From: John Seidts (jseidts@astory.com)
Date: Sat Nov 22 2003 - 17:56:26 PST
Ahh, at last, a topic that I love- OLD AIRPLANES!!!!!!
It is a tremendous amount of work keeping these aircraft up in the air. In
WWII, it took almost 350 men working full time to keep ONE Flying Fortress
in the air. Now imagine doing it safely with a volunteer crew that rarely
exceeds 100 people. Very difficult. I always drop some cash into their
hands, and have given as many parts away as possible. The people who are
technically qualified to work on such things are disappearing, and there are
very few people younger than me (35) who are interested in learning how to
do so. And these things need to be up in the air. If they need to use
solar panels and fuel cells, the few remaining Flying Forts need to be in
the air, not on the ground.
The military vehicle hobby goes very well with the vintage aviation hobby.
We have lots of common interests, and although the maintenance standards are
much higher for aircraft, we share lots of common knowledge and technology.
I urge anybody who is out there with an inclination to get involved to do so
with their vehicles and add to the "fun" of hanging out at an airport.
Anybody who has been to the Mid Atlantic Air Museum's WWII weekend knows how
great it is, and how important the military vehicles are to the show.
Something which may seem irrelevant but has to be noted- airports are
disappearing. I live in Baltimore City, and there are only TWO airports
left out of 35 from the 1950's. This is becoming more and more of a problem
to General Aviation and the word needs to get out. They are still closing
at an alarming rate, and it makes it more problematic (and much more
expensive) to restore and operate vintage aircraft when the real estate
needed to care for them is plowed under by vinyl siding and two by fours.
Lastly, if I am signed off next year to do so, I will be offering rides in
the L5 over Churchville!
http://www.astory.com/forgottenfield/aircraft/l5.html
----- Original Message -----
From: "everette" <194cbteng@bellsouth.net>
To: "Military Vehicles Mailing List" <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
Sent: Saturday, November 22, 2003 4:07 PM
Subject: [MV] Memphis Belle
> Some information about the Memphis Bell
>
> Some friends of mine that are very well acquainted with the Old Bird have
> told me that years of exposure to the elements have taken their toll.
There
> is a lot of damage to the frame of the Lady, it is doubtful that she could
> ever soar above the clouds again.
>
> I was in West Memphis, Ark a few years back when 7 (seven) Fortresses were
> gathered for a show, MAGNIFICENT, My memory is not good enough to list
the
> wonderful planes that were there. Was said this was largest gathering of
> 17s in many years...
>
> I am in 100% agreement that nothing can compare to the sound of a 17
making
> a low run over the field, and feeling the ground shake from the engine
> noise.
>
> I even had the wonderful experience to taking my M37 to assist in cranking
a
> 17 at a Halls Tenn. air show a few years back. I did nothing more than
make
> the 24 volts available should they need them, there was some question as
to
> battery condition on the 17, but she started with out a boost from me.
And
> as luck would have it no one took a picture of my M37 sitting under wing
of
> the 17.
>
> But as to the Bell;;;;
>
> Lets not expend parts that are getting harder and harder to find in an
> effort to put the Bell back in the air. Lets save these parts for the
ones
> that are now flying.
>
> Everette
>
>
>
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