Warbird Information Exchange

Hi Hellcat,

Glad you and your lively posts are staying - remember, this is one place we go to get away from the crummy things in life!

OK, confession time - even worse, there's photographic proof:



Earl Reinert took the picture of me in Kate N7130C in 1981; Ingemar Holm had just had it repainted. That sign we stuck on below me referred to an inside joke about me being a reincarnated Japanese pilot. When we removed it after the photo, each of those four little pieces of masking tape removed a nickel-sized chip of paint - Ingemar wasn't very happy about it...

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

Another confession...so to speak.

Very recently while towing my plane backed the golf cart into the elevator of a 210 in our hangar. Caused about a 1/4 inch dent and it cost just under $1000.....who woulda thunk it. But immediately told the owner to get me an estimate and I would pay. He took about 2 months and is still flying it without having repaired but he will in time and I'm off the hook so to speak. Damaged my own planes but think this was the first time damaging someone elses.

As far as my preference, please look but please do not touch my airplane. I have seen too much potential for damage, minor and serious, at airshows. I am amazed at parents who never think to counsel their children not to touch. I try if it's a slight indiscretion to explain calmly to the children why they should not pound on control surfaces, use pitot tubes as chin up bars and most importantly try to twirl props. Most kids takes this well; their parents do not and get really huffy. Larger indiscretions like a six year old walking and jumping the length of a fabric wing tend to get my screaming going with threats to the indignant parent that they will buy me a new wing if little Johnny damaged it.

Ryan has made mention in past posts of shows at military bases and the type of crowds those "no admission price" shows bring. I have actually had people open the door and try to get in my plane without my permission and then get indignant and tell me that if I bring the plane to that show that gives them the right to do whatever they please to or in my plane, especially since it used to be an Air Force plane then basically the plane still belongs to all the tax payers. Excuse Me I don't think so. But that is the type of attitude that pervails at that type show.,

Now for the positive, there are many people who are very respectful at shows with well mannered children who genuinely care about aircraft and want to learn the history of all that are at the show. These are the people that I will spend as much time as possible answering their questions and showing them things on the plane. I still will not allow them to climb in the plane because if you do for one you have to do for all. But it is a joy to have good conversation explaining the history and hoping to encourage them and especially their children to learn of the joy of aviation.

i haven't goofed up anybody's warbird, but i just wanted to say welcome back!!

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

That's when you do what I've done at the last two shows and have a sandwich nearby... "excuse me but I need to get a bit to eat now and I'm going to have to shut this down for a while!" It's also helpful when you're REALLY tired of talking and saying the same thing over and over again with very little apparent results. Maybe it's just a different personality, but I've not had much trouble denying cockpit access so far! We did OK with it at Lackland. I do know that what you're saying is true, 'cause I remember those two punks all too well from Hondo a few weeks back. I actually had a nice conversation with them, but didn't tell them what I really thought of them.


For me, I guess it's mostly the nostalgia of a moment like this that kind of makes me feel I have to try and encourage the kids.

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.

Didn't know you had problems with the locals at Hondo last time. Be sure and give me details next time we meet. I don't have any problem telling punks ( young or old) what I think of them. I was kind of bored anyway!

Haha! The brief version is that Karen and I were talking and watching as these 14+ year olds were yanking and banking her control surfaces and we were just out of their earshot! Then they started walking towards my plane...

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.