WWII planes in Texas Barn

15 million for everything is a bargain. Add a zero and some of it may fly again. Note all that stuff and the guy is happy with a super cub. You don't own complicated expensive stuff it owns you.
 
Cool article. Thanks for sharing. I loved the photos too. That guy Edwards sounds like a he might be a regular in the Spin Zone!:D
 
Adolf Galland was awesome.
 
Dav8or said:
Cool article. Thanks for sharing. I loved the photos too. That guy Edwards sounds like a he might be a regular in the Spin Zone!:D
Click to expand...

I had the same thought when I read the article.
 
That is truly amazing! All those engines, and what a collection. Thanks for sharing this!
 
Here they were in a happier time
 

Attachments

  • Lovely sound all those Merlins running up.jpg
    Lovely sound all those Merlins running up.jpg
    128.4 KB · Views: 69
  • Up close and friendly.jpg
    Up close and friendly.jpg
    37.8 KB · Views: 50
Hawker800 said:
Adolf Galland was awesome.
Click to expand...

X2. I'd much rather have a beer with him than this Edwards guy, although it sounds like his politics are OK. :D

Man, what a curmudgeon. :rolleyes:
 
Am I the only one saddened to see interesting aircraft in terrible shape?

It's cool to have such important historical artifacts, but the least that guy could do is take care of them. Maybe he's got too many toys if all of them but one rot.
 
When I initially heard about a barn find, I was hoping they would be in much better condition.

It seems he doesn't care about them that much
 
Whatever they are his to take of how he pleases. Someone wants to 'save' them simply pay enough to own them. Besides if they were perfect most of them would have been wrecked at Oshkosh by now.:lol:
MAKG1 said:
Am I the only one saddened to see interesting aircraft in terrible shape?

It's cool to have such important historical artifacts, but the least that guy could do is take care of them. Maybe he's got too many toys if all of them but one rot.
Click to expand...
 
MAKG1 said:
Am I the only one saddened to see interesting aircraft in terrible shape?



It's cool to have such important historical artifacts, but the least that guy could do is take care of them. Maybe he's got too many toys if all of them but one rot.
Click to expand...


Agreed. I think he should be ashamed: it's not like these planes last flew in 1945. If I recall the article, I think most flew in the 1980s or 1990s.
 
nddons said:
Agreed. I think he should be ashamed: it's not like these planes last flew in 1945. If I recall the article, I think most flew in the 1980s or 1990s.
Click to expand...

I also agree. He definitely has the money to treat them properly, but for whatever reason decided to neglect them. His property, his choice, but IMHO, a very poor choice.
 
ClimbnSink said:
Whatever they are his to take of how he pleases. Someone wants to 'save' them simply pay enough to own them. Besides if they were perfect most of them would have been wrecked at Oshkosh by now.:lol:
Click to expand...

Yes, it's his choice. That doesn't mean I have to like it.

And I don't.
 
Anthony said:
I also agree. He definitely has the money to treat them properly, but for whatever reason decided to neglect them. His property, his choice, but IMHO, a very poor choice.
Click to expand...

He didn't neglect them really, he had them well stored. Lot of neat stuff in his collection. Everything he bought he bought at bargain basement prices back when this stuff was all dirt cheap. He bought the 109s from a Hollywood production company when they finished a movie.

This guy did a lot of people a favor, look at all the parts there, forget the planes. Look how many programs are going to get needed parts to keep them flying.
 
Henning said:
He didn't neglect them really, he had them well stored. Lot of neat stuff in his collection. Everything he bought he bought at bargain basement prices back when this stuff was all dirt cheap. He bought the 109s from a Hollywood production company when they finished a movie.
Click to expand...

He took the Buchon 109s and IIRC 2 of the Spitfires partial payment for his involvement in the Battle of Britain movie. A couple of other CAF luminaries were involved as well. AFAIK, none have flown since '69 when the film was completed.


This guy did a lot of people a favor, look at all the parts there, forget the planes. Look how many programs are going to get needed parts to keep them flying.
Click to expand...

Definitely!

Most of these would've been beer cans 40 years ago had he not stored them.

Most are actually in very good shape and I've heard many of them are going to fly again.
 
Slipkid65 said:
He took the Buchon 109s and IIRC 2 of the Spitfires partial payment for his involvement in the Battle of Britain movie. A couple of other CAF luminaries were involved as well. AFAIK, none have flown since '69 when the film was completed.




Definitely!

Most of these would've been beer cans 40 years ago had he not stored them.

Most are actually in very good shape and I've heard many of them are going to fly again.
Click to expand...


There you go, he took a tax free payment lol.
 
I've lived in West Texas since 1976, and I remember hearing rumors that someone had barns full of WWII aircraft. I hadn't thought about that in a long time - turns out it's true!
 
Typical AOPA crap, a day late and a dollar short. These planes were sold in one lot a long time ago for more than he was asking.
 
I'm not sure what the drama is about? This guy did a great job of saving some old airplanes, many of which would likely not exist now had he not built a big ass hangar and stored them. Think about it, WWII planes are pulled up from the Great Lakes and people are thrilled they are so well preserved. These planes likely could fly in months rather than years.

Let's face it, most of this collection is ME-109 copies and in the current collector market, real ME-109s aren't really all that popular. They're harder to fly, they're not as sexy looking and they are on the loosing side. No, whoever bought this collection did so for the parts, the Spitfire, the PBY stuff and lastly for the Buchons.

It seems clear to me that the guy in the story was in it initially for the sake of the planes and a future profit, then as a gift for his son, then just the money and that's it. I think these planes and parts did well to find this guy.
 
Interesting as he (in the interview) compared the Mustang, Spitfire and the ME ...
 
Dav8or said:
I'm not sure what the drama is about? This guy did a great job of saving some old airplanes, many of which would likely not exist now had he not built a big ass hangar and stored them. Think about it, WWII planes are pulled up from the Great Lakes and people are thrilled they are so well preserved. These planes likely could fly in months rather than years.

Let's face it, most of this collection is ME-109 copies and in the current collector market, real ME-109s aren't really all that popular. They're harder to fly, they're not as sexy looking and they are on the loosing side. No, whoever bought this collection did so for the parts, the Spitfire, the PBY stuff and lastly for the Buchons.

It seems clear to me that the guy in the story was in it initially for the sake of the planes and a future profit, then as a gift for his son, then just the money and that's it. I think these planes and parts did well to find this guy.
Click to expand...

This ^^^ analysis is spot-on. Those planes and parts should be relatively clean due to the dry West Texas climate.
 
ETres said:
This ^^^ analysis is spot-on. Those planes and parts should be relatively clean due to the dry West Texas climate.
Click to expand...

You have got to be joking. If any of us left our little, comparitively worthless GA planes sit idle to rust, rot, collect dust, dirt, mice, and in general deteroriate to this condition we would be crucified as irresponsible aircraft owners for allowing our precious craft become unairworthy, and we have LIMITED FUNDS. This guy has more than enough money to see these aircraft either properly maintained, or properly stored, but chose to go drink Bourbon or Shiner Bock instead. Nice.
 
If they flew they'd be wrecked. Watch and see.
 
Anthony said:
You have got to be joking. If any of us left our little, comparitively worthless GA planes sit idle to rust, rot, collect dust, dirt, mice, and in general deteroriate to this condition we would be crucified as irresponsible aircraft owners for allowing our precious craft become unairworthy, and we have LIMITED FUNDS. This guy has more than enough money to see these aircraft either properly maintained, or properly stored, but chose to go drink Bourbon or Shiner Bock instead. Nice.
Click to expand...

Everyone knows exactly what somebody else should be doing. Nice.

His world, his choices.
 
ETres said:
I've lived in West Texas since 1976, and I remember hearing rumors that someone had barns full of WWII aircraft. I hadn't thought about that in a long time - turns out it's true!
Click to expand...

Same here! When I was a kid, my friends father's, pilots at Reese AFB 35th FTS used to talk about it and I had a flashback as soon as I read the headline. Man I miss hearing those Tweety birds screaming by every day.
 
Last edited:
Clark1961 said:
Everyone knows exactly what somebody else should be doing. Nice.

His world, his choices.
Click to expand...

If you read my earlier post, I said that it is his property, his choice. That doesn't mean I have to like, nor respect that choice. K?
 
Anthony said:
If you read my earlier post, I said that it is his property, his choice. That doesn't mean I have to like, nor respect that choice. K?
Click to expand...

I see your point, but I think you are being unfair. Had the guy left the equipment in a field to deteriorate, I would tend to agree with your sentiment, but he didn't, he probably spent more on the facilities than the collection. Remember what he said, he is not in the aircraft business. He just fell into a deal on this stuff way back when, and decided take it. He may have had earlier plans for it that didn't materialize, we don't know. However he decided to hang on to this equipment and did a good job at preserving their state. He really has no interest in all of it, he loves his Super Cub. I have a feeling none of his children have a passionate interest in it either, which I suspect has something to do with potential prior failed plans.

He figured to cash out with a good market, and in the process released a lot of support parts onto a market that sorely needs them.

I think all in all he did quite alright by the parts and warbird community on a whole.
 
Henning said:
I have a feeling none of his children have a passionate interest in it either, which I suspect has something to do with potential prior failed plans.
Click to expand...

The article said he planned to give the collection to his son who was interested in the planes. However his son was tragically killed in a car crash. So, for sale it was.
 
Dav8or said:
The article said he planned to give the collection to his son who was interested in the planes. However his son was tragically killed in a car crash. So, for sale it was.
Click to expand...

Ahh, yeah, that's sad, I kinda suspected there was a kid involved.:(
 
Dav8or said:
The article said he planned to give the collection to his son who was interested in the planes. However his son was tragically killed in a car crash. So, for sale it was.
Click to expand...

Sad deal for sure....

But.... There is a good chance the car crash was alcohol related ..:confused::confused: IMHO.
 
Some of those engines are the prized Merlin engines if I remember correctly.

Hopefully the Red Bull guy or someone with enough scratch to make them fly got em. :yes:
 
Anthony said:
You have got to be joking. If any of us left our little, comparitively worthless GA planes sit idle to rust, rot, collect dust, dirt, mice, and in general deteroriate to this condition we would be crucified as irresponsible aircraft owners for allowing our precious craft become unairworthy, and we have LIMITED FUNDS. This guy has more than enough money to see these aircraft either properly maintained, or properly stored, but chose to go drink Bourbon or Shiner Bock instead. Nice.
Click to expand...

Maybe he should've never taken those planes in the first place, in which case they'd likely ended up junked. And he at least endeavored to put a roof over their heads instead of leaving them in a field, out in the open.

Could he have done better? Yes. Could it have been a helluva lot worse? Damn straight!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top