Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:22 pm
I'm 19 and have taken a few lessons, but not consistently enough to really get a good start on a license. Right now, college is sucking up all of my financial resources, so I plan on waiting until I'm done with school before pursuing a pilot's license.
I hope to one day be able to afford to own a nice taildragger of some sort. I've done a lot of research and my goal is either a PT-19/23/26 series or an L-Bird of some sort. I doubt I'll ever be able to afford a fighter type of any kind, but I can always work toward that. To me, it's all about building the experience to know how to safely operate the type that interests me, and then taking the time to find the right example that best fits my needs from an affordability and quality standpoint.
I have some friends who are in the aviation here who are interested in warbirds, so maybe one of them will someday be able to get into fighters. It's great to see some peers who have the same interest as me, and I'm sure this can only be a good thing for the future of the warbird movement.
I hope to one day be able to afford to own a nice taildragger of some sort. I've done a lot of research and my goal is either a PT-19/23/26 series or an L-Bird of some sort. I doubt I'll ever be able to afford a fighter type of any kind, but I can always work toward that. To me, it's all about building the experience to know how to safely operate the type that interests me, and then taking the time to find the right example that best fits my needs from an affordability and quality standpoint.
I have some friends who are in the aviation here who are interested in warbirds, so maybe one of them will someday be able to get into fighters. It's great to see some peers who have the same interest as me, and I'm sure this can only be a good thing for the future of the warbird movement.
Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:50 pm
Randy Haskin wrote:A final comment....there's been lots of discussion about fighters on here, which is fine, but I think that the bombers are what I'm most concerned about. Those are the aircraft that are most money, insurance, and maintenance intensive. Those are the aircraft that need the most people in the next generation qualified, willing, and able to continue operating them into the future.
That is why I asked the question Randy. I am wondering if we have any younger pilots trying to get into the bombers. If you look at who is flying them now you will see a fairly high average age. We know it can't be done without mentoring from existing pilots.
You are also correct about the building time factor. When I started flying in 1979, everybody was geared towards building time to fly for the airlines. My flight school had 30 Cessnas with no taildraggers. We did our spin training in the 152's. I hung out at Fullerton Airport taking any flight I could get whether it was a ride or ferrying new and used aircraft around the country.
In retrospect, I should have learned to fly taildraggers earlier and hung out at Chino Airport instead.
Les
Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:58 pm
I've got a Globe Swift in a hanger in Northern Michigan just sitting there collecting dust. It's painted to look like a Spitfire and I have zero interest in shipping (or flying) it out to California. I've flown it several times with pops, but now it just sits there in the hanger. It's not a warbird but it is a taildragger. Since it was dropped in my lap last year, I'm not sure what I want to do with it. I would love to see someone take it and completely restore it to it's original condition. Maybe this is an outside way to learn several valuable lessons to restoration, taildragger time, possible warbird flying, etc.
I've been told several times over the years that a Swift is a great trainer for possibly flying warbirds someday. I'm thinking about donating the Swift to someone who would be willing to completely restore her back to original condition. I don't need any money, but I think someone who would spend the time and money to restore her would be very happy in the end. just a thought ... Anyone interested PM me. Warning!!! ... I would assume it would need to be shipped, not flown since it hasn't been flown in 4 or so years. I have all the logbooks on her as well. Dad did his best in his final years to take care of her.
The longer it sits in that hanger, the worse it gets.
Mark
I've been told several times over the years that a Swift is a great trainer for possibly flying warbirds someday. I'm thinking about donating the Swift to someone who would be willing to completely restore her back to original condition. I don't need any money, but I think someone who would spend the time and money to restore her would be very happy in the end. just a thought ... Anyone interested PM me. Warning!!! ... I would assume it would need to be shipped, not flown since it hasn't been flown in 4 or so years. I have all the logbooks on her as well. Dad did his best in his final years to take care of her.
The longer it sits in that hanger, the worse it gets.
Mark
Wed Dec 31, 2008 2:52 pm
The Swift is one of my favorite airplanes and I've been looking for a way to get started in restorations. I have some EAA guys around here that I'm sure would love to help me out. 
My goal is to transition to warbirds like so many others on this thread. I'm 25 and still working on my license and most of it so far has been in an Aeronca Champ. I'm joining the CAF soon and was asked to volunteer for a very prominent airshow out here.
Like so many others have said, it's all about WHAT you know and WHO you know. Networking, having a positive attitude, building the proper taildragger time and being in the right place at the right time seems to be the key.
That being said, anyone in Colorado have a hangar they'd like to donate to a Swift project?
My goal is to transition to warbirds like so many others on this thread. I'm 25 and still working on my license and most of it so far has been in an Aeronca Champ. I'm joining the CAF soon and was asked to volunteer for a very prominent airshow out here.
Like so many others have said, it's all about WHAT you know and WHO you know. Networking, having a positive attitude, building the proper taildragger time and being in the right place at the right time seems to be the key.
That being said, anyone in Colorado have a hangar they'd like to donate to a Swift project?
Wed Dec 31, 2008 3:04 pm
Mark,
Can you tell us (maybe on another thread) what all you know might need attention on the Swift to get it flying for starters? I work with some A&Ps at the FBO who might could give me an idea of just what it'd take to get the bird up and flying.
Ryan
Can you tell us (maybe on another thread) what all you know might need attention on the Swift to get it flying for starters? I work with some A&Ps at the FBO who might could give me an idea of just what it'd take to get the bird up and flying.
Ryan
Wed Dec 31, 2008 3:37 pm
Ryan, there are some photos from this year somewhere on this crazy site.
Wed Dec 31, 2008 4:19 pm
Will look when I'm off work.
Ryan
Ryan
Wed Dec 31, 2008 6:22 pm
I think people tend to overlook some young pilots that have been checked out in the mustang for quite sometime now. Magazines and other forms of information often overlook Casey Odegaard, Scott Yoak, and Chris Baranaskas. All of these checked out in their low or exactly at 20 and fly these planes on a regular basis. I know for a fact that Scott and Chris both do acro airshows in the mustang and flying formation on a regular basis. Im just making this known because they deserve some sort of recognition. Plus all of them are very nice guys, hope to see more of them in 2009
Wed Dec 31, 2008 8:38 pm
Even the twenty's X2 like me are looking forward to flying warbirds. I'm typed in several jets but they are nothing like a warbird. My next A/C will be a SNJ....
Lynn
Lynn
Wed Dec 31, 2008 9:20 pm
Great thread, guys. I'm at the opposite end of the spectrum, unfortunately. 58 and just starting my aviation "career". I too am a warbird freak and have come to the conclusion that I have a nitch that I can fill to keep a portion of warbird history alive.
I am doing all my training in the Citabria and really have no desire to fly anything with a "steering wheel". My finances are okay but not in the realm of the P-47 I'd really like to have but I am absolutely happy to one day get a PT-19 trainer or partner in a T-6.
As such an owner, I would find it a great honor to help as many young pilots as I could follow the steps of "our fathers" in learning how to fly the aircraft that taught them to fly the P-40's, P-47's, P-38's, and P-51's.
My first ride in a Mustang came at Palomar with a young punk who turns out to be one of Steve Hinton's partners. He told me then (I was 23 he about the same) that they volunteered at Chino to work on the planes and in return were taught to fly the warbirds. Yeah, it cost me $30 for about a 45 minute ride, but these kids were living the last of a dream of many.
Now insurance, costs, etc. could never allow that to happen, for sure. So we need to help protect and foster in whatever way we can, the continued growth of the next generation of owners and pilots. We can only hope that they have the where-with-all to keep them in the air.
We are a selfish breed who want our interests to remain and propagate. The owness is on us to make sure these aircraft never die and there is always a supply of pilots. Our Dad's did this for us, now it is our turn. My great thanks to my good friends who have shared their warbirds with me. I am a very lucky guy. Now I have to figure a payback.
Rant ends...
I am doing all my training in the Citabria and really have no desire to fly anything with a "steering wheel". My finances are okay but not in the realm of the P-47 I'd really like to have but I am absolutely happy to one day get a PT-19 trainer or partner in a T-6.
As such an owner, I would find it a great honor to help as many young pilots as I could follow the steps of "our fathers" in learning how to fly the aircraft that taught them to fly the P-40's, P-47's, P-38's, and P-51's.
My first ride in a Mustang came at Palomar with a young punk who turns out to be one of Steve Hinton's partners. He told me then (I was 23 he about the same) that they volunteered at Chino to work on the planes and in return were taught to fly the warbirds. Yeah, it cost me $30 for about a 45 minute ride, but these kids were living the last of a dream of many.
Now insurance, costs, etc. could never allow that to happen, for sure. So we need to help protect and foster in whatever way we can, the continued growth of the next generation of owners and pilots. We can only hope that they have the where-with-all to keep them in the air.
We are a selfish breed who want our interests to remain and propagate. The owness is on us to make sure these aircraft never die and there is always a supply of pilots. Our Dad's did this for us, now it is our turn. My great thanks to my good friends who have shared their warbirds with me. I am a very lucky guy. Now I have to figure a payback.
Rant ends...
Thu Jan 01, 2009 3:18 pm
My kid in Joe Clarks T28...
and Clay Lacys DC3:
& Man O War:
and Clay Lacys DC3:
& Man O War:
Thu Jan 01, 2009 11:53 pm
I'm 28 and typed in the B-17 and B-25.
Fri Jan 02, 2009 1:10 am
ZRX61 wrote:My kid in Joe Clarks T28...
and Clay Lacys DC3:
& Man O War:
That's one happy little girl
Fri Jan 02, 2009 9:30 am
Let me add Kevin Rauile to the list of success stories. He is with the Cavanaugh museum. When I met him 15+ years ago, he was just soloing one of their taildraggers..a Champ maybe. A few days ago, he led the missing man flight for Lefty's memorial services. 3 Mustangs and a P-38. At his side, in #3 position, was White Lightinin' that did the pull to the west for Lefty.
Great to hear of young friends doing well and accomplishing their dreams.
VL
Great to hear of young friends doing well and accomplishing their dreams.
VL
Fri Jan 02, 2009 10:16 am
That little girl picked her parents very well!