Lots of questions and I maybe I can clear up what I mean by a "Project."
1. By project, I mean common action as determined by consensus here on the board. It could be a recovery, a commissioned art work, a party, or anything we decide to take on as a group. I'm not trying to be cute. What I am trying to demonstrate to Scott and the noble members of this group is that we are collectively very strong as an "organization," and that since we are one of the few places in public where you can daily see commentary on "warbirds," this board has become the public voice of warbird image, ownership, and interest. With that in mind, we should now and again look at ourselves and think about what we could or should do collectively. When we are here on the board, we are not turning wrenches, researching color chips, digging through archives or piles of parts. But this is a great place to coordinate efforts to a public end, to create a virtual project that we can all be involved in either by watching it and telling our friends about it, or by calling Rob and putting him on the spot to coordinate this "project" and tell us what to do. Hey, the idea started here to do something about a Midway F2A. When the history Channel airs their special on the recovery of the aircraft on the 70th anniversary of the battle, we will have ourselves to thank for being involved and should be prominently featured if we do this right. I nominated this as project #1 for many reasons. I think the next one we should pick is a Short Stirling. Uhh, maybe I should mention that I dream big. But I digress....
2. Goals. As with any project, there are going to be those who actually work to get it done, and those who chime in with moral support. I think the goals of this project #1 should be the following:
a. Identify the history relating to this particular aircraft
b. ascertain its location
c. assess its viability for recovery
d. find sources for funding its recovery
e. find an appropriate restoration facility
f. find a place for it to be displayed
g. publicize the event to the extent that it becomes a wider goal of other communities
Some of these goals can be accomplished by members of this board. Certainly, some of them are composed of very long lists of sub-goals and milestones. Some will have to be done by trained, vetted, compensated third parties.
Goal b,c are within the capabilities of some members of WIX. But every other goal can be accomplished by public, written communication initiated by members of this board. Goal g is the most important from the standpoint of advertising ourselves, and since Rob got a call from NHC, we can see it is already working. But we need to further this effort. Tell everybody you know that there is a website where some people are trying to find a Midway veteran F2A. Anybody can do that.
Operations. I defer to Rob- Rob, get out from behind the grill and put together a SIMPLE, EASY to UNDERSTAND play book that we can all follow, and then task people to get things done. We have talked about this for quite some time. Now's the time to shine. There are 16 people at last count who have volunteered to do things in relation to this project. 16 PM's should be sent to Rob, and specify exactly what you can do for this project, along with your recommendations on how to proceed. Oh, I second the nomination for Rob Rohr as Project Officer for Project #1. Don't disappoint me, Rob.
A blanket statement which I hope soothes some consciences. I have a thick skin. The only two people who ever caused me problems here were banned. Please feel free to object, disagree, call quackery, or offer any constructive advice on whatever I post here. I'm here for the warbirds, not my ego!
Respectfully submitted,
John K. Seidts
Chief Liaison Pilot
Forgotten Field Aviation Technical Center
_________________ REMEMBER THE SERGEANT PILOTS!
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