Have been reading (and thoroughly enjoying) Hunting Warbirds – the story of the recovery of Kee Bird but other warbird collectors are mentioned including Walter Soplata – I’d never heard of him before but apparently he has a series of very rare warbirds in his garden including a B-36!! He has in recent years sold his F-82 and Super Corsair but many airframes are left – have googled and can only find the odd pic of the Corsair, TBM and F-86 – anyone know more or have any pix they would like to post?
TT
By: TEXANTOMCAT - 9th November 2005 at 09:27
Thanks all of you – Am behind the game as usual!
All the best
TT
By: Rob Mears - 9th November 2005 at 04:02
Here’s another link to check out (copy & paste):
http://s96920072.onlinehome.us/Fea1/101-200/Fea182_Walters-Farm_Williams/part1/Fea182.htm
By: Steve T - 9th November 2005 at 02:03
TT et al–
A favourite topic pops up again…Walt Soplata, as comes through in that chapter from the Kee Bird book, was (still is) truly unique, a gent to whom all of us who enjoy old airplanes owe a tip of the hat. There weren’t many who cared about Warbirds the way he did as early as he did.
He may be seen as reclusive today, but, though he has certainly never sought publicity, a quarter century ago he entertained (and that’s definitely the word for it) many an enthusiast visitor. I had the pleasure of visiting Walt twice in the early 80s. Wish I’d had a tape recorder going to capture some of the stories he told about his aircraft. He knew everything about every one…
There’s another Walt account that captures his personality just as well as the one in “Hunting Warbirds”. If you can find Bob Hull’s “A Season Of Eagles”, a chapter in there, based on a long article from one of the Ohio city papers, spins the whole Walt story (circa 1975). The book itself is about the National Air Races in Cleveland; Walt’s in there because he owned one and a half of Cook Cleland’s racing Corsairs.
Over on WIX (in the downloads section) there’s what is probably the most comprehensive listing of Walt’s aircraft, compiled by Mike Henniger from an assortment of sources (including me). Even a glance at that will make clear just how much we airplane nuts owe Mr Soplata. BTW, six or seven ex-Walt airplanes have left the collection, some of which are now restored and in museums (eg. P-80A at Pensacola), others under or awaiting rebuild (F-82E, F2G) and at least one (a B-25J now belonging to Jerry Yagen) soon to fly.
Cheers
S.
By: Newforest - 8th November 2005 at 21:25
Have a search on this forum – he’s been mentioned more than a few times in the past…;)
Flood
You’re right, only a couple of months ago 😉
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=48005&highlight=soplata
By: TEXANTOMCAT - 8th November 2005 at 17:20
Cheers flat- what a character!
By: Flat 12x2 - 8th November 2005 at 13:45
As Charley said, have alook on WIX
Heres a start Walter Soplata
By: Charley - 8th November 2005 at 12:31
There is a large thread with photos about this collection on WIX. He seems to be a very reclusive character who does not welcome visitors but commendably intends to leave his collection to aviation museums.
By: TEXANTOMCAT - 8th November 2005 at 10:48
ta Flood – will do –
for those of you who havent got the book I picked up a copy from Amazon for a mere $10 plus shipping – hardback, new copy
Cheers
TT
By: Flood - 8th November 2005 at 10:08
Have a search on this forum – he’s been mentioned more than a few times in the past…;)
Flood
Sign In
November 8, 2005 at 9:48 am