L- bird Warbird or not?

Ztex · **Posted:** Tue Dec 22, 2009 12:52 pm

Caught this nice Champ flying at Ft. Worth Hick Field the other day....
Is she a warbird or just painted as one?

Pogmusic · **Posted:** Tue Dec 22, 2009 12:59 pm

Depends on the data plate.... It could be a civilianized L-16 or a poser.

Rogue · **Posted:** Tue Dec 22, 2009 4:14 pm

Champion
7FC-360
built 1959

Its out of Paris, TX.

Roger Cain · **Posted:** Tue Dec 22, 2009 7:18 pm

If it's a 7FC, I believe this was originally built as a Tri-gear.

JBoyle · **Posted:** Tue Dec 22, 2009 11:39 pm

I'm not aware the Navy used any L-16s.

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 23, 2009 12:10 am

I have to be careful not to step on local toes, but 7AC's and L-16s are a real sore spot to me as far as there being so many "wannabee" L-birds out there.

Ryan

Roger Cain · **Posted:** Wed Dec 23, 2009 12:27 am

So I'll say it, nice bird and paint scheme, but since the last contract for L-16's (not used by the Navy) was in 1948, this myth is busted.

Eric Presten · **Posted:** Wed Dec 23, 2009 1:16 am

It still has the rear gear mounts for the tri-gear mains, and the late wing tips. It's a Tri-Champ converted to a Champ and painted as an L-16 (it does not even have the L-bird glass kit). A nice and fun airplane though, and one of the greatest primary training airplanes.

The Inspector · **Posted:** Wed Dec 23, 2009 2:33 am

It's as much a 'WARBUG' as any T-34 wearing high gloss camo paint and sharks teeth is, as much as any Savoia 260 with stars and bars and laser 'guns' is. The local Cascades Warbirds club has a very nice, very shiny NAVION wearing US NAVY and star and bar markings and invasion stripes, as is another NAVION proudly wearing a DOUGLAS 1950's era globe logo.
If you think it makes you go faster or look cooler, then I really don't care as it's all personal choice and personal taste (or lack thereof). Airplanes are like street rods, each done to the taste of the owner who pays the bills on it which is why street rods don't bring big money @ Barrett-Jackson but restored cars do!

Ztex · **Posted:** Wed Dec 23, 2009 9:47 am

Ok...Not a warbird...just wanted the facts on that one...because I don't know warbugs like I should...

Its a great looking airplane and it's certainly 100% better looking than MY airplane....pictured here....

I am with the Inspector...I don't mind warbird paint, In fact I think I want a Vans RV-8 in WWII - Mustang colors when I grow up.

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 23, 2009 10:09 am

I personally don't mind 7AC's wearing warpaint, and I for sure appreciate their owner's intentions. I also understand that the plane's sisters (sometimes right off the same line) WERE warbirds. However, that doesn't make it a warbird and it should not be represented as such to the general public in my opinion.

Ryan

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L- bird Warbird or not?

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