Warbird Information Exchange

Forum question for the year -

Should a warbird project owner be forced to share their restoration project, static project or flying warbird with the public even if they dont want to share information or details?

Yes or No?
Where do you stand?

As i see it based on reading this forum, magazines and personal insights....some owners are highly private and keep their collection locked up, some give occasional access and others have a open door access to keep their profile in people's mind.

Yes, they should be forced to do so, by a crack international team of rivet counters and roundel police who need to be given the power to open up private hangars wherever they please, drag the owner's personal property out into the daylight and seize and condemn for scrap any that do not meet their own exacting standards of authenticity in every detail.

You forgot to mention the owner giving control of how the warbird is painted to the online "experts"

Forced to share ? FORCED ?

What country do you live in ?

I think you should go and read the Constitution again ! I know that there are many in this country that consider it to be just an old scrap of parchment these days, but it is still the basic law of the land though it's been aberated greatly over the years.

These warbirds we hold so dear are one of the reasons an owner can look you in the eye and tell you, and the jack booted thugs behind you to stuff it, if he so chooses !

You should thank your lucky stars that most of the warbird owners who are out there share their treasures so willingly and consider themselves as caretakers for the next generation.
!

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"You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass..."
Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto

The public (non warbird owners) have no right or expectation for any information or access to private property.

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Eric

"I spent most of my money on alcohol, women and skyraiders....and the rest of it I just wasted."

what's the word I'm looking for, oh its sarcasm

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“PMURT KCUF”

I hope this was some sort of bad joke, but if not. you and your buddies might consider discussing this at a local beer hall.

Here's some digital wisdom (you probably don't want) from a guy who owns a W.W.II airfield and a "warbird" Navion that he's flown to air shows in Southern California.

Warbirds: First off let me say folks are very emotional about these planes. Warbirds were built by the American public, for the American public to defeat evil and preserve our way of life. It's sometimes difficult for folks to think they are privately owned being such a national symbol. They are something people can understand. I've never at an air show had a guy ask me what I do. Not once. The questions are always directed at how if he flew the plane how would he do it. I realized I (owner pilot) was an accessory to the plane. Secondly people don't know the plane isn't public. They paid for the show, so don't we get to touch the plane? I once at a show had a family of five climb up on the wing and take pictures when I stepped away.

Airfield: I have had several large events at VAF - Vosburgh Airfield (5CN4) and have some conclusions. First off - the general public can be real jerks and at times extraordinary stupid. I don't know how else to put it. At events people get emotional, people get silly, people get animated and sometimes don't think. (Not to mention the effects of alcohol. ) As the hosting airport you are responsible. Event insurance is very expensive - guess why! 98 percent of people are great, the other 2 percent can litigate you out of your home.

So in short: Are you willing to take the risk and deal with the stress to allow the public to enjoy / use your property?

Best,

Jason

Good points, Jason. Anyone with a former military vehicle can tell you similar stories as well.

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Life member, 91st BG Memorial Association
Owner, 1944 Willys MB #366014
Former REMF (US Army, O3)

Some of them were built by Canadians, Australians, British, Soviets, Germans, Japanese, Italians, and many other nationalities too, for many different purposes.

One has to remember these aircraft are, for a time, the purchasers private property and it is theirs to determine how it is accessed and used.

That said...

The owners are only the owners for a time, these are artifacts and we are simply the caretakers for our period of time.

As a museum (and I know many private owners, but not all, feel the same) we are the custodian of the artifact and the history around it and we keep it in the public trust for future generations.

With warbirds, for the most part, they will outlast the current owners/custodians/caretakers and continue to tell the history and keep the memories alive.

So while it would be nice if all those that are owners/custodians of warbirds could have them open to the public there are a myriad of reasons that many choose not to and until they pass to the next owner/custodian that is there right.

As an Executive Director of an Aviation Museum we do our best to keep our collection as open and interactive to the public as possible each and everyday...but there are times and days I truly understand why many private owners don't.

The public can truly be a challenge.

Tom H

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Alberta Aviation Museum
Edmonton Aviation Heritage Society

Private property is just that.
If a guy wants to rebuild, restore or oddly paint HIS aircraft that's his business.

BUT, if you're a nice guy you'll realize and accept that your toy is of interest to others.
I have a interesting, rare car with a very public history. Occasionally I get emails from people asking about the car.
I take it to shows and I've written about it for publications, but it's not like I've hired a publicist or gone to great lengths to stroke my ego. I'm hardly a Kardashion or Paris Hilton.
This weekend a guy called at 8 am Sunday morning (my wife was not amused) to ask about the car.
How he got my number I have no idea, but he seemed like a nice honest sort, so no harm done.

I think most warbird owners realize that. Some, the sort that don't share their toys and keep them out of public eyes, don't.

If someone is that afraid/annoyed or public interest, sell the aircraft and buy something more private where its registration isn't public record.

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.
Note political free signature.
I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.

An owner can do with his own private property whatever he wants to do with it.
Topic locked

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I'm Batman