Warbird Information Exchange

I believe the intent is they want you to be properly airplane savvy and capable of demonstrating it. A reasonable request, IMO, and one that will likely allow guests much more access than a regular mass-market airshow.

I'd be there in a heartbeat if I had the means.

-Tim

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Keep 'em Flying.

I agree to an extend with your post Tim and by no means discrediting your opinion. Unless I'm way off base here with the direction these folks are taking, I quite frankly find the approach being used to be somewhat insulting to those who do not belong to aviation member organizations to be excluded. I'm well aware it wouldn't be too difficult for anyone to attend if they really wanted to attend, but the point that one has to be "properly airplane savvy and capable of demonstrating it" to attend sounds a little elitist to me. I'm sure the folks in command are not intending to insult anyone or act elitist, just saying it comes across that way to me, which of course is my opinion only, which I'll state again means very little

You don't have to be involved in aviation to appreciate aviation and respect for other peoples property, along with aviation IQ, should not be judged by what aviation organizations one belongs to. IMHO.

From their website this is one clue to their approach ...
Remember only licensed pilots and/or members of an aviation related association will be allowed to enter (due to insurance requirements)

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“Knowing what’s right, doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”

Being a member of any one of these organizations shows a little tangible proof that you are somewhat dedicated to the cause. Yes there are other ways but this is the proof they require. Sometimes you have to separate the haves and have-not's. They want the "haves" (people that do belong to organizations). Its a private event and they are asking very little of those that they want to visit. I have a feeling that they know that a lot of the "haves" actually have no business around airplanes, just as a lot of the "have-not's" would be right at home there. But how do you make the distinction when it comes to passing out invitations?

Its not much different than a lot of country clubs or other private organizations really, they just don't use aviation as the defining point. It hasn't been too many years ago that to be out among the airplanes at Oshkosh and Sun n Fun you had to be a member of the organization or have an A&P of pilot's license. It didn't take too many years of seeing how much cash they were missing out on to fix that.

Edited to fix the quote.

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Ben

The fact of the matter is 'they' are not passing out specific invitations, unless posting a link on WIX 'is' their invitation to only those of us who meet their criteria. If that was the intention it's been apparent what the reactions have been so far.

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“Knowing what’s right, doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”

To quote the original post -

I'm not sure this is authentic - as all of the warbird pilots, restorers and enthusiasts I mix with usually seem incapable of dressing nice or indeed would probably just grin when asked for an autograph. Movie stars they ain't! Just normal regular good people, usually in grubby overalls with well-earned oil stains.

Maybe I am not mixing with the right people?

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Little Johnny : "When I grow up I want to be a pilot!"

Johnny's Mother : "Don't be silly Dear - you can't do both!"

I see it as a way of protecting their stuff. I have friends who have had some pretty disappointing things happen to their airplanes at air shows. Yes, the wording is unfortunate but I think they wanted to open it up to more than just owners and pilots so that's what they came up with.

As for memberships to any of the mentioned organizations, remember that at the heart of it all they're lobby groups looking out for the interests of their members. I'm a COPA member (Canadian equivalent to AOPA) and although the monthly newsletter pretty well has nothing in it for me I figure fifty bucks a year is cheap to have someone on my side fighting for the future of what I enjoy. I mean, it's just the cost of a nice dinner out.

Back to this air show/fly-in/whatever, I'm going to stay positive about their intentions and assume it was just a poor choice of wording. I'm sure if you're not in any of the groups you can probably email somebody involved, plead your case and find a way in.

-Tim

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Keep 'em Flying.

Apparently it "is" their invitation, at least to those that frequent this board. And I'm guessing it was put on here to target those few people in this crowd that do meet their criteria. Its like sending an invitation to a message board about motorcycle riders and targeting it only to people that ride a Honda and then then all the guys that ride the Yamahas getting mad because they are excluded. You are not wanted unless you ride a Honda and that's all there is too it.

My bet is that the people here on wix who meet their criteria and have the interest in going probably got all they needed from the invitation without carrying on about it here.

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Ben

Sounds like a really great event. Unfortunately, the best I can hope for is that someone from WIX does attend, shoots a bunch of nice photos, and then posts them here for me (and everyone else) to view and enjoy.

Dean the non-pilot

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Dean Hemphill, K5DH
Port Charlotte, Florida

Triple Tree is a great place and a great event. I wouldn't get my panties in a wad trying to parse the verbiage or the meaning of what someone posts on a website or even on the Triple Tree site. My sense is that they are airplane people, not slick NYC marketing types who send their press releases to focus groups prior to publication.

Just take the invitation in the spirit it was offered...

The way I read it, it says you have to be member of one of those organizations as well as posses a pilot's license or be a quest of the aforementioned.

I agree with Mark.

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Shop the Airplane Bunker At
www.warbirdbunker.com

Like I said, and what seems obvious now, is the fact that the original poster seemed to extend an invitation to a certain core of WIX members who meet their criteria, at the unintended expense of other members who do not meet those same criteria, and for that the "carrying on" seems a bit justified, albeit I'll admit a waste of time. But to be fair to the poster and the posted website, I'm convinced the intent was mean't in good faith and I can certainly live with that. Not every effort to convey a message is taken positively at times, but that same effort should also be awarded time to debate whether it should be taken negatively. (especially on an aviation heavy internet forum) FWIW

Thus endith my carrying on, and good wishes to the event.

And Nathan my friend don't ever agree with me if you know what's good for you ....

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“Knowing what’s right, doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”