Best warbird to own

On 7 Nov 2003 13:52:51 -0400, Gregg Germain wrote:

In rec.aviation.military Ed Majden wrote:


: Back in the 1950's I saw a privately owned P38 with USA markings land at
: the Regina airport in Saskatchewan. Three guys climbed out of it. They
: un-screwed the back of a tip tank and removed their suitcases! Don't know
: who owned it and I didn't write down the N---- tail number. I wonder if
: this P38 is still around???
: Ed

THREE guys? Wow I'm impressed. Was one in the nose? ;^)

I've seen a film of Gary Cooper unfolding himself from teh back seat
of a P-38 and he was really crammed in there.

Not to mention a P-38 with "tip tanks", that must have been one rare
bird!!!!!!!!!

Al Minyard

I nominiate the Polikarpov I-16. Fits the bill nicely except for being two
seat. However it makes up for this by being open cockpit.

see http://www.ctrl-c.liu.se/misc/ram/i-16-links.html

--
Frank Stutzman
Bonanza N494B "Hula Girl"
Hood River, OR

There was a great looking T-38 in TAP a year or two ago for a cool million. It
took a while to sell but has a heck of a roll rate and I suppose you could fly
out over the ocean when you want to go supersonic.

The Tweety Bird for sale that someone posted looks very sharp and you don't get
a panel crammed with stuff.

The T-34's out there are mostly in somewhat questionable condition because of
spar damage or limitations. They have an hour meter/stress accumulator and most
are at or beyond their limits. I have heard of some complicated and expensive
fixes but you are talking $300,000 or more for a warn out Bonanza with tandem
seating (and a stick :-)

Once in a while there is an Army or Navy FAC Cessna Mixmaster with logbooks
back to Vietnam that has been restored to original condition -- armored seat,
full windowed right hand door, etc. I saw one in TAP with good engine times for
$65,000. I called as soon as I saw it and it was already on the way to a new
owner. In Texas IIRC.

-- Charlie Springer

-- Charlie Springer

I think a Storch would be great for dropping into nice areas for coyote and fox
calling.

-- Charlie Springer

In article ,
Frank Stutzman wrote:

I nominiate the Polikarpov I-16. Fits the bill nicely except for being two
seat. However it makes up for this by being open cockpit.

see http://www.ctrl-c.liu.se/misc/ram/i-16-links.html

The first of the "modern" monoplane fighters, and a true
classic. Reputation for tricky handling on the ground and
in landing, though - backed up by comments in Aeroplane
mONTHLY a year or so ago when they had an article by
someone who'd just flown one.

If we regard this as simply an exercise in theory - that
is, it doesn't matter that there aren't any for sale
then I'd be inclined to go out on a limb and suggest
one of the classic Hawker two-seaters (Hart, Hind, Demon
or Osprey - pretty, fast for their day and the Kestrel
should be usefully less thirsty than a Merlin. Or a
Fairey Fox, for that matter. And having brought Fairey
up, I'd be inclined to go right out on a limb for the
monoplanes and suggest a Battle or Fulmar - Merlin
powered, so plenty of upgrade potential for power,
usefully quick (you're not going to be hanging a
full bomb load under tha Battle..), agile (spectacularly
so in the case of the Fulmar), notably sweet-handling and
viceless, certainly in the case of the Fulmar (Norman
Hanson reckoned it to be one of the most polite aeroplanes
he'd flown) and tough as old boots, especially in the case
of the Fulmar again (a carrier aeroplane *and* a Fairey
product - go figure). You could probably pack at least
another seat in too.

Failing that, and if you can compromise on turbines, how
about a DH Vampire trainer - two side-by-side seats,
easier handling 'tis said than late-generation piston-
engined warbirds, small and neat.

--
Andy Breen ~ Interplanetary Scintillation Research Group
http://users.aber.ac.uk/azb/
"Time has stopped, says the Black Lion clock
and eternity has begun" (Dylan Thomas)

Subject: Best warbird to own
From: (Regnirps)
Date: 11/9/03 9:42 AM Pacific Standard Time
Message-id:

I think a Storch would be great for dropping into nice areas for coyote and
fox
calling.

-- Charlie Springer



I flew a Feissler Storch in Schleissheim in 1946 Sure beats the hell out of
Cubs.

Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

"Gord Beaman" ) wrote in message . ..

That's interesting about 'little warning' and dropping the 'left'
wing. I'm only familiar with some heavies and they all gave lots
of warning, very 'fine' buffeting progressing to coarser and
higher amplitudes before the 'real thing'. Also they all six
dropped the 'right' wing. Would that be a function of the prop
rotation direction? I notice that all six had right hand
rotation, does the Mustang have left hand rotation?, or is it
some other factor that causes this?.

From the cockpit the prop turned clockwise. As for stall warning there
was more than enough, and landing stall was closer to 75mph than 95
Having flown several thousand hours in the Mustang, other than in
extreme crosswinds, all my landings were three point .
Flying a Mustang to it's limit is one of the greatest challenges, and
one of the greatest pleasures, one can ever experience.

Howard Austin

(Howard Austin) wrote:

"Gord Beaman" ) wrote in message . ..

That's interesting about 'little warning' and dropping the 'left'
wing. I'm only familiar with some heavies and they all gave lots
of warning, very 'fine' buffeting progressing to coarser and
higher amplitudes before the 'real thing'. Also they all six
dropped the 'right' wing. Would that be a function of the prop
rotation direction? I notice that all six had right hand
rotation, does the Mustang have left hand rotation?, or is it
some other factor that causes this?.

From the cockpit the prop turned clockwise. As for stall warning there
was more than enough, and landing stall was closer to 75mph than 95
Having flown several thousand hours in the Mustang, other than in
extreme crosswinds, all my landings were three point .
Flying a Mustang to it's limit is one of the greatest challenges, and
one of the greatest pleasures, one can ever experience.

Howard Austin

Thanks Howard...so it must be something other than prop rotation
that decides which wing will drop. The Argus dropped the right
wing so severely that in a 'clean power on' stall you'd swing
around almost 180 degrees, but would recover very quickly by
putting the controls forward.
--

-Gord.

Howard: I tried to email, but it was rejected.
I'm always curious about Mustang history/events/etc.
Where did you get several thousand hours? Military or civilian and where at?
Thx,
V. Lenoch

"Charles Talleyrand" wrote in message
om...
I'm fantasy shopping for my new warbird or historic aircraft. My
requirements are ...

- Historic value (rare and interesting aircraft)
- Reasonably easy to fly
- No turbines and under 12,500 lbs (no type rating needed)
- Seats two
- Aerobatic
- Easy on the eyes

I don't know enough to find the right aircraft.

There are lots of P51s out there, so they are not rare enough.
Further, they are said to be even harder to fly than normal for
vintage and type. The P51 is one of the few WWII fighters that looks
good in a two seat variant.

Flying Me-109s are quite rare, but I've read they are just too tough
to land and only seat one person.

Two seat Spitfires are just ugly.

The P38 and P39 are attactive because of the nosewheel gear. I
understand that the P39 was also used as a trainer in WWII (so it
might be easy to fly).

A Folker Triplane is probably a reasonable plane to fly, but I have no
desire to bath in castor oil and it only seats one person.

My thinking suggests dive and torpedo bombers might be the solution.
They typically seat two or more, and the naval aircraft should have
reasonable low speed handling. Is this sound thinking? Would a
Dauntless or Devistator or even a Stuka fit the requirements?

What fantasy aircraft should I buy?
-Much Thank

Charles;
As we don't know each other, you will have to forgive my "frankness" with my
answer to your question. I don't mean to sound harsh in any way.
Many of these "fantasy" posts about owning warbirds are just plain BS to
tell you the truth, so I don't usually spend much time on them unless the
poster convinces me it's legitimate.
Quite frankly, to begin with, some of what you are "supposing" is not very
accurate. The Trike for example, is extremely difficult to fly, and can bite
a novice in one hell of a hurry. The rebuilds of this aircraft are not the
easiest planes to own and maintain either. Other than that, I'll just tell
you that owing a specific warbird is first a matter of experience. Then
comes the pocketbook factor, which can be considerable to say the least.
From what you're saying, and assuming you have reasonable means to support
your wishes, and don't have much experience in handling something like a
warbird, you might want to explore the possibility of obtaining a T34. It's
two place, aerobatic, flies like a Bonanza, and is fairly easy to maintain.
(Make sure all the AD's have been complied with of course). There was a
hefty one on the main spar if I recall.
Once you shoot higher than that; a T28 or a T6 for example, you're getting
into aircraft that require some experience, especially the T6, which would
require some fairly descent tailwheel training in type. If you have the
means; fine, but I don't suggest buying above your experience level unless
you have access to an extremely competent checkout program given by someone
who really knows what the hell he/she's doing; and I mean that sincerely.
Fantasy has absolutely NOTHING to do with safely operating a warbird.
Experience, currency, and proper maintenance are the ONLY factors that
apply. Everything else is pure bull**** and will kill you as it has killed
many others who didn't realize that horsepower and money don't necessarily
equate!!!!
If you're serious, best of luck to you, and if you find something I'm
familiar with, please don't hesitate to ask for advice. If you're not, just
disregard my rather "frank" post on this subject. :-)
Dudley Henriques
International Fighter Pilots Fellowship
Commercial Pilot/ CFI Retired
For personal email, please replace
the z's with e's.
dhenriquesATzarthlinkDOTnzt