Warbird Information Exchange

The Commemorative Air Force Gulf Coast Wing is headed to a new home. On Saturday, August 12 they will be moving from Ellington to Hobby where they will have a huge hangar that will house "Texas Raiders." They plan to move "Texas Raiders" within the next ten days. This is important as they will finally have a place where they can work on TR no matter what the weather is outside. For more information go to www.gulfcoastwing.org

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"Keep 'em Flying!"

Good news! Hopefully this will get Texas Raiders back in the air soon.

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

YESSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!! Thank god I work at Hobby, now I got Texas Raiders based there and I wonder WHAT hanger they will use, I have to find that out!!!!! I am glad Raiders has a new home in from the elements. Sad thing though Ellington is going downhill it seems with the GCW moving but there is a couple new FBOs going up but the 147th FW will be gone soon, hope Wings Over Houston can survive.

Nathan , Ellington going down hill ? Yes GCW is leaving but they haven't really been there since 2000.

CF is still there with F-4, UH-1E, S-2, TA-4, T-33.

There are 4 Mig 21, couple of PT-17s, 4 L-39s, 1 Strikemaster and a Mig 15 UTI or 17 ( can't remember which). Several UH-1 and OH-58 as well as an OH-6 that come in for maintenance periodically. All based there.

Yes the 147th will lose its F-16s in 2007. ( I'm not crazy about that either) But there are supposed to be F-16s standing warm alert in the sheds from other units.

Coast Guard isn't leaving, NASA isn't going anywhere. Army Apaches are staying.

Southwest Services retains the transient military contract. You never know what's dropping in on a daily basis.

The new facilities that are going up are designed to attract MORE commercial businees not less.

NathanT24..... hey guys...... There had been much cussin'and discussin' on what to do with Raiders...... The GCW had wanted to build a new hanger at Ellington, but the governing body of the airport could have cared less. Several local airports were looked at inside and out, but weight issues and width of taxi ways, combined with costs etc.... they just could not come up with a viable combo. I don't know which hanger TR will have, but it will be accessible to the general public without an airport security badge... maybe that will tell you which hanger she will have...... but the important issue is that she will be indoors now regardless of what happens. The public will be able to come by, see the work, take pics, buy a T-shirt or two..... When flying, Raiders will be on tour and will be able to sell rides...... Maybe she and Diamond Lil can team up together.......... huuuuummmmmmmm, think I've heard of that combo before........ Also will be interesting to see what Gary Austin has a chance to do with Lil as she comes in for winter maintenance...... Alan
NathanT24, since you work at Hobby, you will now have bestowed upon you by fellow Wixers, the "Order of the Camera". This honor allows you to take and paste as many pics of TR as your fingers can point and click!

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Just call me Al.

Who are GCW and CF?
Thanks,
bill word

GCW - Gulf Coast Wing Commemorative Air Force

CF - Collings Foundation

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"Keep 'em Flying!"

The news of Raiders and the CAF going to Hobby is interesting, since Lone Star began there and the airport did not seem to want to keep them. Galveston is a neat base, except now it has a tower because of all the oil service helicopter traffic. When I get down there I always go to Gaido's on the beach for the BEST seafoood, after 92 years they've got it down. Years ago Hobby was as active gen av and airline airport and luckily did not close when IAH opened. Southwest is very busy there and profitable. I was at the LaPorte ANG base in 1969, and went to Ellington some. My brother did his service at Ell. At a show there about 1988, Bill Arnot ,related that he had been a cadet on duty at Ell the morning Pearl Harbor was attacked, then went off to B25 school! I'll be flying to Hobby in Sept. to watch Texas roast Rice so may stop in at CAF. Years ago I got a few minutes flying Raiders!

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

Bill, don't know if you saw the thread on Galveston and Lone Star during last year's Rita evac. Predictions were that if Rita hit with Cat 4-5 strength the storm surge over Galveston would have been in excess of 25 ft with storm waves on top. All but the downtown highrise building would have been inundated,...again. Only a few aircraft were able to be moved during the evac.

It would have beeen a tremendous loss.

Houston Airport Authority management can be difficult to deal with, where property and hangars are concerned. They seem to be keeping their options open for the air side at EFD. If you're not an airline discussions can be protracted, at best. At worst they ignore you till you go away.

Once my Nikon D70 is out of the shop (due to dust on the sensor) I will get pics. And Ricks thanks, I know about CF but did not know about the others, except the Strike Master which I wish I had a good angle to get a shot of it through the fence. And I did not know about the F-16s from other bases, wonder if we will get F-15s sometimes? I love Ellington, good to see military acft sometimes and not airliners. Hey Rick could you get me on the ramp sometime to shoot the F-4 and TA-4 and other CF planes? I am badged for Hobby and was curious.

Nathan, the best time to shoot the planes when they are on the ramp is when the bombers come to town in early March. Otherwise can't guarantee when they will be in town and not on the road.

I picked this up this morning on my email and much as I would love to be there to help out ~ I'm stuck in the UK !

However ~ I know that some of you guys are more local and may be able to lend a hand

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MOVING . . . MOVING . . . MOVING

MUCH HELP IS NEEDED

SATURDAY - AUGUST 19TH

and

SATURDAY - AUGUST 26TH

and

WEEKDAYS IF POSSIBLE

WING MEMBERS . . . this is it.
We MUST move everything from Ellington to Hobby!!

We need YOU, your friends, your trucks, your trailers and YOUR time! We must accomplish this . . . and no moving crew is gonna show up to do it. It is up to US!

Start time on Saturdays is 0800 hrs . . . that's 8:00 o'clock in the morning!!

Lots . . . I mean LOTS of stuff got moved this past Saturday . . . but it's going to take a major push to get the rest of it packed and moved.

For those who can't lift or move stuff . . . we need window cleaners, broom pushers, and bottles of water to ice down!!

There is something for everyone to do . . . come on out and help!!

Barbara Johnston
Wing Leader
Gulf Coast Wing - CAF

TEXASRAIDERS@juno.com
281.990.9925

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Blue Skies .....

Peter

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