B-36 question?

N3Njeff · **Posted:** Tue Oct 06, 2009 5:13 pm

Steve Nelson wrote:

A coworker and I were once having a "what would you do if you won the lottery?" conversation. I told him I'd contribute a couple million to Fifi. When I explained she was a WWII bomber, he thought I was crazy..asking why I would want an old relic like that when I could buy a brand new fancy corporate jet. Obviously he just didn't get it..

SN

Steve, I have had this same conversation. I told them that I would be flying in a Howard 500....................they just dont understand "CLASS"

JDK · **Posted:** Tue Oct 06, 2009 10:25 pm

6trn4brn wrote:

Take a way a man's ability to dream and I personally think you take away a large portion of his essence of being human.

Shesh - no police, no rules, no 'taking away' - last time I checked you can still please yourself. Go ahead.

The point I was making is rather than just dreaming about a B-36 you could actually help get any number of aeroplanes flying. Unlike the no-B-36s awaiting dreamers, there's actual, real, B-24s, B-17, B-25 and so on and on, right now, needing help and support. Which, bluntly, is more worthwhile than daydreams.

But as bdk's seen on his 'help Picadilly Lily' thread, talk's cheap on WIX.

Richard Woods · **Posted:** Wed Oct 07, 2009 5:01 am

JDK wrote:

The point I was making is rather than just dreaming about a B-36 you could actually help get any number of aeroplanes flying. Unlike the no-B-36s awaiting dreamers, there's actual, real, B-24s, B-17, B-25 and so on and on, right now, needing help and support. Which, bluntly, is more worthwhile than daydreams.

Of course, nobody ever daydreamed about any other type of aeroplane did they? How do you think it starts? If there's no day dreams, there's no inspiration. Then there's no point in having it, except stuffed and mounted as a memorial.

Sometimes people just want to start working on their own dream rather than help with somebody else's. Glacier Girl started out as a day dream.

There are B-36's in preservation. It's possible they need funding too. But there's also wrecks out there, and if somebody wants to go play with them, good luck.

That's why my all time favourite quote is from TE Lawrence' "Seven Pillars of Wisdom"

'Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that all was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes, and make it possible.'

Regards

Ric

JDK · **Posted:** Wed Oct 07, 2009 7:08 am

Feel free to dream on. Or you could go and do something worthwhile, which probably started as your or someone else's dream. If you find the latter idea confronting, tough.

PS, read what I said, thanks.

Nathan · **Posted:** Wed Oct 07, 2009 7:12 am

I am sorry that this has gotten off topic. It kind of burns me that everytime me or someone else brings up a topic about the B-36 it gets out of control. This thread was more or less ment to talk random about the B-36 and see what everyones thoughts are on it and why it is so cool.

So anyway, here is a cool B-36 site with crash reports and pictures with locations. Pretty neat!

http://www.air-and-space.com/b-36%20wrecks.htm

JDK · **Posted:** Wed Oct 07, 2009 7:16 am

Hey Nathan,

No need to feel burnt, just try a thread 'Let's talk about cool B-36s', rather than asking about flying one.

Regards,

Richard Woods · **Posted:** Wed Oct 07, 2009 8:01 am

JDK wrote:

Hey Nathan,

No need to feel burnt, just try a thread 'Let's talk about cool B-36s', rather than asking about flying one.

Regards,

For why? Why not have a thread about how to get one flying than how not to?

Is there something that really grips you about going after the wrecks?

It's Nathan's thread, and it's not about politics. I LIKE the idea of a B-36 flying. So why NOT talk about it?

Theoretically what would it take? Where are all the wrecks? Parts? Engines? Can parts be found or made? If not, why not?

Knowing what's out there is the first step in making a dream into reality.

JDK, on a personal note:

I did read your post. I'll be the judge of what I think is worthwhile. You just look after yourself. What I find confronting is your attitude; in that somehow your opinion makes everyone else's irrelevant. Look back at how many others on this thread think daydreaming about something like this isn't pointless.

Unless you have something to say to me about aircraft, rather than my thought processes, leave me the hell alone.

Regards,

Ric

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Wed Oct 07, 2009 8:10 am

I dare say there are plenty of us who would LIKE to see a B-36 fly but feel it's a dream that is better left as a dream for now. Especially as we have the Vulcan over in your country as an example of how such a project might go. I'm glad the Vulcan is flying, but a number of us have doubts about the long term viability and I suspect the B-36 would be even harder to make successful, and likely would consume tremendous resources that could be vastly better allocated.
And what's more, I'm glad JDK said what we're thinking. Especially for my friend Nathan who I think I've known from message boards for 8+ years now. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind him having the dream, but if you want to fly a Mustang, or a P-40, or a B-36, guys his age and mine should be concentrating harder (and yes, I'm actually trying to cut back the time I spend here!) on getting to the point where it could actually be a reality, rather than the old "if I won the lottery" scenarios. We'd be better off going out and being successful businessmen like Rod Lewis so we could put our money where our dreams lie. I think THAT's JDK's point and I for one 100% agree with it.
Just how many warbird owners out there have become warbird owners through the lottery??? Tell me, please!

Ric, I've had several emails or PM's from some of the more successful warbird types that seem to drop in here less and less frequently and I'd say most of them probably would echo JDK's comments, if I get their attitude correctly!

Now to find some students for our flight school so I will have less time to drop in here!

Ryan

Nathan · **Posted:** Wed Oct 07, 2009 8:29 am

RyanShort1 wrote:

I dare say there are plenty of us who would LIKE to see a B-36 fly but feel it's a dream that is better left as a dream for now. Especially as we have the Vulcan over in your country as an example of how such a project might go. I'm glad the Vulcan is flying, but a number of us have doubts about the long term viability and I suspect the B-36 would be even harder to make successful, and likely would consume tremendous resources that could be vastly better allocated.
And what's more, I'm glad JDK said what we're thinking. Especially for my friend Nathan who I think I've known from message boards for 8+ years now. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind him having the dream, but if you want to fly a Mustang, or a P-40, or a B-36, guys his age and mine should be concentrating harder (and yes, I'm actually trying to cut back the time I spend here!) on getting to the point where it could actually be a reality, rather than the old "if I won the lottery" scenarios. We'd be better off going out and being successful businessmen like Rod Lewis so we could put our money where our dreams lie. I think THAT's JDK's point and I for one 100% agree with it.
Just how many warbird owners out there have become warbird owners through the lottery??? Tell me, please!

Ric, I've had several emails or PM's from some of the more successful warbird types that seem to drop in here less and less frequently and I'd say most of them probably would echo JDK's comments, if I get their attitude correctly!

Now to find some students for our flight school so I will have less time to drop in here!

Ryan

Thanks Ryan.

As for getting out there amd doing my part I have:

-Organized aircraft for my local airports fly-in this weekend.
-I work at Geneseo when I can(3 hour drive for me)
-A few years ago I collected donations for the B-29 Doc restoration.
-I made a donation for WIX.
-Currently helping my local R/C club and hobby shop.

:wink:

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Wed Oct 07, 2009 8:31 am

If you were down here I'd give you a deep discount on instructor fees... but oh well.

Ryan

JDK · **Posted:** Wed Oct 07, 2009 8:37 am

First,
Good stuff there Nathan, kick on with that and work on it. Steps to bigger stuff.

Richard,
I don't see much point in falling out over a misunderstanding, the 'you' in my previous was for anyone, sorry if you took it personally it wasn't intended that way. To recast:

Anyone can dream. And, OR they could go and do something worthwhile, which probably started as their or someone else's dream. If anyone finds the latter idea confronting, tough.

I apologise if you felt attacked.

For the rhetoricals:

Richard Woods wrote:

For why? Why not have a thread about how to get one flying than how not to?

Because there's no difference. If someone flies a B-36, I'll be first to applaud. You'll understand I'm not joining a queue yet.

Quote:

Is there something that really grips you about going after the wrecks?

No.

Quote:

It's Nathan's thread, and it's not about politics. I LIKE the idea of a B-36 flying. So why NOT talk about it?

Who said politics has anything to do with it? If you don't want responses to posts, don't post. If you don't like the responses, think about how you post.

I 'like' the idea of a B-36 flying too. I'm not going to kid myself it's going to happen, and, yes, people supporting unfeasable dreams aren't helping. If it's a problem to suggest more realistic dreams, I'm sorry, again, just feel free to ignore the feedback. No stress.

Quote:

Theoretically what would it take? Where are all the wrecks? Parts? Engines? Can parts be found or made? If not, why not?

We've been over this, as Nathan's said himself, several times.

Quote:

Knowing what's out there is the first step in making a dream into reality.

And about as likely as retrieving that 'plane from the moon - I've done the converting dreams into reality workshops. Some, like this, equate to believing you can fly by jumping off a tall building. By dissuading someone from that great idea, I might be crushing their dream, but I know which seems the smart call there - and here.

RyanShort1 wrote:

I don't mind him having the dream, but if you want to fly a Mustang, or a B-36, guys his age and mine should be concentrating ha (and yes, I'm actually trying to cut back the time I spend here!) on getting to the point where it could actually be a reality, rather than the old "if I won the lottery" scenarios. We'd be better off going out and being successful businessmen like Rod Lewis so we could put our money where our dreams lie. I think THAT's JDK's point and I for one 100% agree with it.

Pretty much. And I don't think it even needs that much hard work (initially) just a bit of focus and taking steps rather than circling back to the same old.

RyanShort1 wrote:

Ric, I've had several emails or PM's from some of the more successful warbird types that seem to drop in here less and less frequently and I'd say most of them probably would echo JDK's comments, if I get their attitude correctly!

Exactly. Having a bit of fun is great, but too much 'over the horizon out there' stuff detracts from helping make actual real things happen through WIX.Which do we want, WIX making things happen - it does - or us all sit around talking about how cool a B-36 flying would be?

Regards,

Richard Woods · **Posted:** Wed Oct 07, 2009 8:48 am

RyanShort1 wrote:

I dare say there are plenty of us who would LIKE to see a B-36 fly but feel it's a dream that is better left as a dream for now. Especially as we have the Vulcan over in your country as an example of how such a project might go. I'm glad the Vulcan is flying, but a number of us have doubts about the long term viability and I suspect the B-36 would be even harder to make successful, and likely would consume tremendous resources that could be vastly better allocated.
And what's more, I'm glad JDK said what we're thinking. Especially for my friend Nathan who I think I've known from message boards for 8+ years now. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind him having the dream, but if you want to fly a Mustang, or a P-40, or a B-36, guys his age and mine should be concentrating harder (and yes, I'm actually trying to cut back the time I spend here!) on getting to the point where it could actually be a reality, rather than the old "if I won the lottery" scenarios. We'd be better off going out and being successful businessmen like Rod Lewis so we could put our money where our dreams lie. I think THAT's JDK's point and I for one 100% agree with it.
Just how many warbird owners out there have become warbird owners through the lottery??? Tell me, please!

Ric, I've had several emails or PM's from some of the more successful warbird types that seem to drop in here less and less frequently and I'd say most of them probably would echo JDK's comments, if I get their attitude correctly!

Now to find some students for our flight school so I will have less time to drop in here!

Ryan

Ryan;

Thanks for that... don't know why the post came out a lot less than the quote. It's no secret that the Vulcan could have been done better. What I've been trying to get across is everything starts as an idea. It could be two blokes in a pub and one says "How would you go about owning a Spitfire?" You don't just dismiss it.... you discuss it.

I'm not the type of person who likes to be told something can't be done, for whatever reason. By talking about it, working round the problems, you begin to get a feel for how it can be done. There's no real reason why A B-36 couldn't be made to fly. It did it before, it can do it again.

I understand the bit about concentrating harder on your business outside of here to make the dreams happen... it's probably why my post count on here is so low. I don't agree with the leaving it 'til later in life... for two reasons.

- the aircraft will deteriorate and it's probably harder to recreate than restore.

- none of us know how much life we've got left... if we do something it would be nice to see it work out before we turn our toes up.

I don't know about the warbird operators. They can do dreams as well as the next man... the last one I was talking to was on about Avro Shackletons which really got me going!

Regards

Ric

Richard Woods · **Posted:** Wed Oct 07, 2009 8:54 am

JDK;

JDK wrote:

And about as likely as retrieving that 'plane from the moon - I've done the converting dreams into reality workshops. Some, like this, equate to believing you can fly by jumping off a tall building. By dissuading someone from that great idea, I might be crushing their dream, but I know which seems the smart call there - and here.

Base Jumping? Hang Gliding? There is always a way.

Regards

Ric

the330thbg · **Joined:** Wed Nov 14, 2007 3:06 pm **Posts:** 2713

RyanShort1 wrote:

JDK wrote:

The B-36 seems to have a kind of windmill-tilt motif here as well which doesn't help.

Regards,

Actually, I now feel I've learned something from this thread! I'm going to have to remember that phrase as I think it will come in handy! Thanks!
Ryan

If you like that one look up 'jump the shark'. That is very applicable on this forum. When a thread goes so far off topic..,there is a point of no return.

Django · **Posted:** Wed Oct 07, 2009 1:16 pm

I'd rather talk about a flying B-32. Or at the very least, digging up a beached P-38.

Richard?

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