In article ,
Frank Stutzman wrote:



My experiance isn't quite like yours Brian, but I'd have to say I've
somewhat simular sentiments.

The last time they were at the The Dalles, OR I asked one of the crew when
they were departing as I wanted to take a few photos from my Bonanza. I
got a snippy (to put it politely) response about how there can be no other
planes in the air (?!?) when they are flying because they as they
passengers. The guy was obviously unfamilar with the FARs, which I'm ok
with, but his attitue was unacceptable.

While there was no reason for the guy to be snippy with you there are a
lot of folks who slide up and fly formation with the bombers without
talking to us before which raises a couple of issues. It is a violation
to fly formation with paying passengers, it is a violation to conduct a
formation flight without a pre-formation brief, and it's not comfortable
or safe to have every tom, dick and harry that thinks he's a formation
pilot coming up on your wing.


And whats with the three different paint jobs (each more lurid than the
last) on the B-24?

All the paintjobs on the B-17, B-24 or B-25 depict actual airplanes that
flew during WWII. I didn't see anything lurid about the current scheme
as "Witchcraft" for the B-24.

There are a couple of flaming assholes that fly or travel with the
bombers. Sadly they are the memory that stays with people.

I think of the veterans that come out to see the airplanes. You can
literally see the years melt away from these guys. They get a spring in
their step, they stand just a bit taller, they relive an important time
in their lives. I just want them, the veterans, to continue to have the
oppurtunity to see, touch, hear and ride in the airplanes.

--
Dale L. Falk

There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing
as simply messing around with airplanes.

http://home.gci.net/~sncdfalk/flying.html