I'm only about $3.79999 Million Short

[ruthabagah]

I have to imagine that a lot more people would enjoy the plane in a museum compared to in some private hangar some where.

I would partially agree with you on this one. Yes, some of these plane should be in museum BUT if they become static, they loose the purpose of what they build for: Flying, and make us dream of flying.

[wctriumph]

Very cool, and one guy owns both flyable MK 1s.

[Gman]

P38 and Corsair!

The P-38 Lightning is another of my WWII faves. It was interesting reading about how Charles Lindbergh helped greatly extend the operating range of the aircraft in the Pacific Theater.

[Bailey Guns]

The warbirds of WWII were nothing short of amazing. The P47 was one of my favorites along with the Mustang and the Lightning. When I was stationed at Williams AFB in the 80s we lived just a few blocks away from the Champlin Fighter Museum in Mesa. I guess it closed some time ago and the fantastic collection of aircraft were moved to a museum in the NW.

I got to see a FW190 and a P38 chase each other around one afternoon. I didn't stop smiling for a month. But, I think my ears are still ringing from a few of the low passes.

[wctriumph]

If any of you are in SoCal, visit this place:

http://planesoffame.org/index.php?page=static-flying

They have some really cool planes from all eras and may that fly and are being restored to flying condition.

[SamuraiCO]

I have to imagine that a lot more people would enjoy the plane in a museum compared to in some private hangar some where.

I am talking about the ones we get to see at the air shows flying. I know some become hanger queens.

[RMAC757]

If any of you are in SoCal, visit this place:

http://planesoffame.org/index.php?page=static-flying

They have some really cool planes from all eras and may that fly and are being restored to flying condition.

This^^^^. Fantastic place and flying museum. I was there on a day when they had a Vietnam tribute flight. My favorite, 2 A-1 Skyraiders were parked out front and did a formation flight slightly there after with several other aircraft. As you drive in you can see plenty of other privately owned jet fighters on the opposite side of the road. I think Planes of Fame only takes a back seat to Duxford when it comes to the worlds best flying collection. Oddly enough I've seen quite a few privately owned warbirds in Idaho owned by potato farmers. Someone even had a Hawker Typhoon and Bob Hoovers "Old Yeller" in Idaho Falls at one point. Ahh to dream.

[Irving]

You know, I've never even been to an air show before. All these threads make me want to go to one.

[wctriumph]

You know, I've never even been to an air show before. All these threads make me want to go to one.

OMG!!!! Really? Yes, you should go to an air show! I have been to a lot of air shows and they never get old. Always something to see from WWI stuff right up to the latest operational aircraft. I went to one in ND several years ago and they had an example of every model, A - N of the P-51 there. The Warbird flyby was awesome with P-51, P-47, P-38, P-39, Hurricane, Me109, Zero, B-25, Sky Raider, Corsair, A-10, F-16, F-15 and F-18 all in formation.

I think the Thunderbirds put on a better show than the Blue Angels and seeing a Blackbird take of and do several afterburner lit flybys at sunset ant Norton AFB in CA was astounding. Unfortunately, I have seen some terrible accidents too.

Go to an air show. The power on display is simply awesome.

[Ridge]

The Spitfire got all the glory, but the Hawker Hurricane was the one shooting down the bombers going after London. I'll take one of those, or a P-40 please.