I’ll have to fire the old scanner up to properly contribute to this thread. Damn digital world we live in.

In the meantime, here’s a photo from a USO dance a few years back with my oldest daughter. Amazing what you can buy on ebay!

Cheers,

Steve

OK, sorry for the tone of my post Rob, but I took some personal offense to the comments about rich warbird owner toys and glorified sport planes.

IMHO, adding a jump seat or a Garmin GPS to a Mustang or Corsair does nothing to diminish its historical value. My first real warbird ride was in the jump seat of a Mustang. My wife probably wishes that it hadn’t been there, but that ride definitely influenced my desire to own a warbird. Also, with the level of restoration available I believe that none of these modifications are non-reversible.

Any modification done for safety of flight gets my 100% endorsement. A Seafire Mk. 47 may not have come with a big red button on the panel to feather the prop, but I was glad to see it there. Likewise, modern radios just work better. I love originality, and my friend Steve Craig’s Wildcat is a good example of this. It’s a stunning authentic restoration, but most people will never see the panel and cockpit. Yes, it wins awards, and yes it does go to many shows. But when things go bad, such as a line of developing storms or a faltering engine, I want all the help that I can get.

Authenticity does tend to win “Grand Champion” award. And you and I know that some owners will spend the moon just to win some award or trophy. My fear is that these airplanes tend to disappear from the airshow scene after winning, only to be seen on the rare occasion.

So, sorry about my tone, and let’s put away the knives, OK?

Steve

A data plate restoration of a Sterling. It would be damn expensive, but wouldn’t it be great.

… I’m still watching as stock original birds are gutted to become glorified “sports planes” with second seats, modern systems and electronics, dual control systems, etc…

There are a number of non-museum outfits here in the US that deserve high praise for maintaining a crucial respect for the originality of certain choice machines, rather than perceiving any and everything as nothing more than a substantial collection of raw material for creating the next perverted centerpiece for some clueless rich man’s toy box…

OK, first my fantasy choice would be to borrow a certain Lanc from East Kirksby and get her flying. After a year tour in North America she would return to Duxford and fly every weekend and every other Wed if it’s not raining.

Next, I have to ask Rob Mears what planet he’s living on, because he obviously doesn’t know anything about operating warbirds in the real world. Stock warbirds belong in museums, and I enjoy seeing them there. But why on earth should anyone fly a “stock” warbird across the country to attend an airshow (which is what everyone wants as I understand it) with old radios, old navigation equipment and antiquated gyro systems. Are you going to pay the extra fuel cost for these warbirds to carry around all the original armor plating, or help navigate with the original ADF instead of a modern GPS. Ever used an ADF near thunderstorms? Think they had the same problems with restricted airspace in 1945 that we have today?

What’s wrong with adding a jump seat where all that old radio gear used to go, to share the experience with a spouse or photographer? It also comes in pretty handy when you have to take an overnight bag along for that airshow weekend. I guess North American Aviation wasn’t too concerned with luggage space, but you can be damn sure a guy who shells out over $1.5 million US for a P-51 wants to take an overnight bag along with him.

The bottom line is that restoration shops are in business to make a profit. If they don’t make a profit then they don’t tend to stay in business very long. Now, here’s a shocker for you Rob; they often build what their customers ask them to. Just because an owner decides not to put gun bays and ammo lockers in his Corsair does not make it a “clueless rich man’s toy” or “glorified sport plane”. Get a clue yourself, Rob. Or better yet, step up and operate that original warbird yourself. Of course, no one will ever see it fly outside the pattern, but at least you’ll be happy.

Steve

The Hoppers did a day of filming at the end of June for this special. Don’t know if I like the title, but what little footage I saw looked OK. The production people filmed our brief, then had cameras in the planes and on the ground. Also the day before they had filmed with Bob Lutz, who would definately qualify as a tycoon.

It was fun, but it was a very long day.