Warbird Information Exchange

I was stunned to learn that "FIFI" is the world's only flying B-52.
Well, if it is on the internet, it must be true. See the caption under the photo accompanying the article in the mywesttexas.com link posted on the previous page by ME108 Taifun.

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Steve Turner, USAF aircraft refueler 54+ years ago.

Just not sure how to say this, not directing this towards anyone - just something to think about-

I'm a little saddened to see members of this organization talk bad about it to the press - declare bankruptcy - really? It's like working for a company as the low man on the totem pole - and being asked by the press about an unpopular decsion that mgmt made - said person does not have all the information to apply a correct response - and should not be answering questions anyway. Negative comments by members to the press or on a public forum - will only hurt the organization more - and cost them more money. If you don't like the decsion - call the man himself. If you don't like his answer then start contacting the General Staff - if you don't like their answer then bring it to the annual membership meeting.

Keep internal affairs - internal. Loose lips sink ships - and everything else.

Sadly, I have a hard time believing a media that calls FiFi the "only flying B-52 airplane" and proclaims without reservation that Midland "saved" the CAF.

After reading the article and editorial I wouldn't recommend anyone talk to that publication under any circumstances, period. That was a less than impressive exhibition of journalism, good grief.

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Cheers,
Kurt Maurer
League City, Texas

PIC, Ford 6600 pulling Rhino batwing up and down the runway

If you were to pick a location for an Air Show so that you could draw the largest possible audience where would that be? Midland, Texas?

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Check out our new website.
CAF SoCal Wing http://www.cafsocal.com/

Regardless of the controversy, I think it's awesome that a group of South Texas pilots had the vision to save the fleet they did. Because of them, and many more like them, several generations have had firsthand interactions with living history. Pretty cool...

Semper Mint Julep,
TS
CAF Life Member

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Taylor Stevenson

Holy Hotel California Batman!
Last thing I remember, I was running for the door
I had to find the passage back to the place I was before
"Relax," said the night man,
"We are programmed to receive.
You can check-out any time you like,
But you can never leave.

They livin' it up at the Hotel California,
What a nice surprise....

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He bowls overhand...He is the most interesting man in the world.
"In Peace Japan Breeds War", Eckstein, Harper and Bros., 3rd ed. 1943(1927, 1928,1942)
"Leave it to ol' Slim. I got ideas...and they're all vile, baby." South Dakota Slim
"Ahh..."The Deuce", 28,000 pounds of motherly love." quote from some Mojave Grunt
DBF

"We're staying together whether you like it or not," said no one in a healthy relationship ever.

All these agreements have their expiration dates (Wright Amendment anyone?). I'm sure in 1991 it made sense to move from Harlingen to Midland (or maybe it didn't, or maybe just partially - I wasn't there). I do think, however, anyone who thinks there is more growth opportunity for the CAF in Midland than any of the other places mentioned is fooling themselves. If you aren't growing, you're dying.

The only real argument against a move that I've seen so far is, "how are we going to pay for this?" Which is always a legit question.

I've not seen a cogent argument for staying in Midland beyond, "CAF decided 20 years ago to be in Midland, so we're sticking with that forever and ever [regardless of the ultimate consequences on the organization]."

Or (-seriously, I'm not being facetious) have I missed something?

I asked it and stand by it, would make all the other arguments go away.

Well, except for the "how can we afford NOT to?" argument. In other words, may it be fairly argued that if the CAF doesn't move, the organization will suffer (and perhaps ultimately whither and fade away) for being in what I think we can all agree is a tourism backwater?

Tough questions in the vintage aviation museum world - I mean just look at the discussion from Mr. Weeks on what is essentially the same topic lately.

I've stayed clear of this debate for no other reason than I have nothing involved in it, but even though I haven't read every post on every page, in glancing I haven't seen much conversation about the advantages of staying in Midland as opposed to moving elsewhere. I would tend to believe that the CAF's future is not as bright as it would be to move to a larger and more robust market. And as with all good business practices, there will sometimes be a need to relocate, upgrade, renew, enhance and streamline all phases of a business organization to achieve success in the current economy. More times than not it costs money to make money and if it indeed costs money to make a move to a larger market area than one would think those funds would be recovered sooner than later. As the old saying goes, sometimes change is good, even when that change seems hard to grasp at first.

As for a conversation on a website such as this one about the CAF's decision making and thought processes, I see nothing wrong with a constructive and respectful debate. If you pay your dues to the CAF I would think you earned a bit of conversation no matter where you take it.

Best of luck no matter what the decision CAFers, keep those airplanes in the air. Especially that Hellcat

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

Well, except for the "how can we afford NOT to?" argument.

You don't know how much I agree with that statement, although I think an answer to the first question would somewhat silence the second. BUT..................a BIG BUT How would moving Headquarters (15 people +-) stimulate growth? I doubt any tourists pay to see H.Q no matter where it is located. All the cards are not being dealt and we need to hear the truth in what Steve Browns' objective is.

I would think that any presentation on numbers would be something sent out either directly to the membership or at the meeting. More than likely, any numbers are going to be very general because things like tax incentives and actual costs for acquisition can fluctuate so drastically based on what is available at the location selected and I would suspect is why they've been so hesitant to put anything out there because they will be pinned to it no matter what they say and if their numbers here are wrong once a final location is selected, they'll be told they were "lying" to the membership for giving a number that they "should have known" was too low.

The choices have been narrowed down to six, not surprisingly all the TX locations:

http://www.commemorativeairforce.org/?p ... ventID=204
CAF Headquarters To Stay Texas

Midland/Odessa, Texas (Sept. 17, 2013) — The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) revealed a shortened list of potential locations for the home of the CAF National Airbase. After careful consideration, the CAF Board of Directors has narrowed the list to six locations in Texas (alphabetical by airport):

Alliance Airport, Fort Worth
Collin County Airport, McKinney (Dallas Metropolitan)
Dallas Executive Airport, Dallas
Ellington Field Airport, Houston
Lackland/Kelly Airport, San Antonio
North Texas Regional Airport, Sherman/Dennison, (Dallas Metropolitan)

“The future of the Commemorative Air Force lies in Texas, as it has for more than fifty-five years,” said CAF President/CEO Stephan C. Brown. “Though the locations in Olathe, Kan. and Smyrna, Ten., were very appealing candidates, the CAF Board of Directors has been pleased with the interest expressed by the Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio officials in being the home of the CAF National Airbase.”

The narrowed list will allow the CAF Board of Directors to focus more on these specific cities and dedicate their time in working with each community to determine the best location for the future of the organization.

Brown said the CAF Board of Directors envision this new National Airbase to be the pinnacle of the organization’s 60 existing facilities currently spread over 25 states and maintained by the CAF’s 10,000 member-volunteers.

“The CAF National Airbase will house and serve as a stage to share a rotating group of the most significant military aviation assets in history,” Brown continued. “We expect this Airbase to become a premier destination for the chosen host city.”

After the initial proposal in June, 23 cities voiced interest in being the home of the CAF National Airbase. After careful consideration, the list was narrowed to eight cities by the Board of Directors using the CAF’s basic requirements of population, runways, weather, and airport suitability. The initial finalist list included two locations outside the state of Texas. After thorough review, the decision was made to secure a home in Texas.

“The CAF was founded in Texas and continues to have a large contingent of members here, in fact we are proud to be the ‘Official Air Force of Texas,’” said Brown. “This state has an economic climate unlike any other in the country and we have thrived here and hope to continue to do so for many years to come. For our members located outside of Texas, each of these six locations are easily traveled to and centrally located. We look forward to the next few months of negotiations to determine the home of the CAF National Airbase.”

In 1957, a small group of ex-service pilots pooled their money to purchase a P-51 Mustang, beginning what is now called the Commemorative Air Force (CAF). With the addition of a pair of F8F Bearcats, the CAF became the founders of the Warbird Movement, an effort to preserve and honor our military history with the rallying cry to “Keep ‘Em Flying!” Now, more than 55 years later, the CAF is the premier Warbird organization, operating 157 vintage aircraft in Honor of American Military Aviation. A non-profit educational association, the CAF has more than 10,000 members and its fleet of historic aircraft is distributed to 83 units located in 25 states for care and operation. For more information, visit http://www.commemorativeairforce.org or call (432) 563-1000.

Interesting that the list has been narrowed down to "just Texas" sites just before the vote. Kind of makes me think that by keeping the CAF in Texas, it will sway voters to go ahead with the plan to move.

In an effort to keep things civil here...I again plead that CAF members consider all the consequences of a move of the HQ to another site out of Midland. I'm not saying that the organization would not do better in a larger metropolitan area. I am saying that the fiscal impact on the CAF right now would be substantial. And, more importantly - Can we truly afford to go ahead with this move? My vote is no. We can't. We can't afford the legal bills which will occur (as substantiated by current press) if the decision is made to move. We'll put ourselves into debt with a new facility. And, more importantly I don't believe we have the cash in hand to move.

I'm not willing to hand over the responsibility of the organization as a "whole" to just 9 of 11 members of the General Staff.

The biggest concern that I have would be the fiduciary responsibility we have to this phenomenal collection of aircraft. I'm not willing to go along with incurring more debt at the potential cost of our airplanes.

Plan, execute and prepare for a move when/if you have funds in hand to do this.

Not now.