special ed
2nd Lieutenant
- 5,594
- May 13, 2018
Don't forget the USN pilot in Italy who took off in his F4U with the wings folded.
P-40 Crashed
- Thread starter Micdrow
- Start date
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warbirdfinder
Airman
- 21
- Nov 4, 2007
Sounds like you need a socialist government in order to seize private property!!!
I think it might be respectful to keep that conversation for another time.
MIflyer
1st Lieutenant
Of course it was The Government that destroyed the warbirds, many times without regard to preserving even a few for museums. Where are our F3F's, F2A's, A-31's, A-36's, B-32's, and not a single one of those groundbreaking flying wings, large and small, that Northrop built?
And it is The Government that is trying like hell to ground everything with increasing costly requirements, such as pilot certification requirements as well as AD's, ADSB and that great increase in cost of demonstrably useless ELTs.
By the way, the latest word is that the oil tank drain plug was not located in the wreckage of that P-40, so it very probably was not properly safety wired and fell out during taxi and takeoff roll, leading to the engine failure.
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
I mostly agree with you. As you pointed out, everything is more expensive. You won't find much argument here with government funding for classic aircraft. However, asking taxpayers to pay for old junk (in their minds) would have been too much. These old airplanes were ridden hard and put away wet. Many had been picked clean. I can see C.O.s just wanting to clear up space. Asking the taxpayers to pay for the storage, restoration and maintenance of these things would probably be unpopular to politicians. There were more profitable programs to embezzle from.
From our perspective, we would've seen the value of these airframes. We have a sense of history.
MIflyer
1st Lieutenant
True! Which is why it would not be wise to expect governments to preserve them.
I understand that during WW2 at Wright Field there was a hangar with A number of WW1 airplanes. The base commander ordered that all that old junk be disposed of. Do you think they even asked around to see if there were any museums or other interested parties that might want them?
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
SMH
manta22
Banned
manta22
Banned
The movie "The Best Years Of Our Lives" has a scene that was shot in Chino, CA. Dana Andrews walks through the aircraft boneyard, reliving his wartime memories. This is a powerful scene, with absolutely perfect background music. I've seen this movie a dozen times at least, but this scene brings me to tears every time.
Airplane Storage in Boneyards After WWII
www.airplaneboneyards.com
View: https://youtu.be/BqB0PYbqaoc
Alex Smart
Airman 1st Class
- 138
- Oct 25, 2018
Thoughts and prayers got to the Pilots fay and family and friends 
Alex Smart
Airman 1st Class
- 138
- Oct 25, 2018
Hi, something that ha always puzzled me when I watch this film.
The "3463" would that have been on an aircraft that wore those mission markings ‽
Just that I understood that numbering was used for training aircraft within the USA ?
MIflyer
1st Lieutenant
That part of the movie was one of the first things I ever recorded with my then-new VCR and kept. One of the other things I recorded and kept was "633 Squadron."
This famous gas station was created just after WW2 by a man in Oregon, who went to Kingman or somewhere like that, bought a B-17, and crashed it trying to take off. He was not a properly trained pilot. No problem! They gave him another one at no extra charge and he made it back to Oregon in that one, which he made into a unique gas station. The airplane survived that use and is now being restored.
GreenKnight121
Senior Airman
- 730
- Mar 16, 2014
Builder also placed fuel tank gauges where only the rear-seat passenger could read them. Pilot carried an inspection mirror to look at the fuel gauges with.
Said singer's B-58 pilot father (instructor on B-17s & B-29s in WWI & after) would have had a stroke reading the accident report (if not already dead for 15 years).
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MIflyer
1st Lieutenant
And builder installed a fuel valve not compatible with fuel. Note that the real problem was not just running out of gas and coming down but that he no doubt had both hands on the fuel valve trying to turn it and thus had no limbs left with which to hold the stick.
I recall one guy who stuck a waterbed mattress in the back of a Longeze and used that as a fuel bladder to extend his range. I've always been amazed that did not result in a mysterious fireball one night.
I recall one guy who stuck a waterbed mattress in the back of a Longeze and used that as a fuel bladder to extend his range. I've always been amazed that did not result in a mysterious fireball one night.
GreenKnight121
Senior Airman
- 730
- Mar 16, 2014
They had attached a vise-grip pliers to the fuel valve handle to help turning it, but JD still had issues turning it with one hand. Before take-off he stated his intent to place the aircraft on autopilot in order to turn the fuel selector to the second tank.
N4521U
Colonel
Auto pilot onna Long Ezee?
MIflyer
1st Lieutenant
Yes, if John Denver had taken, say, Bob Denver, along as a co-pilot, he probably would have made it.
