Do you think that in thirty years time we will have an increase in the number of airworthy warbirds or a decrease over todays number?
The costs are crazy, insurance/liability issues increase and serviceable parts become harder to find.
Also over time does the relevance of these machines and the people who flew them become more diluted with each generation that passes?
It is fair to say that there is a larger interest in WW2 warbirds than WW1, as of today (maybe because of the above?). Will future generations be more interested in Gulf war aircraft, aircraft which I think will be impossible to operate by private owners at any time in the future.
Your thoughts..
By: Bruce - 12th September 2003 at 10:01
The warbird hey-day is over. (Sweeping statement!!)
The best times were from about 1986 to 1996. After that all the regulations started the downward trend – certainly in the UK.
If you consider the number of new aircraft being pushed out in those days, from what is being done now, you will see what I mean. Also look at the number of commercially operated companies rebuilding aircraft for a profit. There are not many left now!
Yes, we can point to the 262’s and so on, but before you do; ask how many have been SOLD! 2 of the 5 at the moment. They don’t know what to do with the rest! That said, I am sure this will pick up once the first one has proved itself.
Just my thoughts – I dont want it to end; its how I get paid, and perhaps I am a born pessimist!
Bruce
By: stringbag - 11th September 2003 at 22:58
Out of all the present day fast jets in use with the RAF and RN, I think there is only one that has a chance of flying in civilian hands eventually, and that is the Hawk.
The others will either be scrapped, put out to grass fire dumps, or re-sold to other air forces.
Just my opinion 🙂
Mark
By: Taifun - 11th September 2003 at 20:50
Of course the other big spoiler in this crazy world now is that the Government grounds everything for some specific reason.
Didn’t the French government try something at the end of last year/early this? Didn’t they ban the use of ALL ex military equipment? I don’t know how long it all lasted, why it started or why they obviously backed away from it but…
By: Taifun - 11th September 2003 at 20:13
Maybe what will happen is that over time the true originality of the current Warbirds will be diluted out through accident/rebuild or overhaul/rebuild. What we might end up with are really all flying replicas. Like the old joke from Trigger on Only Fools and Horses claiming that he has had the same broom for 20 years, “it just has to have a new head and a new handle occasionally”.
By: macky42 - 11th September 2003 at 19:30
Originally posted by Tony C
Very good representations of the originals but not Warbirds.
I think we could call them that for the purposes of this discussion- would there be much difference in terms of operation, financing, the CAA’s attitude etc. between one of these and a dataplate ‘restoration’ of an original?
If I ever get to see a Flugwerk or Stormbirds machine fly, I will still regard it as a 190 or 262 even though it’s new.
By: Tony C - 11th September 2003 at 18:40
Originally posted by macky42
Over the next couple of decades, I think we’ll see more warbirds, not less – more restorations and recoveries, plus the new-build 262s, 190s, Oscars etc, and goodness knows what else. Yes they’re expensive, but there will still be the money available.
Longer term, who knows? As for the fast jets, no chance.
Over the next couple of decades yes, but longer term………..?
As for the new builds, can we or should we be calling them Warbirds?
Personally, I don’t have a problem with them and look forward to a formation of Me262’s and Fw190D’s but I don’t think we can class them as ‘Warbirds’.
Very good representations of the originals but not Warbirds.
By: andrewman - 11th September 2003 at 18:38
Hi
What about the Jaguar though or is this likely to be classified the same as a Lightning?
Well their is a Jaguar GR1 at Brunty not sure who owns it or what plans their are for it.
Might not seem like their is a good chance of one flying in private hands but people said that about the Sea Vixen 10 years back.
We will just have to wait and see what kicks off.
If the CAA will not let the Lightning or Buccaneer loose
Well the CAA may well let XX885 fly in the UK.
That is what a member of HHA staff says on avi8.
By: macky42 - 11th September 2003 at 18:11
Over the next couple of decades, I think we’ll see more warbirds, not less – more restorations and recoveries, plus the new-build 262s, 190s, Oscars etc, and goodness knows what else. Yes they’re expensive, but there will still be the money available.
Longer term, who knows? As for the fast jets, no chance.
By: Tony C - 11th September 2003 at 17:36
Personally, I believe that its inevitable the numbers will eventually fall to a handful, either through accident or the cost of operating will become too expensive.
I hope that it will take many years to decline but I do foresee a time when Warbirds will only be flown in a manner similar to some of those at Old Warden/Rhinebeck, that is a short hop or circuit, then back to terra-firma.
Looking even further into the future, with oil reserves not being a sustainable resource, the outlook must be even bleaker, unless the engines can be tuned to run on alternative fuels (now having visions of a Spitfire flying with a Gas Bag Cell on its back) but this would most likely be too expensive.
In the meantime and as for the current generation of oilburner fans (no pun intended), I don’t think that the future is all that rosy. If the CAA will not let the Lightning or Buccaneer loose, I can’t see the authorities allowing a Tornado, Harrier, Typhoon etc, fly in civilian hands, like the Spitfire, Hurricanes, P51 etc, are.
What about the Jaguar though or is this likely to be classified the same as a Lightning?
Also, could it be that those aircraft with propellors on their heads, will be a different proposition and be allowed to operate under cilivian ownership?
Good Question though!
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September 11, 2003 at 5:07 pm