John Blackshoe Sends: Serendipity History – “The WW1 History Obsession of a Kiwi Billionaire”

Source: Screen capture from video linked below about 44:53

Okay we recently looked at a bunch of folks involved mostly in WW2 Warbirds and the amazing work they have done, usually with most of a plane to start with.

Ever hear of Peter Jackson? No, not the moon walking guy obsessed with kiddies, that was Michael. Peter is a film director, one of the top people in that trade of all times. He directed “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” trilogies, “King Kong” and a lot of other VERY successful films. From that, he is fabulously wealthy, worth over $1.4 Billion.

Some might say he is a bit eccentric, but he seems to be a fun loving guy who does not take himself too seriously. But, he is passionate about World War I history. He was the brains (and money) behind taking reels of film footage from the Imperial War Museum and turning it into the amazing “They Shall Not Grow Old” which appeared in 2018. This involved sharpening, synching and colorizing the old footage, and adding appropriate sound track including voice overs from interviews with WW1 veterans. It is an amazing insight into WW1.

If you have not seen it, then hither ye to a search engine and find out where to view it on line. It does not seem to be available free, but streams for $3.99 from several sources. As Nike says, “Just do it!”

Anyway, Jackson is truly obsessed with WW1, and has a personal collection of WW1 artifacts better than any other except possibly the Imperial War Museum itself. He is especially interested in WW1 aviation, but since there are not very many surviving original aircraft, he has his own company which makes WW1 aircraft exactly to original plans and specifications, and flies them. Jackson owns about 40 planes, at least a dozen are new production.

Source: Screen capture from video linked below at about 29:14

He has also provided non-airworthy replicas for museum display, and provided the money and skilled set makers to create amazing exhibits, like the British plane crashed into a tree above, and a full size exhibit on the Red Baron’s crash site being looted by Australian souvenir hunters while his body was still there. (Somehow, Snoopy got overlooked.)

Source: Screen capture from video linked below at about 29:27

So, lets go down under and turn left (politically) to Kiwi Land and visit Peter Jackson and his obsession.

 

Now, off we go…

 

If you don’t come away from this video utterly amazed at what one rich guy can do, and loving him for it, then maybe history is not your thing.

Puttering About ...

OAFS Photo

Well, last day of Christmas vacation. Which will lead into the January vacation, to be followed by the February vacation, ad infinitum (and beyond).

Rob mentioned something about there being a difference between being retired and being on vacation. For some, perhaps, that rings true. I, on the other hand, have always been a huge fan of the so-called "stay-cation." That is, one does not go to work, instead one stays at home and engages in leisurely activities.

I consider retired life to be one long vacation, interspersed with trips to places away from home, which some might call vacation. Tomato, tomahto. Or something ...

Anyhoo, it's been great fun hanging out in Maryland with the kids and the grands, but they are not retired and for them, life returns to "normal" next week. Work for the adults, school for the young'uns. Probably best not to have the elders underfoot so they can get back to their regular routine. (I mean the grands are being horribly spoiled by their grandmother, and okay, moi aussi.)

'Tis a longish haul back to the North, but it ain't like I have to hurry. According to the news, Little Rhody hasn't gone anywhere and last I checked ...

I'm retired.

Nope, not tired of saying that just yet. But I have learned to restrain myself around members of the gotta-go-to-work class. Sort of ...

I mean I get such nasty looks.

Ciao!

Editor's Note: The opening photo is a gardening/water feature place we visited on this trip. Lots of beautiful koi and cool statues. The Missus Herself indicated a certain interest in some of the statuary, I did too, until I saw the prices. Perhaps I should learn how to make statues out of concrete. I mean why not? I've got the time because ...

... You guessed it, I'm retired. (Don't look at me like that!)

John Blackshoe Sends: Serendipity History – “The Art of Aircraft Restoration” - Inside a very special community

Source: Screen capture from video linked below

Most of us have been to one or more (or a LOT more) museums, including aviation museums, and to some air shows where we have learned some history, marveled at some technology, and been in awe of the aircraft designers, builders, maintainers, and the publicity hogging aircrews. Those historic appreciation opportunities depend on a lot of people.

Flight or even static displays of current service aircraft are complex projects, usually with full time professional military folks to get it done. 

The older birds, however, are an even more difficult proposition, with their very survival, let alone restoration to air worthy condition dependent on very special people. People with passions for history, and aviation history in particular. Usually they have some prior connection with old planes, but not always. The most successful people in this niche usually have to invest a lot of their own time and money in their projects, or work on projects for other people who have a lot of money. Like a guy who wanted a Mustang built and started with only a hydraulic tank. Now, 12 years later that project is almost ready to fly.

 

This Emmy winning documentary is 54 minutes long, with great coverage of about a dozen guys in the restoration or historic flight business, including flying Heritage Flights alongside current USAF birds, one a former astronaut. The first few minutes set the stage for the exciting stuff which starts at about the 10 minute mark.

This includes segments duplicating the early Wright Brothers experiments (with flight tests!) and pre-WW2 homebuilts. Most of it is about classic WW2 era warbirds.

Next time you see one of those old warbirds in the air, think about the folks who made that possible, past and present. And, if you have the opportunity to support them, from a simple “Thank you” to anyone involved, to financially supporting their costly addiction, please do so.

Now, off we go…

Happy and Prosperous New Year to all!

Happy New Year!

OAFS Photo

Not the greatest photo, taken through a screened window, but hey, if you want Ansel Adams, you're obviously in the wrong place. Heh.

Today is the first day of 2025, for those of you who weren't paying attention. It's also my first "official" day of retirement, as in, I'm no longer on the payroll of my former employer. Not on the active roll at any rate, now I'm a retired employee.

It was a good gig while it lasted. I can say that I spent 49 years, 7 months, 2 weeks, and 4 days working to defend the United States. Picking what to wear every day was easy in the first part of that time period, the pay was certainly better during the second.

Anyhoo ...

I wish you health, happiness, and prosperity in the new year. May you be blessed and may you be loved. Everything else doesn't really matter.

May God smile upon thee.

Cheers, mates!