 |
| 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!
If anyone here is into hot prop warplanes (and tuned cars), this pilot's site is highly interesting:
ReplyDeletehttps://m.youtube.com/@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles
Stefan v.
It's a great site, to be sure!
DeleteRob Gale
Yowsa! Now there's a vid to start the year off JB, thanks.
ReplyDeleteAmazing people doing amazing work on amazing planes. Thanks.
ReplyDelete(wishing that there was an edit function) "Like a guy who wanted a Mustang built and started with only a hydraulic tank. " That is one kvetch I have with some of the restorations. "Yeah, I started with two bolts from the landing gear, a bezel from one of the instruments, and a fragment of the skin from one of the wings and we RESTORED it." A bit of an exaggeration, but I've heard similar. A 99 44/100 new build incorporating a few small original parts being called a restoration. Still an impressive work, but to my mind it's not a restoration. I'm not sure where I would draw the line, but for me there should be a significant amount of the original involved. We get into the Theseus Paradox. "The ship wherein Theseus and the youth of Athens returned from Crete had thirty oars, and was preserved by the Athenians down even to the time of Demetrius Phalereus, for they took away the old planks as they decayed, putting in new and strong timber in their places, insomuch that this ship became a standing example among the philosophers, for the logical question of things that grow; one side holding that the ship remained the same, and the other contending that it was not the same.
Delete— Plutarch, Life of Theseus 23.1"
The "Ship of Theseus" conundrum was evident in Leo Goolden's superb "restoration" of the yacht "Tally Ho" spanning 7 years, and now complete. (Or, as complete as boat work ever gets, since there is always something needing attention.) The whole project has been documented by a video every 2 weeks and is fun to watch. All available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/c/SampsonBoatCo.
DeleteThis also reminds me of the (hopefully apocryphal) story about a beautiful flintlock Kentucky rifle with tiger stripe maple stock, many brass and silver inlays, etc, which was a restoration starting with a butt plate screw.
John Blackshoe
If you're actually going to FLY the airplane, you can't get hung up on percentages like that. Be happy that we can see and hear these aircraft. If you want to be a purist, got to Udvar Hazy or Wright Pat.
DeleteRG
Many restorations started with only a data plate.
DeleteBTW: I have my grandpa's finish hammer. I've replaced the handle three times but the head only once.
When is was a kid, I saw a Corsair sitting on the end of the runway doing his runup. I pulled over on 87, and walked over to the fence. It was glorious. Another guy stopped and we talked for a bit. When he got his clearance, he jazzed that bird and the sound was magnificent. Up and off to the southeast. I'll never forget that sight and sound.
ReplyDeleteNot that long ago, I was jinking to avoid traffic, and saw a Tiger Cat climbing out and heading south. I about swallowed my teeth. Maybe 80503 or 80390. I had no idea there were any left.
Just think of what an ESSEX, about to launch a full Air Group strike would have sounded like.
DeleteNMWWIIA has TWO flying Tigercats; they're sisters, came off the Grumman line one after the other. I think there are 7, maybe 8 still flying. Ours fly regularly.
DeleteRG
Thanks JB! That is an inspiring way to start the year.
ReplyDelete"Giving history a future" - what a great turn of phrase, and more important than ever.
When we were in San Diego last year, we went to the Flight Museum at Balboa Park. Very interesting and worth the time. Apparently they have a very active restoration community.
Here is to all whether by restoration, practice, or doing old things the old way keep history alive.
In my work at the National Museum of WWII Aviation (see sidebar - Thank You OldAFSarge!) I have been privileged to conduct tours through Westpac Aviation which is next to our museum. They just finished a Curtiss Helldiver and are working on a Douglas B-23. The work that these people - and all of the folks on the video - do is to preserve what is National.Treasure. The Smithsonian and others have their place but these airplanes deserve to fly if they can be flown.
ReplyDeleteRob Gale
Thank you, Bother Blackshoe! Great to see people preserving history!
ReplyDeleteBoat Guy
Brilliant.
ReplyDeleteI got teary-eyed watching that at points. Beautiful aircraft, dedicated maintainers and pilots. What's not to love?
17DEC 2003. The Centennial Celebration of Flight
ReplyDeleteOn that day the 100% accurate replica of the Wright Flyer attempted but was unable to fly. The duck cloth had become saturated from the rain and would not hold shape plus adding weight.
Later that day I saw perhaps the finest example of piloting skill. The winds were 25G42 isol +RA A Blackhawk involved in providing security for the president was hovering sideways to the wind. That aircraft was so rock steady it was as if pasted to the blustery sky. Absolutely incredible. I watched the helo instead of paying attention to the festivities.
A friend snapped a photo of Yankee Lady taxiing. In the foreground was the taxiway sign, B17. My friend did not realize the juxtaposition until afterwards. I have framed copy.
A boyhood friend of little brother is a marine archeologist. His specialty is locating and rescuing downed WWII aircraft, primarily the S. Pacific. The ultimate goal is filling in the gaps in military history. A side benefit is the restoration of those aircraft by others.
Thank you for the video and keeping these projects at the forefront.
There used to be a guy out of Waycross GA that flew a bi-plane that had the handle of "10-4". He gave flying lessons in a Cessna. He was also a Korean war veteran that was an air frame mechanic. He would fly off to a location with his tools and be gone for months on end. He would come back with stories of resurrecting some old bomber or fighter. I lost touch with him years ago.
ReplyDelete