What is a Warbird?

Silver with stars and bars anyone?
MH

It is one of my favorite color schemes. Oh, damn, sorry about that. Quick translation…It is one of my favourite colour schemes.

Self portrait over New Mexico.

If I remember correctly it seems you Brits shot down at least one Learjet recon plane during that little conflict down in the South Atlantic. Painted in the appropriate livery almost anything can be a warbird

😮 😮 Blimey Geezer! 😮 😮 Thats a bit rich coming from the land of own goals 😀
Seems to me that it may be safer with the opposition when the USA comes rollin down the road pumped n’ tooled up!!

Cheers………………………. 🙂 🙂

The Task Force did indeed shoot down T-24 – a Grupo 1 de Aerofotografico Learjet flying at 40’000 with a Sea Dart. It’s worth pointing out that the group had been carrying out reconnaisance over the islands and acting as lead
aircraft for Skyhawk and Dagger attacks on the ships in San Carlos water.

’bout time you came to your senses and realized the important historical place the Rearwin Cloudster has in the American warbird culture. Now, if I can just teach you how to sing “Yankee Doodle Dandy” while in the traffic pattern we’ll really have something.

I have told people mine is a Battle of Britain aeroplane. It flew throughout the battle guarding the rearward approaches, also known as California. It was also flying on 7 Dec 1941 but was in Enid OK so it has an alibi.

In today’s world if ANY military operated a specific type of aircraft it is considered a warbird. If I remember correctly it seems you Brits shot down at least one Learjet recon plane during that little conflict down in the South Atlantic.

We wouldn’t shoot down Lear jets would we?

Painted in the appropriate livery almost anything can be a warbird

Any airplane perhaps. AnyTHING is a little more difficult. Painted trifle does not make a good warbird, but is an interesting weapon.

Melvyn

There are times whe a Warbird is defined by the ability of the owner to find some shred of military importance to up the value of the said aeroplane.

Cynical?

Moi?

Never.

Shall I paint the Rearwin in SAC colours, after all it was owned by the SAC flying club at Davis Monthan.

Silver with stars and bars anyone?

MH

’bout time you came to your senses and realized the important historical place the Rearwin Cloudster has in the American warbird culture. Now, if I can just teach you how to sing “Yankee Doodle Dandy” while in the traffic pattern we’ll really have something.

In today’s world if ANY military operated a specific type of aircraft it is considered a warbird. If I remember correctly it seems you Brits shot down at least one Learjet recon plane during that little conflict down in the South Atlantic. Painted in the appropriate livery almost anything can be a warbird

Hello Roger
nice to see that our discussion on the way back from Berlin has spread to the rest of the world. As you see not everybody agrees with you 🙂
Even the EAA thinks slightly less black or white !
Greetz
Aerovet

Here’s what EAA Warbirds of America has to say on the subject:

The EAA Warbirds of America, a division of the Experimental Aircraft Association in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, is a family of owners, pilots and enthusiasts of “warbirds,” or ex-military aircraft.

Purpose
Our purpose is: (a) To promote and encourage the preservation and operation of World War II and other such aircraft that are representative of military aviation operations, and (b) to educate its members and other interested persons in methods of safe operation and maintenance of World War II and other such aircraft that are representative of military aviation operations.

Goals
It is our aim, and our motto, to “keep ’em flying.” Most of the warbirds we see at air shows and other gatherings are owned by individuals and museums. It is the determination to fly these high performance airplanes, combined with the desire for preserving a piece of our heritage, that makes these owners want to display these magnificent machines. Unlike going to a museum and merely viewing these aircraft, one can now see, hear, feel and even smell what it was like to fly and maintain the birds when they were working for a living.

Services
What started out as a club for World War II fighter owners has now blossomed into an organization whose members own and fly the whole gamut of ex-military aircraft — from the old biplanes, trainers, fighters, bombers, and liaisons of World War II to the early jets of the Korean War era to the aircraft of the Vietnam War. Even foreign aircraft are not left out. Former adversary’s warbirds are now highly prized airplanes.

Squadrons
The history of aviation includes the historic warbird aircraft from around the world. Warbirds have become the focus of the EAA Warbirds of America and Warbird Squadrons. Squadrons are a part of the EAA Chapter family and as such, offer the added value of membership participation at a local level. All men and women, pilots and non-pilots, owners and non-owners who cherish the proud heritage of military aircraft are invited to join the EAA Warbirds ranks. Join and receive Warbirds magazine (eight times per year) and Warbirds newsletter (four times per year).

Well I reckon we could call our T-6 a warbird but i dont necessarily think all of em are – ours flew in the French Air Force in Algeria armed with rocket packs and gun pods – have an air to air photo – when i work out how on earth to post it i will!

Would like to think our C-45 is a warbird cos its got warpaint…but wouldnt argue the point.. 🙂

There are times whe a Warbird is defined by the ability of the owner to find some shred of military importance to up the value of the said aeroplane.

Cynical?

Moi?

Never.

Shall I paint the Rearwin in SAC colours, after all it was owned by the SAC flying club at Davis Monthan.

Silver with stars and bars anyone?

MH

OK.

There’s no definition enshrined somewhere, like ‘veteran’ and ‘vintage’ in historic cars, which are precise, date specific terms.

As ex-Asst Ed of Warbirds Worldwide, I considered any aircraft with military history (frontline or not) to potentially be included. In practice, it’s usually agreed to be aircraft of W.W.II or shortly after.

Basically, it can include (or exclude) anything you want it to include (or exclude). Nice, eh?

Incidentally, the first use of the term I’ve trached down, was at the latter end of World War One – a book called ‘Warbirds’ – which only covers a/c normally excluded by the majority of the modern folowers – not surprising as W.W.II hadn’t happened then.

Cheers

The name says it all, WARBIRD If it fought in a conflict, it’s a Warbird, end of story,

Unless of coarse you mean me, WarbirdUK, then it’s only a Warbird if it’s overweight, with a large ‘tash’ & a fear of flying!
Cheers………………

The Missus. A bird that always wants to fight. 😀

By definition a warbird is an ex-military aircraft that was in front line operational service. In motorsport they have categories that are also defined by a ‘latest year.’ So that if a warbird is defined as eg. in military use before 1980 then that date advances each year. This will include more jets.
Then of coarse there is the added problem of a ‘restored around a data plate’ aircraft! It’s a can of worms!
mmitch.

To me a Warbird is a fighter Aircraft from World War 2 up to the korean war,I would concider Jets such as Me262,Meteor,as Warbirds but jets such as Lightnings,Buccaneers and Hunters as Vintage jets,Things like L39s certainly are not warbirds and i debate whether they are Vintage jets.