German soldier/gear (picture).

[Harlan (Deceased)]

We actually do have a working jump light, but we just talk through the intercom and the PIC gives sort of a coundown when it's about time for them to get ready. You can hear pretty well with headphones on, but it's so loud inside you have to yell in the ear of the person next to you to talk to them. There's no sound insulation at all in military aircraft from that era. There's just a thin layer of aluminum from the inside out. It always cracks me up when I see an old war movie and jumpers are sitting in C-47's carrying on conversations with other people around them in near a regular voice. I think the second installment of Band of Brothers when the 101st was on their way to drop is the first time I've seen a movie where they got it right.

We have the C-47 fully restored inside, including a NOS static line assembly. C-47's flew in service forever and there's still tons of NOS stuff for them still in original boxes. They were thinking about doing some real static line jumps but found (whatever they call the long strap that pulls the chute open) was a special longer length particular to C-47's so jumpers would clear the big tail wheel before the chute starts to open.

Here's some inside shots - As you know, they used C-47's for about everything imaginable. There's still a lot of NOS equipment so we installed some different things to show how versatile and widely used C-47's were. The navigation table is authentic, and not in photos, but across from it ALL the huge, heavy WWII radios are now installed. - (I wanted to install three mini-guns out the port windows to show the "Spooky" configuration, but got voted down)

There actually is a C-47 on the air show circuit now that has three miniguns and the 'Spooky' or 'Puff the magic Dragon' Vietnam era camo paint scheme.

I took the photos below while they were running the engines up after replacing a mag, and then taxiing. Kids can't fly on CAF aircraft (insurance) but my boy was having a good time sitting in my seat and listening to all the noise and vibrations with the engines angry.

[villiers]

Attachment 30780Yours looks VERY orderly and in very good nick. Here´s the one we use ... but the running costs are now prhibitive.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

Great cockpit POV shot!

It's definitely the best seat in the house! I took the bottom picture quickly with an old film camera while we were staging for the big bomber flight at the end of the air show. The theme of the air show was 'Bombers' and it was the best show I ever attended as part of the flight crew. We were invited because our R4D (Navy C-47) was a patrol aircraft in WWII and has hard points to carry depth charges.



This was only my second show as crew chief and I hadn't been in the CAF very long. I had sensory overload to say the least.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

Attachment 30780Yours looks VERY orderly and in very good nick. Here´s the one we use ... but the running costs are now prhibitive.

I LOVE that D-Day livery the most of all! Your aircraft looks awesome.

I'm afraid many of these warbirds might be put out of business before too much longer. Air Shows have been down on attendance here in the States and fewer are being put on. When they do have shows they don't want to pay very much anymore to attend because they can't afford to. Most all shows used to fill the planes with fuel too, but with the high cost of fuel now, few want to even fill the tanks up. Fuel costs are so high that it's often a break even proposition for what shows pay to attend. We operate out of our pockets for the greatest part - Besides honoring the vets who fought in all areas, the other main purpose for the CAF is to show the aircraft to younger generations - Younger people really get a different view of WWII when they see aircraft from the period still flying - It helps to show them that WWII wasn't ancient history like the Romans. We usually fly to venues on Friday, so the aircraft are all parked when the gates open to spectators and I have no idea how many times I've had people ask how we got the planes to the airport! (Don't even get me going about how many seemingly intelligent college graduate spectators don't know anything at all about WWII)

The other major issue isn't paying for the parts to keep them flying - Insurance may make it cost prohibitive here at the rate it has been increasing every year. The planes aren't insured for their value - the super expensive insurance is just for liability.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

I not sure how old Barry Manalowe took this thread in this direction but I am sure glad he did. The aviation end of the milsurps hobby is quite facinating if a bit cost prohibitive.

[villiers]

I´ve stopped flying at shows.They no longer provide overnight hangarage, no free fuel, there´s no insurance cover and not even a pilots´ refreshment tent. Seems as though there are are sufficient millionaires with fancy veteran aircraft who are only too happy to exhibit and fly for free. And flying the L4 Cub is now restricted to just a fly past ... no fun & games ... end of an era!

[Harlan (Deceased)]

It sounds exactly like it is here villiers.

We have a Stinson L-5, and it's been the same for it - It's been even worse for the last several years at our own CAF annual 'AIRSHO' - It's mandatory to attend and takes hours to get there cruising at 80 knots, and they won't even let us fly at the show at all. Just tie down the aircraft along with all the other liaison planes. I'm lucky my wife works at Southwest - the last two years we flew the L-5 there on Friday and hopped a 737 back to Dallas, then did the reverse and picked it up again on Monday.

This is final to MAF (Midland 'Internatonal' Airport) where the CAF HQ is located - Desolate desert 2/3's of the way there, and nothing but desert and blowing sand once you get there. I've sat through five or six AIRSHOs there - the wind is always blowing and you're completely 'sandblasted' after four days.



Here's a photo I got of the L-5 from the BT-13. We were on the way to a show venue and the guy flying the L-5 was playing around and doing strafing passes.


Same thing here - there's no fun flying allowed anymore, but it doesn't stop you from dropping down and chasing a few cows on the way to shows.

[villiers]

No use worrying any more, `cos in a few years there´ll only be UAVs. There´s a company on our field that makes the world´s most expensive and complex motor gliders ... and their latest project is ... pilotless.

Welcome at STEMME UMS

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Beautiful tail dragger.