Warbird Information Exchange

I hear ya, man. Anytime we lose a Warbird and the people that operate them, it's a d*mn shame. Some are worse than others.

Gary

::::::::::Stealin' Gary's axle (again):::::::::::::::


Totally agree with what Gary said about cooperation amongst the museums and groups. Let's face it, the knowledge, and quite often materials, needs to be shared, even if some costs are involved, 'cause (unless you're REALLY, REALLY "comfortable") they aren't makin' any new ones. Friendly competition and rivalry is a good thing. We don't need the "negative waves".

And the thing with blaming "the CAF" for whatever your gripe is, I think, is really unfair. You had a bad experience with Hq, or with one Squadron or Wing, or maybe even a few people - well, okay. But don't condemn the whole organization because of that. Lot of good, hardworking folks in it.

Just my 2 cents...

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Bob

Ellen and I were just talking about that axle photo this morning, Bob.

What does this statement mean, Gary? Is this part of the contract in which Boeing gave the hangar space and volunteers for restoration? Or do you mean that Boeing would only allow the airplane to fly if it were restored original? Does Boeing even have such power? I don't understand what Boeing has to do with this. Why would Boeing insist on not putting a safer, and more reliable engine on the airplane, when even back during W.W.II they had problems with those early series -3350's?

Just trying to understand!

Boeing provided their sponsorship and assistance for the part of the restoration that was done in their hangar on the condition that the aircraft be restored as close to original as feasibly possible.

Now, my understanding of this makes me think that they could go to Boeing and ask to put the Gary-3350 engines on the aircraft, but if they say no, then that's the end of it. Otherwise, Boeing could conceivably place a lein on the aircraft for the value of their contributions, something that would definitely end in failure of the project.

This may be true, but Boeing also terminated their support early when they kicked Doc out of the hangar and into the elements. If this early termination of storage violated the terms of the contract, then the restoration team would have much more legal basis in which to do what they want, namely - put better engines on the airplane.

We can't really understand much about this unless we know more specifics about the contract. Gary, can you clarify this for us?

I don't know the specifics of ANY contract that the Doc bunch has. I just know what was told to me by Tony. I tend to think that they now have a little more flexibility on what engines they run, but don't know how much, or even if their hands are tied at all. There is often times a shroud of secracy around certain details of the project. I did hear recently, though, that they are considering another type of hybrid engine mod, similar to, but not the same as what we're doing. Who knows if it's true or not? Not me. Surely there are some Doc guys out there that monitor WIX and can let us know something.

Gary

Boeing didn't technically kick the airplane out of the hangar. Boeing sold the commercial aircraft side of their Wichita business to Spirit Aerosystems, and THEY kicked the B-29 outside because they now own the space. From all I've seen and heard, Boeing did a tremendous amount to help the project for as long as they could use the commercial operation to support it. The Defense Department wouldn't allow any such work to go on in the military side of Boeing, and that's all they have up there now. Make sense?

The Doc people are still working on the outer wing panel repairs up in Newton, Ks. the last I heard.

What I cannot understand is why this is happening as I would think the goal would be to get and keep these historic national treasures flying as they represent (as in the case of the B-24 and B-29) the last flying examples of these historic planes.

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Classic Cars and Vintage Warbirds perserve them don't destroy them

There could be a few more B-24s flying right now but no one is doing anything ab out it. $$$$$$

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Shop the Airplane Bunker At
www.warbirdbunker.com

What makes this bird go up ? Funding makes this bird go up!!

My favorite line from the "Right Stuff" which really applies to the "heavy iron".
Great job Gary!

With museums/groups a lot of the bad feelings/grudges come from individuals causing problems instead of the group as a whole. I've seen good volunteers leave because of "personality conflicts" with other members (even after I told them to stay just to bug the person they didn't like). Lord knows I've wanted to "pimp slap" someone at least once (rather recently actually). I just remember I'm doing this to have fun while remembering the sacrifice men and women have made for aviation and our country. The first time a WWII vet thanked ME for "not forgetting about them" drove that home.

Brian

Having met Tony T a number of years ago when he and David Tallichet hooked up on the B29. Tony signed over part ownership in the B29 to David’s MARC in return for David paying for the B25 and the work we did at Air Heritage so that the airplane would meet the Navy requirements for their museum in Fla. And that after that the Navy would release the B29 to Tony.

Tony had worked on this for years before David came along. And the feeing I get from watching what has been going with the B29 since, is that Tony will do anything to get this airplane back in the air, why I have no idea.

Now weather that is good or bad I again have no idea. No way is anyone going to make any money off of this project. The old saying applies here, “Son if you want to make a million dollars in aviation start with two million.”

I keep thinking back to the guys who went after that 29 up in Greenland or Newfoundland or where ever it was. Than after two or three years and one death they sat there and watch it burn.

All the old timers in the steel mills in Pittsburgh had this saying “One ah sh-t wipes out a thousand at a boys” . And that airplane burning when they were so close is one great big “Ah sh-t”. So on the engine thing I say safer is the way to go.

Just thought that you all might enjoy some these pics of the B25 that Air Heritage did so that Tony M {i mean} could get the 29

So, does Tony have full title of the B-29 now, or is part of it in Tallichet's estate?

That’s a good question, David had this habit of doing business out of his brief case and drawing up contracts on the spot then not being able to find them later. But this one if I remember went through his rest legal dept, I also think that Air Heritage had a contract with his legal dept on doing the work on the B25.

The one person who might know for sure is Joe Krizmenski who was David’s IA for years and ran a large part of MARC and the fiber glass operation. I have not heard from Joe in a number of years and like I said a while ago someone around the Chino Airport might know where Joe is and what he is up too.

Of course if someone with real deep pockets would show up and try to buy the B29 I’m sure the sharks would be out, and I think MARC would be one. Like I said before Tony M, I feel would do anything and sign anything to get this airplane back in the air.