I think the guys who fly the waterbombers are a breed apart. I doubt many of them would want to swop their kind of flying for yours either.

Certainly the one I met at Albenga a few years ago wasn’t for taking an airline job under any circumstances.

Moggy

And fair enough for you to think this as I currently fly the 747 200 / 300 you would believe it is mostly ILS to ILS, in a radar vectored environment,
(which it is for the most part)
But I did spend 2 years with Conair in British Columbia back in the late 80`s flying their Bird dog Aerostar, so I am pretty familiar with containment ops, and I stand by my assertion that “who ever” flys a 74 in a fire environment will have their hands full. I have no doubt that this has all been thoroughly discussed and studied by Evergreen, as it would have been critical to the conversion, but I belive it will still be a challenge.
But my point Moggy, dont assume just because a guy flys a certain type that is where his sole interests lie, I still compete in Aerobatics in a single seat Pitts, and I fly floatplanes on a regular basis, ( just two days ago a Caravan on Amphibs)
the airlines are work, flying is fun!
Cheers!

Oh, and before you bring up that it “may be straightened” at one end, as per use of Hawker dies, therefore authentic, gimme the aforementioned 4130 tubing and 5 minutes with a vice, and you have the “relic”
However, if you really feel that I am an idiot to critise this particular auction item, I suggest you bid on it, as you obviously feel it has relevance in the world of Historic avaition, and will no doubt appreciate in value!

This is ridiculous, and if someone actually bids on that they should instantly be offered swamp land, moon dust, propwash, etc. because they are obviously incurably stupid!

wow! hardly “standard”
never seen a deca type system in any Beaver I have flown, a rudimenty moving map! ( although the map moved literally) best I ever had was an ADF, and a DG ( poor man’s RMI)
Quite elaborate for a Beaver, none the less.
With regards to panels there is almost no constant to a Beaver, but less is usually the norm.

OK, I have watched this thing now on and off as it keeps popping up, let me see if I have this cronology correct:
Young fellow wants to set up an “airline” but he basically has an idea for an air taxi operation on a tiny scale.
He initially gets good response, lots of encouragement, etc. He manages to sort some investment, and all looks like he may actually get this off the ground, and in that incredibly over-regulated environment known as UK airspace, that is a BIG achievement! so not one to be minimized.
He has to change his plans enroute numerous times, and it appears that with no AOC he must essentially wet lease to make it happen. No suprise there, it is done every day. This he arranges, and eventually he manages to get a couple flights done, and it’s now a day by day, see what happens kind of operation. He has attracted the interest of the media, and they have hyped it to a degree, he has of course risen to this, perhaps to his detriment. And this little venture now appears to be hanging on a thread, maybe it will work, maybe not. Is that basically the timeline of events to date?
So my question, and it is to the majority of those who appear to spend all day every day tracking this venture, … why??? just what is upsetting you all so much here? have you all pre-purchased tickets in hopes of flying in the Navaho, or whatever he is sub chartering now? do you want to get good airside pictures? why do you CARE????
Because guess what, this is just one more tiny example of a guy trying to be involved in aviation.
Maybe it is because there is so little in the way of general aviation in the UK, that you see this as a massive venture, but it is not, if he was doing this in Canada, no one would even bat an eye, it would be a case of, ” oh look, he is trying to do trips in a Navaho, big deal, oh well maybe he will pick up a few”
Really, I am just amazed at the rage exibited on this board towards what is a complete non event.
Me, I don’t care, I have 0 involvement in such things, I have flown in the large aircraft contract environment for many years, (B747) and I fly with guys all the time that “want” to start an airline, do they, well no, almost never, but it is a hot topic, and pilots traditionally make lousy managers.
Now this fellow is not really a pilot, but he just skipped a few steps and went straight to the wants an airline stage.
If he really has a comm, and maybe a frozen ATPL, he is probably best to try for an entry level jet job, they are in abundance in the UK, and he can see how the big boys really screw up an airline. Then when he has watched from the inside for a number of years, maybe he would realise that it is not really worth the effort anyway!
But please, all you guys that are hanging on every word, and action of this tiny venture, you are only making yourselves look foolish. because the attention you are giving to this far outweighs the actual operation.
But carry on, and I will catch up again in a month or so, and note again that because the “website” has not been updated it has thrown you all into an apoplectic rage!
Really, boys there is better things to rant about, oh and keep taking pictures.Sometimes I see myself! 🙂

I believe Hinton was hurt pretty bad in the crash of the Miles and Atwood Special during the filming of “The Rocketeer”. Possibly that is when Mr. Hoskins took over flying duties in the “Z”?

that may be the situation, as I well remember Craig telling me some years ago that he flew the aircraft for the film, ( and I think he is mentioned in the credits) but the timing may be a result of what you mention.
And he was VERY clear that the aircraft was completely unacceptable as it was.
But as Delmar B proved the Z properly built, ( the Kimball / Eicher) version was a perfectly flyable aircraft in the right hands.
By the way, kermit weeks now has a fantastic collection of Racer Replica´s with the:
Gee Bee R2 ( Ex benjamin,Wolf)
Gee Bee Model Z ( Ex Kimball,Eicher)
Super Solution ( Jim Moss)
Lockheed Vega ( D jameson)
any others?
he should buy the Wedell Williams that was just down the street?
has anyone seen or heard that kermit has flown any of his replica´s himself? the R2 and the Super Solution in particular.

On the pilot side, what’s it like to go from flying a chunky Radial, to say a modern jet passenger job, Seem’s a lot of you Lucky b*stard’s get a chance to fly all sort’s!! .

Stormbird262
well regards this, can only answer for me, but I started my career on the DHC-2 Beaver on floats, now 22 years later, numerous types, from light twin through small and heavy jets, I fly the B747 200. Jets are fun, but at least in the case of the 74 they go too far, carry too much gas, and end up in places you did`nt want to be in! 8+ hrs in cruise at lvl 350 is not flying!
I guess you never know it till you get there, but for me give me the Beaver any day! far more fun,
( bottom line though is we end up doing this for a combination of money and lifestyle, neither of which floatplanes can really offer.)
funny thing, when I flew little airplanes, all I could think about was big jets, now I fly big jets, all I think about is little airplanes! :confused:
grass is always greener though.
Cheers 🙂