What is The heart and soul of Aviation Preservation?

Got quite a bit on the Chippie….so give them my email address. Gave Paul once a framed photo set of six period photos of the airframe in difference guises. But still have everything to hand at home.

Martin

mmmm not a big fan of that horrible rear turtle deck –

Finding our serial number was easy – it was engraved on the roll over hoop !
Plus we have unbroken lineage from LFA to when we acquired her….we were quite lucky really.

The new owner of Pauls Chippie may want a chat too – he is big pals with Blue Max (of this forum)

All the best

TT

BTW think owners of G-DDMV will be in contact I think you did the research on Pauls old T-6 they’d like to have a yarn…will pass on yr email address….

All the best

TT

Did all the historical work on all of Paul’s aeroplanes from the Chipmunk to the Sea Fury. The T-6 is a kind of rare machine as although its a T-6G :), it saw service with the Haitian Air Force from the late 1950s to the 1980s at Bowens Field, Port au Prince. Somewhere along the way it was fitted with a T-6F/SNJ-6 rear canopy and none of the paperwork relates to this being done. Probably done when back in the States though…

Its a shame I never found out what the original serial number was as this seems to be the case with the majority of T-6Gs. Ben, how did you discover TOMC’s original serial number?

Looking forward to helping them out.

Martin

In one word – enthusiasts.

Correction, totally comitted enthusiasts who are insane enough to want to spend the weekend in the hangar rather than with their other half(Oh I forgot that’s probably a sign of some degree of sanity) 🙂
T6flyer – your remark about there always being people who want something for nothing is true enough – it’s called human nature.

Bah! A piffling excuse Pengelly – Leicester have a Land Registry you know! 😉 😀

BTW think owners of G-DDMV will be in contact I think you did the research on Pauls old T-6 they’d like to have a yarn…will pass on yr email address….

All the best

TT

If only I was a little closer…….

Got experience on both types too.

Best wishes,

Martin

What i/we need is arms and legs EVERY weekend…………..not just occasionally but every weekend and all day, in whatever weather

I’m afraid that photos can never do restorations justice- the ‘before’ and ‘after’ shots simply cannot tell the whole story -I think the best example of this actually isnt in aviation – its in the classic car world – any mag you flick through has thousands of them all with their own stories of hard work, drama, shocking expenditure and not a little swearing rolled up under the shiny paintwork…..

You’re exactly right T6flyer !

I have had visitors to our aircraft start off by saying how lucky i should class myself, to own my own aircraft.
Then , if they’re interested , they get to find out that lots of things have to be forsaken, not least every possible spare bit of time and money, and added to that, the enormous amount of hard work put thats required, often in completely unforgiving conditions.Faces start to drop at that point with many visitors.

Add a 150 mile trip EACH WAY every time i want the opportunity to work outside on the aircraft, in ‘unique’ airfield conditions, and the previously envious enquirer often turns to ‘well you’re crazy’ and returns to the warmth of their car!

To this day i can’t see where the need comes from to do what we do, but it’s there, i stopped questioning it a long time ago, and now relish every moment, it’s a calling is how i see it.
Thanks at this point to the many unsung crews, including ours, without whom no aircraft can operate.

XS186 CREW

Only joking MP 😉 – I know this to be true – think of all the help you’ve given us and we’ve never met!

TT

Martin

Mustang S Harvard S and an Avenger! 😮
TT

All flights were ‘payment’ for work done..cleaning aeroplanes…sweeping hangar floors…writing up histories….magazine articles…..colour schemes…groundcrew at airshows….no flights were paid for, but all cost a lot of personal money to get to be in
the position to gain them.

If you look at the CAA website and at THT’s Avenger (G-BTDP) photo, thats me in the back. Flown in about 200 types (10 Harvards by the way :)) also including T-34, T-28B, Fennec, Provost, etc…… It was either right place right time or through sheer hard work.

Martin

Martin

Mustang S Harvard S and an Avenger! 😮

You lucky sod! 😀

TT

grass roots, unpaid, dedicated, eccentric, eclectic

I agree entirely with what you have said and the remarks made by Ben especially thegetoffyour****ability.

I live hundreds of miles away from the warbird fraternity and got lots of abuse and rather nasty comments from people that I once considered as friends, when they learnt that I was all of a sudden flying around in the backs of Harvards, Mustangs, Avenger and such like. It wasnt given to me on a plate, I had to work for it and work it was (used to travel 600 miles most weekends), but I loved it, wouldn’t change it for the world and still do.

There were and I bet still are a lot of people that sadly want something for nothing. Sad but true.

I am not trying to upset the apple cart, (I’m a nice chap) but upon seeing the thread herewith thought would add my personal comments.

Martin

grass roots, unpaid, dedicated, eccentric, eclectic

taking something inanimate and unloved and returning it to ‘live’ status – as time progresses more and more of our past is preserved – ok so some of the aircraft crash or are poorly restored, but over time they are recycled and generally the trend is a move towards preserving our aviation past…properly

requirements?

1. Money. Thats why restorations take such a long time!
2. Time
3. Patience
4. Commitment – in many forms (for example i look every day to chase down T-6 spares)
5. Bloody Mindedness – listen and learn but sod em if THEY try and grind you down.
6. Passion. You have to have a reason for doing this – we all have different ones, ownership, the veterans, the engineering etc
7. Mental Instability. It would be a lot easier to sit in front of the TV (and cheaper)
8. ….which naturally means you need getoffyour****ability. 48000 people read FP each month in the UK. Less than half i imagine are involved with aviation hands on, of those that arent I bet half of those think they know more/better than those that are!

In one word – enthusiasts.

taking something inanimate and unloved and returning it to ‘live’ status – as time progresses more and more of our past is preserved – ok so some of the aircraft crash or are poorly restored, but over time they are recycled and generally the trend is a move towards preserving our aviation past…properly

requirements?

1. Money. Thats why restorations take such a long time!
2. Time
3. Patience
4. Commitment – in many forms (for example i look every day to chase down T-6 spares)
5. Bloody Mindedness – listen and learn but sod em if THEY try and grind you down.
6. Passion. You have to have a reason for doing this – we all have different ones, ownership, the veterans, the engineering etc
7. Mental Instability. It would be a lot easier to sit in front of the TV (and cheaper)
8. ….which naturally means you need getoffyour****ability. 48000 people read FP each month in the UK. Less than half i imagine are involved with aviation hands on, of those that arent I bet half of those think they know more/better than those that are!

Ben

I second that, all of them. Speaking from experience of course but in the field of aviation archeology.

Cheers

Cees

taking something inanimate and unloved and returning it to ‘live’ status – as time progresses more and more of our past is preserved – ok so some of the aircraft crash or are poorly restored, but over time they are recycled and generally the trend is a move towards preserving our aviation past…properly

requirements?

1. Money. Thats why restorations take such a long time!
2. Time
3. Patience
4. Commitment – in many forms (for example i look every day to chase down T-6 spares)
5. Bloody Mindedness – listen and learn but sod em if THEY try and grind you down.
6. Passion. You have to have a reason for doing this – we all have different ones, ownership, the veterans, the engineering etc
7. Mental Instability. It would be a lot easier to sit in front of the TV (and cheaper)
8. ….which naturally means you need getoffyour****ability. 48000 people read FP each month in the UK. Less than half i imagine are involved with aviation hands on, of those that arent I bet half of those think they know more/better than those that are!

Interesting topic. aircraft preservation is not only working on a aircraft type but like you say there are hours of research part lists to be made up and sourced (could take years) as well as other jobs be it glamourous or not that need doing!