Big mistake

[Viper]

After world war 2 south american airforces bought surplus P-51s from the americans, they used them until the 60s then my grandpas buisness partner bought 2 of them for 10 grand!! . Why my grandpa didnt buy ten i dont know..... His partner went to pick them up and flew them home on the way back he had to land at a restricted millitary base because of low fuel levels. They inspected the planes and they still had the paint jobs and ensignias of south america. The also found that the six 50.caliber machine guns were still fully fireable and wernt leaded in. fortunatly he was allowed to go home but had to lead the 50 cals in of corse. He painted them, made one a double seat and sold them for a very high price years later.

[Nonskimmer]

That's a real shame.

[Viper]

yes it is.....

[evangilder]

Sadly, there are alot of stories of WWII aircraft that were acquired on the cheap and treated like rummage sale scrap. The P-38 that is in our museum (soon to be gone) was purchased from the reclamation center for $1,250!

The movie "Battle of Britain" used a bunch of WWII German fighters and bombers that today would be worth a fortune. What ever happened to them? I know that they were part of the Spanish Air Force when the movie was filmed, but afterwards, who knows? The last flyable He-111 crashed a few years ago.

[cheddar cheese]

Its all such a damn shame.

[mosquitoman]

At least there's complete aircraft in most cases, the biggest piece of a Stirling that's been found was the rear fuselage and was being used as a chicken shed in Holland

[cheddar cheese]

Jeez thats a shame. It would be great to have a Stirling flying. Are there any Halifaxes flying?

[mosquitoman]

There's one in an unrecovered state at Hendon, there's a composite of several crashes at Yorkshire Air Museum Elvington and there's one in Canada being restored but I don't know to what condition (flying, taxiable, static)

[the lancaster kicks ass]

i beleive it's to be a static, although the tail turret will work..........

[mosquitoman]

Are there any B-26 Marauders left? I haven't heard about any anywhere

[Nonskimmer]

The Halifax currently undergoing restoration will become a static display at the RCAF Museum in Trenton, Ontario.

[Crazy]

It's all such a damned shame

to anyone who takes the time to restore old warbirds

[Cougar]

no kiddin eh, after the war anybody could buy a mint condition lancaster from the local airbase for the grand total of 350$

[Cougar]

farmers bought them for chicken coops

But around calgary there is somewarbird restoration going on, as far as i know there is a hurricane being restored to flying condition and a mossy on the list to be. The museums lancaster is too far gone because of a cracked spar no engines, its been gutted and has a primer paint job, to make it worse some kids got in it and smashed it to hell. The one in nanton is much better though not flyable and will take a COMPLETE rebuilt from wheels up which will cost 10mill the whole town of nanton doesnt have that so theres no hope in sight for it flying, but it is quite an expierience to go in it. there is alot of warbirds in my area, in many museums but there should be more. Another example is another restored hurricane that was found in a barn in a haystack.

[Nonskimmer]

Got any pictures?