This isn’t really news, but I’ll pass it along. I had the opportunity to visit with Eddie Kurdzeil at Reno, as he and I were parked next to one another in the static display area.
Eddie said that he would love to bring the Firefly to the UK for Legends and maybe some other airshows on the continent. The only problem is that funding would have to be secured, or air transport donated by the military or private sector, to have the plane flown on a large air cargo transport. Going by sea is not an option.
So, if you want to see this award winning restoration return to the UK for a season I would recommend dropping a suggestion or two in the direction of people in the UK who could help to make this happen.
And if he’s going…well, maybe there’s room for one more
Steve
By: ageorge - 2nd October 2004 at 14:43
Hmmm , the Firefly and Gannet together , nice …….. 🙂
By: DaveM2 - 2nd October 2004 at 13:40
Why would it be so difficult ? We managed to bring a Wildcat to Wanaka for the show, and would have had a few more Cats if the damn terrorists didn’t cause the insurance hike 😡
The U.K. is lot closer to the U.S., than the South Island of N.Z.
A question of will maybe ?
Dave
By: duxfordhawk - 2nd October 2004 at 10:34
I would love to see a Firefly again and there must be a way this can be done,Maybe someone like Brietling or AirBP could lend a hand both have done a fair bit towards the Scene in there time.
By: stewart1a - 29th September 2004 at 22:19
simply awesome that with the sea fury sea hurricane seafire swordfish and the wildcat would be excelent for sea based monoplane piston engined fighters!
By: Corsair166b - 29th September 2004 at 19:51
Imagine this in UK skies again…
By: Hairyplane - 29th September 2004 at 16:08
Firefly
Hi Stephen my friend, hello all – especially those new friends I met at Reno.
The Firefly is a factory fresh time-warp machine. It is exquisite.
I had the priviledge of meeting Eddie, the huger (‘larger’ doesn’t quite fit…) than life proud owner and had a waggle in the cockpit.
I cannot imagine any of our organisers even paying the shipping, let alone airfreight.
I think that the only option is for Eddie to bring it over for a season at his own expense and book it into the various shows.
I doubt whether the appearance money he receives will even cover his own flights back and to to fly it though..!
I think we should sit it out this side of the pond, wait for him to find the next project and want to flog the Firefly.
It might then come here to a UK owner.
If that person were me then he can continue to fly it with pleasure.
If it is possible to acquire it for ‘top Mustang money’ then I might just find myself distracted away from the 51 idea.
I flew a Harvard here yesterday for the first time. I hadn’t realised what a beast of a thing they are.
All the best
HP
By: Ashley - 29th September 2004 at 14:25
Buy Russian freighter. Take to Chino ‘Fill ‘er up’ !
Ok then…who’s driving? 😀
By: JDK - 29th September 2004 at 11:00
Buy Russian freighter. Take to Chino ‘Fill ‘er up’ !
By: trumper - 29th September 2004 at 10:40
😀 Blimey,if we are going to hire a HUGE freighter we may as well fill it up with Planes from the States and other continents,why waste the fuel on getting just 1 plane here. 😀
By: STORMBIRD262 - 29th September 2004 at 08:08
Oz circuit aswell Please
Ask Eddie if he can bring her back to Essendon Airport 😀 , I would sit in her for hours as a teen and she felt,smelt like World war two to me back then 😎 , I will have to tell one of my old friends (and fellow hangar pilot :p ) about what Eddies done with our old firefly :rolleyes: , We would never stop pestering them back then to restore it, Later there was a rumour that the Oz Navy took all the bits up to Sydney N.S.W. 🙁 , NOW she looks Fantastic and in the air again TOP STUFF, Eddies welcome in Oz anytime, Cheers Gents, Tally Ho! Phil :diablo:
By: Snapper - 29th September 2004 at 07:05
“Don’t look at me, it’s Mrs. Andy who packed all the goodies.”
Aha! So we don’t need you to come at all then.
Mind you, if you are coming, can you bring me a side of corn fed beef from a Texas Longhorn please old boy? I’ll swap it for a whole stilton.
By: srpatterson - 29th September 2004 at 04:53
LA LA LA LA LA LA LA
I can’t hear you!!!!!!!!
LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA
😀
By: mexicanbob - 29th September 2004 at 03:23
Uncle Sam gets upset when you start borrowing his toys.
I’m not gonna borrow it, I’m gonna “misappropriate” it. Back in the mid 90’s, I brought two jet ski’s and about 4,000lbs of wooden animals back from Kenya in the back of the Mighty Hercules. If I had more room, I would have also brought a 38 Ford pickup!
By: srpatterson - 29th September 2004 at 03:13
Hmmmm, has anyone seen mexicanbob? Anyone? Anyone?
No?
Do you know why???
CAUSE HE’S IN PRISON. Uncle Sam gets upset when you start borrowing his toys.
By: mexicanbob - 29th September 2004 at 01:27
Sounds like the USAF guys at RAF Mildenhall need to send you an invite.
I know where I can get a C-17……..
By: srpatterson - 29th September 2004 at 00:50
… we want to see you in the seat on the other side of the barrier with the winnebago sized picnic hamper for us to steal from.
Don’t look at me, it’s Mrs. Andy who packed all the goodies. 😉
By: merlin70 - 28th September 2004 at 22:37
Sounds like the USAF guys at RAF Mildenhall need to send you an invite.
By: Snapper - 28th September 2004 at 21:59
You can’t bring the Fury Steve. Sorry. Not allowed. We don’t want to see Southern Cross in the air and you in the pilots seat.
No, we want to see you in the seat on the other side of the barrier with the winnebago sized picnic hamper for us to steal from.
By: stewart1a - 28th September 2004 at 20:23
guys if you want to do this and a Firefly would be very welcome on the circuit thanks steve.
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September 28, 2004 at 8:19 pm