thankfully, that was enough to solve the misunderstanding!

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.

[quote="spookythecat"]I can honestly say this whole thing got ugly and that is as far as I will go.

As a part of the night Warbird Security crew I want people to know we are a very nice bunch of people who unfortunately have one member of our team who can take things a little too far giving the overall group a bad name. He is an outside hire who is paid while the rest of us are volunteers.

As for the rest of the grounds, I found the EAA Security on their scooters to be very unpleasant. I got hollered at for trying to take a picture of the Dreamlifter one night and last night they came into Warbirds and when they were asked to leave they threw a fit. Warbirds has their own security that EAA has no part of and they didn't belong in our area, period.

Unless you're out there every night it's hard to understand all this. We are volunteers doing a job and will accomodate pretty much any situation we can.[/quote]

I thought I was the lone ranger.. The scooter people must have acosted me between the Warbirds and Patty Wagstaff.. I worked all day getting items ready for the silent auction and and then Voluntered and bussed tables at the Gathering of eagles... I got off duty around 1:30 sat in the rental car and fell asleep.. I awoke to some azzhole telling me I coun't park there or he would call the Sheriff.... It was his tone that really pissed my off.... Oh Well... Anyway I had a great time bussing tables! I was bring drinks like crazy to the 2 tables I was waiting on.. They didn't have to get up except to PEE... They were all drunk off their azzes and they wanted to give me a 100.00 tip to boot but I didn't take it. It was alot fun.. I got to speak with Travolta and Marion Blakey was hanging all over the celibrities like a cheap suit....

If I need to repeat this it will be through a lawyer!
The accused wasn't anywhere near the above mentioned airshow nor anywhere in the mid-west at during the said specified days or nights that the accused was specified to be. Nor did the accused carry with him any tool required to venture photo evidence presented in its rendered state. The accused does wish to state that all should keep an eye on ebay for some fine T-6 parts in really shiny paint. Great pieces to start an award winning rebuild from.
Rich
PS- Data Plate, original or recreated not included.

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Rich Palmer

Remember an Injured Youth
benstear.org
#64- Stay Strong and Keep the Faith

BOOM BOOM, ROUND ROUND, PROPELLER GO

Don't Be A Dilbert!

RE: PW, et al...
Driving your car on a runway after hours is generally not considered "a good thing", regardless of the tone used by the security people who catch you doing that.
If you can't find your way from the Eagle Hangar to the Hilton Garden Inn after attending OSH for how many years...you gotta wonder at that explanantion....at least a little.
"All subjects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law."

The whole truth won't be released on all of this. It's pretty "incognido" or however you spell it. Gotta remember how the media can say anything

On the other hand, Feddy Cabanas' Mustang routine was kicka$$. The vertical roll was pretty awesome.

TC[/i]

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"There are two types of people here; airshow whores and airshow prostitutes. The whores, like you and I, do airshow stuff for free, whereas the prostitutes are paid" - Reg Urschler

Ah, you don't frighten me. I doubt that you even know a lawyer!

How's Ben? If there's anything I can do, give me a shout?

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Rich Kolasa
www.crystalgraphix.com

If the Sheriff was involved it's a matter of public record
All ya gotta do is call or write them and request it and say the magic words (freedom of information act).

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Don't touch my junk!!

Those Civil Air Patrol kids can be rude little $hit$

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