Keeping Me Out of Your Warbird?

I understand completely the argument concerning the flying of such a rare
bird. It's true that things can go wrong and an airplane like this could be
lost. It's a judgment call really, and each owner or association involved
with these airplanes must make this judgment carefully. You can make the
argument either way.
It's wonderful to see these airplanes in the air of course, but as they get
down to the nitty gritty of the last ones in the world, the desire to see
them in flight weighs more heavily on those entrusted with their care and
safe keeping.
I flew my Mustang, but I would respect another pilots decision not to fly
their warbird. It's a tough call!! :-)
Dudley

"Vicente Vazquez" wrote in message
om...
"Dudley Henriques" wrote in message
thlink.net...
Hi Vicente;
That's a great shot, and a great airplane. That padlock would be one of
the
ways to secure the canopy on a 47; that's for sure!
My friend Vlado Lenoch has recently just flown a beautifully restored
Jug (a
D.. I believe). There aren't too many left out there. This one looks
like it
will be a great restoration when finished.

Hi Dudley,

That aircraft's restoration was actually completed in 1999 (IIRC).
It's the only P-47 Thunderbolt in airworthy condition in Brazil,
though our Air Force forbade the museum to fly the aircraft, under the
argument that such rare aircraft shouldn't be put under the risk of
being lost in an accident. The engine is turned on and the a/c taxis
every once in a while, but it isn't flown (at least not while there's
someone watching :-)) Actually, it was flown briefly and
"unnoficially" several times, during tests. As the Museum belongs to
our Air Force, I guess it must be the last airworthy P-47 in the world
to still be "officially owned" by an Air Force. :-)

Some more pics:

http://www.aviacaomilitar.com.br/webkits/b4_musal_1.jpg
http://www.aviacaomilitar.com.br/webkits/b4_musal_2.jpg
http://www.aviacaomilitar.com.br/webkits/b4_musal_3.jpg

(Pictures taken from airliners.net website)

It is a post-war aircraft (P-47D-40-RA s/n 45-49151, former FAB 4184),
received in 1953, and it is painted in the colors and markings of the
aircraft flown by Lt. Luiz Lopes Dornelles (P-47D-25-RE s/n 42-26766),
the last Brazilian pilot to be KIA in italy.

There are four other P-47's preserved in Brazil (42-26757, 42-26760,
42-26762 and 44-19663) and though they are not airworthy, they have a
much more important historical value (at least for us) as these four
aircraft are all "combat veterans" from our 1st FS in Italy.

Cheers,

Vicente

(v dot vazquez at terra dot com dot br)

"Dudley Henriques" wrote in message thlink.net...
It's wonderful to see these airplanes in the air of course, but as they get
down to the nitty gritty of the last ones in the world, the desire to see
them in flight weighs more heavily on those entrusted with their care and
safe keeping.
I flew my Mustang, but I would respect another pilots decision not to fly
their warbird. It's a tough call!! :-)
Dudley

Sure it is... :-)

But you can guess the frustration when that kind of decision is not up
to the pilot. An AF vet, Brig. Gen. Magalhães Motta, worked hard for
nine years
on that restoration... and when everything was ready, with the plane
on the
ramp, engine ready to start, he got an urgent telegram from the AF
High
Command saying "Nope! You cant' fly it!". Must have been a very tough
blow
for an old P-47 pilot who was about to revive old memories...

I remember when I first saw a Spitfire in flight here in Brazil, with
the
"Battle Of Britain" theme playing on the background, during the
cerimony
when it was delivered to a museum. While I watched it in flight, names
of
people and places like Biggin Hill, Hornchurch, Sailor Malan and
Douglas
Bader came through my head. All those black and white still images I
saw in
books suddenly turned into a colored motion picture, with that
wonderful
soundtrack provided by the Merlin engine. And then I learned that
reading
about aviation history is one thing: seeing it in flight right before
your
eyes is something completely different. You can call me "excessively
emotional" or whatever the word in English is, but man... I had to
wipe
some tears... :-)

And every time I look at that P-47 I regret not being able to see that
piece
of our history crossing our skies again, carrying the same colors that
were
seen over Italy 60 years ago, with that same "Ostrich" we are so proud
of,
painted on it's fuselage.

Maybe one day... Who knows? :-)

"Vicente Vazquez" wrote in message
om...
"Dudley Henriques" wrote in message
thlink.net...

I remember when I first saw a Spitfire in flight here in Brazil, with
the
"Battle Of Britain" theme playing on the background, during the
cerimony
when it was delivered to a museum. While I watched it in flight, names
of
people and places like Biggin Hill, Hornchurch, Sailor Malan and
Douglas
Bader came through my head.

Douglas was a personal friend of mine for many years. Of all the things I
liked about Douglas; his work with handicapped children will always be
remembered by both myself and my wife. He was one of the charter members of
the old IFPF. We talked about the Harry Saltzman filming of "BOB" many
times. He often remarked about how his relationship with Galland got much
better after the two of them worked together on the film. Malan, believe it
or not, was one of Douglas' favorite people. It was Sailor who was
responsible for developing the tactics that changed Fighter Command's
thinking and changed Dowding's thinking. Many don't know that Bader liked
and respected Malan, as Sailor more or less sided with Keith Park during the
controversy when Douglas and Lee Mallory were pushing the "Big Wing" theory.
Those were interesting times and interesting people. Where else for example,
just in this little tidbit we're sharing here, can you find three characters
named Adolph? Hitler......Galland......and Malan!
Dudley Henriques
International Fighter Pilots Fellowship
Commercial Pilot/ CFI Retired
For personal email, please replace
the z's with e's.
dhenriquesATzarthlinkDOTnzt

Vicente Vazquez wrote:
And every time I look at that P-47 I regret not being able to see
that piece of our history crossing our skies again, carrying the same
colors that were seen over Italy 60 years ago, with that same
"Ostrich" we are so proud of painted on it's fuselage.


My dad told me stories of being buzzed every morning by a Brazilian P-47
squadron in Italy in WWII. He was flying C-47s at the time and said the
Thunderbolts would come roaring over just above the tents. Made a hell of a
noise.



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN


http://www.mortimerschnerd.com

"Mortimer Schnerd, RN" wrote in message ...
My dad told me stories of being buzzed every morning by a Brazilian P-47
squadron in Italy in WWII. He was flying C-47s at the time and said the
Thunderbolts would come roaring over just above the tents. Made a hell of a
noise.

Some time ago I received an e-mail from a USAAF vet telling me exactly
the same story. He told me he flew C-47's and while he was stationed
at Tarquinia (after the Brazilian FS moved on to Pisa) the Brazilian
P-47's would every once in a while "visit" their former base and make
some low passes over the tents.

Unfortunately I lost that e-mail message the last time I had to format
my HD but, considering the coincidence, can I guess it was your father
who wrote me ??

Vicente Vazquez wrote:
Some time ago I received an e-mail from a USAAF vet telling me exactly
the same story. He told me he flew C-47's and while he was stationed
at Tarquinia (after the Brazilian FS moved on to Pisa) the Brazilian
P-47's would every once in a while "visit" their former base and make
some low passes over the tents.

Unfortunately I lost that e-mail message the last time I had to format
my HD but, considering the coincidence, can I guess it was your father
who wrote me ??



A strong possibility. I know he's in here regularly.



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN


http://www.mortimerschnerd.com