Random Shot Of The Day - Part 2

[Bigger Al]

Sorry for your loss. I can’t imagine.

My kids have never known a September without the races. They’ve gone every year since they were born. They’ve also experienced way more than I did in the air race world as children. That’s the goal right? Give them more than you had. That’s been made possible by my father because I’ve been going all my life too. I’ve taken that knowledge and provided them with more air race fun than I ever had at their age. They are lifers already.

You and I are running parallel paths. My kids saw and did far more than I at their ages, and my grandsons will hopefully get to do more still. I always get a nice infusion of kid-like joy whenever my oldest grandson points up and yells "Airplane!"

[AAFO_WSagar]

Could part 1 be made as a sticky?

I think you PM'd me on same subject, I did put both part 1 and part 2 as sticky! Thanks for the head's up to do so, I'm still very preoccupied with going from condo dweller to homeowner with no furniture!! LOL!!

[AAFO_WSagar]

I hate to say it but without the really fast racers attending it's going to be hard to bring in new fans. Airplanes like the Bear and Strega need to be there to stand out from the crowd of "stock" racers and inspire imaginations. The three blade on the bearcat seemed to be very effective for that.

I truly hope you are wrong, though I share your doubts!

One thing I ponder a lot is, how much do the young folks really care about the WWII stuff?

Of course, to the "choir"... Us, anything with big pistons from WWII makes our... nipples hard, right!

The reality of it is, fielding a major warbird effort falls into the realm of stupid rich (NO pun intended! Most rich people I've known are anything but!) Used to be, a group of guys like Bill Rogers and Gary Levitz could make something special, or a guy like Will Whiteside could bring a "cheap" warbird to RENO and make excitement.

My buddy who is on this board but never posts, has a Bonanza, he actually brought it to the Heritage a few years ago, the grand a month insurance payment, flown or not, is forcing him to sell!!!!!

OK, I'll cut to the chase!

We're going to have to accept that there might not be any large influx of warbird/unlimited/super fast entries in the future.

Precious Metal, as far as I know, is going to TF... Rare bear? Who knows, the genius behind her success has passed to history.. Dago Red... again, who knows!, Strega... I suspect that airplane is sitting in Tiger's hangar ready and waiting to kick ass!

But against who?

My entire point of this response is to say that we'd better figure out a way to make the history of the sport keep that part of it that we warbirders love, as well as build the interest on what CAN be done...

Personally, I fall back on my "restrictor plate" idea from year's ago.. What if you figured out a way to restrict very rare warbirds to a power level that would not wound them, yet allow pilots to challenge each other?

As of now, only your pocketbook makes those rules!

I hope we can figure it out!!

PS... If Fred Telling is reading this... are you interested in hosting on the server? I have to move it and intend to keep it in a powerful multi access datacenter.. Currently, there's only AAFO and the Heritage site on the box, visitors have funded us for a year in advance...

I should make this a formal offer via phone I guess but what to heck..

Has this site ever porked on the last day of the races?

When Jimmy went in, I was able to access the message board from outer four via my cell phone and got word of who/what happened..

Never went down, as far as I know.

I think we all would feel good about helping by letting them be on here! This box is designed to handle 100+ websites, hooked to a 100mbps connection in a datacenter that has multiple paths in and out...

Sorry, I just brain farted this idea and posted off topic!

MODERATOR LOL.. feel free to move to new thread..

[AAFO_WSagar]

LOL.. you guys can always tell when I've had my evening's ration of bitters can't you??

[Desertdawg]

2006



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[Air Boss]

I hate to say it but without the really fast racers attending it's going to be hard to bring in new fans. Airplanes like the Bear and Strega need to be there to stand out from the crowd of "stock" racers and inspire imaginations. The three blade on the bearcat seemed to be very effective for that.

While it is true the absence of the super UNL's is a concern, I believe this event can and will survive and grow regardless of whether or not the 500MPH Club returns. And I feel it's incumbent upon all of us to do what we can to ensure that is the case. The demographics have changed (as they always do), and if an event stands still by doing what they always do, they'll be passed by. The addition of STOL is a prime example. New event, new planes, and a legion of new fans with a huge social media presence. A very strong step in the right direction.

Don't get me wrong...I love the UNL's as much as anyone else. More than anything else it was the bug that bit me as I started as a judge. "Wait...I get to stand here and you'll fly a Mustang right over my head at 500mph?!" But the reality is this event must offer that and more if it is to grow into it's second half-century. Relying on a breed of racers where not only the airframes are aging and becoming more scarce but so are the pilots and crews needed fly and maintain them, may not be the best recipe for survival.

[Desertdawg]

2018 Ramp - Sport Planes

"See You Later" alligator

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[Air Boss]

Flashback to Golden Age of Aviation...

[Desertdawg]

2018 - Warbird Pits - Plane in a box - ready to assemble.



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[Desertdawg]

Ok, all you PC uncorrect humans, heres your quarterly eye exam.

Can you see the dots???

If yes, how many warbirds in the background?