Ive often wondered why people bought complete aircraft. From what I understand, only in a racing capacity could old fighters be air worthy. Back when they would sell them to the public it must have been cheaper to buy the complete plane and rob the engine, hydraulics, and sheeting for use around the farm or whatever. Wasn't there some kind of pre-requisite that you had to show cause as to its intended use?
I haven't heard of pre reqs, just the dollar amount required to purchase them. After all, they sold a B 17 to Art Lacey, who made a gas station under it
I've seen photos of a Grumman Hellcat converted into a crop sprayer - I imagine by someone who had flown the thing in WW2 and missed it to much, fuel economy be damned. At least one B-17 was used for spraying too:
" Now a civil aircraft, the Biegert brothers received the new serial number N17W. The plane was completely overhauled into flying condition and converted to an aerial sprayer. Among other things, the ex-bomber was used for spraying DDT.
"It remained in the spraying capacity until 1960 when it was leased for fighting forest fires. Soon after, the plane was sold to an air tanker unit, which used N17W as a tanker through 1968."
Even without using it commercially or for racing, one might want to own a fighter aircraft for the same reasons as - say - owning a ridiculously expensive sports car. A lot of MiG 15s, 17s and even 21s have mede it to the US after the end of the (oldish) cold war, and right now there's a Mach 2 MiG-25 for sale.
She was a beauty, as a boy I played in / on / and around her for many years and I'm blown away to finally find pictures...it's now November 2022. My mother sent a newspaper clipping while I was stationed in Korea (1967) that my darling had been salvaged for restoration.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vought_F4U_Corsair
ReplyDeleteIt's an early bird cage variant as well. A shame.
ReplyDeleteyeah, must have been bought at surplus after the war and enjoyed until something broke that couldn't be repaired
DeleteIve often wondered why people bought complete aircraft. From what I understand, only in a racing capacity could old fighters be air worthy.
ReplyDeleteBack when they would sell them to the public it must have been cheaper to buy the complete plane and rob the engine, hydraulics, and sheeting for use around the farm or whatever.
Wasn't there some kind of pre-requisite that you had to show cause as to its intended use?
I haven't heard of pre reqs, just the dollar amount required to purchase them. After all, they sold a B 17 to Art Lacey, who made a gas station under it
DeleteI've seen photos of a Grumman Hellcat converted into a crop sprayer - I imagine by someone who had flown the thing in WW2 and missed it to much, fuel economy be damned. At least one B-17 was used for spraying too:
ReplyDelete" Now a civil aircraft, the Biegert brothers received the new serial number N17W. The plane was completely overhauled into flying condition and converted to an aerial sprayer. Among other things, the ex-bomber was used for spraying DDT.
"It remained in the spraying capacity until 1960 when it was leased for fighting forest fires. Soon after, the plane was sold to an air tanker unit, which used N17W as a tanker through 1968."
Even without using it commercially or for racing, one might want to own a fighter aircraft for the same reasons as - say - owning a ridiculously expensive sports car. A lot of MiG 15s, 17s and even 21s have mede it to the US after the end of the (oldish) cold war, and right now there's a Mach 2 MiG-25 for sale.
If you can afford the fuel, nothing is too ridiculous to enjoy riding or driving! Thanks for the stories! A B 17 for crop spraying, wow!
DeleteAm I understanding correctly that the pics are from 1967?
ReplyDeletethat's what I got from it. Did you see something that led you to think otherwise?
DeleteShe was a beauty, as a boy I played in / on / and around her for many years and I'm blown away to finally find pictures...it's now November 2022. My mother sent a newspaper clipping while I was stationed in Korea (1967) that my darling had been salvaged for restoration.
DeleteI'm happy you've found these! It must have been a lot of fun to play on/in/around!
Delete