P-38's Current Restorations??

[Mike]

And all paid for by Medicare dollars and investors’ funds.

https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/antifr ... richer-man

[Mark Allen M]

Yep! Slattery is another strange example of someone of questionable character and deeds who “gets a pass” if he generates interest for the benefit of others. No matter how he did it. Sad yet common these days.

[Jerry O'Neill]

Wow! Allen's into WestPac for a lot!
Sounds like some "interesting" things were going on.

[bdk]

Wow! Allen's into WestPac for a lot!
Sounds like some "interesting" things were going on.

FHC was a notoriously difficult customer. Remember, WestPac had already done a P-51 and a P-47 for them. At the time they were probably the most correct restorations ever completed. WestPac also had to move everything out of Rialto when the P-38 was in mid-restoration because the airport was being closed and the property sold to developers.

[OD/NG]

Wow! Allen's into WestPac for a lot!
Sounds like some "interesting" things were going on.

FHC was a notoriously difficult customer. Remember, WestPac had already done a P-51 and a P-47 for them. At the time they were probably the most correct restorations ever completed. WestPac also had to move everything out of Rialto when the P-38 was in mid-restoration because the airport was being closed and the property sold to developers.

Absolutely correct. It is pretty widely known within the warbird restoration business that FHCAM is notoriously difficult to deal with. I've talked to at least 2 very well known restoration shop owners who vowed to never deal with FHCAM because of the way they've treated restoration shops in the past. Intimidation, threats of legal action and completely unreasonable demands are all words I've heard shop owners use to characterize FHCAM's dealings with them. It is very sad that FHCAM and restoration shops can't get along and agree to reasonable business transactions for the benefit of both sides.

Just my opinion, but if FHCAM is going to contract out any more outside restorations, they're going to have a difficult time finding somebody to accomplish their projects up to their required standard. The warbird industry is very small and niche and word travels very fast.

[bdk]

Just my opinion, but if FHCAM is going to contract out any more outside restorations, they're going to have a difficult time finding somebody to accomplish their projects up to their required standard.

One can only hope the new owner(s) of the Allen holdings will be easier to deal with.

[stryper]

There are two P-38J restoration projects at Ezell, formerly at Westpac, which were owned by the late Paul Allen/Vulcan/FHCAM. One is the ex-CAF P-38J "Scatterbrain Kid", USAAF Serial No. 42-104088, which has 9th Air Force combat history, that has been partially restored to-date and is the one that was recently listed for sale for a short time. The other one, the Pacific Theatre combat-vet P-38J "Jandina III", USAAF Serial No. 42-103988, was in an advanced state of completion as of mid 2020.

I've been really looking forward to seeing an AirCorps Aviation restored/rebuilt P-38.

John,

I looked at AA's website, and the P-38 project is not listed. Reading somewhere that they have one to restore, can you share some info on this, please?

[JohnTerrell]

It hasn't been mentioned in a while, but it is the ex-Bruce Pruitt P-38L 44-26969 (the silver one, in which Jeff Ethell was killed) that has been waiting in the wings to be rebuilt by AirCorps Aviation, for Bruce Eames/Dakota Territory Air Museum.

[Jesse C.]

Wow! Allen's into WestPac for a lot!
Sounds like some "interesting" things were going on.

FHC was a notoriously difficult customer. Remember, WestPac had already done a P-51 and a P-47 for them. At the time they were probably the most correct restorations ever completed. WestPac also had to move everything out of Rialto when the P-38 was in mid-restoration because the airport was being closed and the property sold to developers.

Absolutely correct. It is pretty widely known within the warbird restoration business that FHCAM is notoriously difficult to deal with. I've talked to at least 2 very well known restoration shop owners who vowed to never deal with FHCAM because of the way they've treated restoration shops in the past. Intimidation, threats of legal action and completely unreasonable demands are all words I've heard shop owners use to characterize FHCAM's dealings with them. It is very sad that FHCAM and restoration shops can't get along and agree to reasonable business transactions for the benefit of both sides.

Just my opinion, but if FHCAM is going to contract out any more outside restorations, they're going to have a difficult time finding somebody to accomplish their projects up to their required standard. The warbird industry is very small and niche and word travels very fast.

Well, going by the current, or last restoration that was quite visible, Stuka restoration, most of the heavy work was done in Hungary, and then by shops around the world. And now it looks like the finishing work was being done in shop.

So they could start contracting more outside the U.S. work and then finishing it in their own shop.

There is always a fresh bridge to burn somewhere

[Mike]

They aren’t contracting anything to anyone, anywhere any longer. They’ve pretty much shut up shop, and most of the staff have been let go from what I’ve been hearing.

I also understand that a bunch more airframes have been sold off recently, too.

[stryper]

It hasn't been mentioned in a while, but it is the ex-Bruce Pruitt P-38L 44-26969 (the silver one, in which Jeff Ethell was killed) that has been waiting in the wings to be rebuilt by AirCorps Aviation, for Bruce Eames/Dakota Territory Air Museum.

Thank you, sir

[stryper]

Well, going by the current, or last restoration that was quite visible, Stuka restoration, most of the heavy work was done in Hungary, and then by shops around the world. And now it looks like the finishing work was being done in shop.

So they could start contracting more outside the U.S. work and then finishing it in their own shop.

There is always a fresh bridge to burn somewhere[/quote]


Obviously FHCAM had a lot of money behind them, and it sounds like they knew it. I don't conduct business this way. As it has been said countless times on here in one form or another: Their money, their rules.

Another thing that bugged me about FHCAM is all the secrecy around their projects. One would think by owning a public museum with a goal of educating future generations, they would be inclusive with nearly every step of an aircraft's restoration; posting videos on the various social media outlets. This would actually draw more interest in their museum. Additionally, many in the warbird community had first hand knowledge of what was going on, let alone the fanatics, so why all the drama?

[Dan Jones]

The P-38 in storage in Yugoslavia (P-38L 44-25786) - does anyone know how much of it is there? Is is somewhat complete or just the pod?

[OD/NG]

They aren’t contracting anything to anyone, anywhere any longer. They’ve pretty much shut up shop, and most of the staff have been let go from what I’ve been hearing.

I also understand that a bunch more airframes have been sold off recently, too.

I've heard the same thing. I believe if any of their current restorations are finished or projects started, they will only due so under new ownership.

I don't believe it is too early to refer to FHCAM as a defunct museum.

[LegendaryWings]

It is pretty widely known within the warbird restoration business that FHCAM is notoriously difficult to deal with. I've talked to at least 2 very well known restoration shop owners who vowed to never deal with FHCAM because of the way they've treated restoration shops in the past. Intimidation, threats of legal action and completely unreasonable demands are all words I've heard shop owners use to characterize FHCAM's dealings with them. It is very sad that FHCAM and restoration shops can't get along and agree to reasonable business transactions for the benefit of both sides.

Which restorer was it in particular who vowed never to deal with FHCAM, and who did they threaten with legal action? Here are some of the restorers that have completed projects for FHCAM:

Westpac Restorations: P-51, P-47, and start of the P-38 restoration
Ezell Aviation: Corsair and completion of the P-38 restoration
Aero Trader: B-25
Avspecs: Mosquito
Gosshawk Unlimited: Completion of the Fw 190 and part of the Me 262's restoration