Warbird Information Exchange

As a '60s child and a warbird nut since then, I (like some of you ) have always wanted to own a warbird but did not have the $$ to do so ( was'nt born with it, did'nt invent toilet paper, bottled warter ... ) so we have to come up with others means ( I try not to stare at a Brinks truck for too Long. ) so now I think; If I ever won the Tex. lotto, and got the last 262, had it finished as a night ,Gry. & Blk. one, or that F-7 Tiger cat that's been apart forever ( take it over to Ezell..) or even have a new razor back "stang" thrown together, or just that certain O-47, What would you (I) Pay a pilot to fly it? I've NEVER asked ANY of the ones I've meet at a show that Question, so here goes wixers, what's a (future) lotto winner to Do? $$?, BEER? Bar-b-Qs?? Thanks, Anthony

Warbird pilots fly for free. It's customary not to pay them at all. YOu have to pay mechanics unless your warbird breaks down at an airshow. Then they owe it to you to fix whatever it is for free, in the sun, on the flightline before the show starts.
Never ever pay volunteers. That would be a paradox, right?

Not strictly true, I know several who are paid for air tests, checkouts, ferry flights, etc. Perfectly reasonable, they have to earn a living just like the rest of us.

Well if you buy one, surely you'd want to fly it yourself,I certainly would,so paying anyone else wouldn't really arise.

Nothing.

I'd get trained to fly it properly.

First step would be to buy a PT-19 and rack up 100hrs while the big hangar is being built and the BT-13 is being tidied up.
Then 100 hrs in the BT while looking for the right AT-6.... And so on.

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Lest Hero-worship raise it's head and cloud our vision, remember that World War II was fought and won by the same sort of twenty-something punks we wouldn't let our daughters date.

I'd go straight for a twin engine like a B-25 , an Invader , so I could have friends along for the ride, or even an albatross or PBY (so I could go to the Caribbean when I wanted to ) and hire a type rated aviator and accompany me in the cockpit and calmly say to him/her...I.... have the controls

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Kind Regards,
Gary Lewis
J.A.F.O.

No, unless a test flight, you do not pay them to fly your warbird, BUT...you do have to buy them a custom fit flight suit with their name on it ( in the front) , a nice pair of aviation sunglasses, and plenty of beer after they are done flying the aircraft.....really.

That's exactly what I'd do. Work my way up the ladder. Stearman/PT-19, BT-13, T-6, then a fighter- probably a Wildcat.

Then, I would buy all the Tigercats, paint over the awful nose art, and resell them.

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Matt

Nobody actually does it that way. Typically they get 65 hours in a Decathlon in two months. They round up to 125 hours. Then they go see Stallion 51 for 1 to 3 lessons in the TF-51D. Then they skip the total checkout and find someone "just as good" but a whole lot cheaper who doesn't have all those rules and requirements. Along the way they get one or two flights in a T-6, hate it and go back to the Decathlon for 15 hours of touch and go's.
Their new airplane is delivered and within 60 days they are flying it VFR on sunny days with calm winds within their home zip code.

There's also the bonus situation involving tuna rides... as they are known in certain circles...

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Those who possess real knowledge are rare.

Those who can set that knowledge into motion in the physical world are rarer still.

The few who possess real knowledge and can set it into motion of their own hands are the rarest of all.

Only fools do that. And it usually catches up with them.

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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.

Wow! Great Answers all! And here I was thinking that I would'nt get a serious answer! Now off to find that video "how to Fly your Warbird" Game

Then get yourself a copy of "Stick and Rudder" by Wolfgang Langewiesche. Study it and then start your tail dragger training. Then join the CAF and find a wing with a PT and you are on your way. Can't help with that Lotto part.

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"There are old pilots and bold pilots but few old, bold pilots."

Some people do it differently, but usually its a daily fee plus expenses (hotel, transport, flight, avgas, etc.). The fee varies with the aircraft.

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Taylor Stevenson