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How does one go about getting to fly the A-1E Skyraider? My dad flew those from NKP during the Vietnam War and I would LOVE to fly one.
This Christmas will be 20 years since he passed away and I still think about him often and miss him. I know I tend to be very sentimental, but I think it would be an awesome way to experience a part of his life.
That's a pretty specific search. I'd try to figure out if there are any Skyraiders near you and show up at the hangar after you figure out when someone might be there. Don't go in the hangar unless invited. Express some interest and a willingness to help for free doing anything, they might let you sweep the floor. Sweep the floor like your life depends on it, make sure someone sees you doing this. That'll probably open a door to a conversation about you. Be very careful with this, the enthusiasm about a warbird around a warbird can be infectious and become all consuming. I've seen it ruin marriages, although my warbird experience is not typical.
 
That's a pretty specific search. I'd try to figure out if there are any Skyraiders near you and show up at the hangar after you figure out when someone might be there. Don't go in the hangar unless invited. Express some interest and a willingness to help for free doing anything, they might let you sweep the floor. Sweep the floor like your life depends on it, make sure someone sees you doing this. That'll probably open a door to a conversation about you. Be very careful with this, the enthusiasm about a warbird around a warbird can be infectious and become all consuming. I've seen it ruin marriages, although my warbird experience is not typical.
It's specific because I noticed the E-model off the wingtip in that pic and it got me thinking about it. I'll look around, though it's a very rare bird. Thanks!
As a side note, I'm a full-time airframe mechanic and am a volunteer helping to build the B-17G "Champaign Lady" in Urbana Ohio from the original Boeing blueprints we got from the Smithsonian, when I get time. The majority of the airframe parts are hand-crafted because the machines and presses originally used were destroyed after the war ended. We have some parts from wrecks around the world though.
I also contributed to the restoration of the "Memphis Belle" at the USAF Museum. I was at the right place at the right time with the right skill set while working on the Champaign Lady.
Maybe leveraging my skills as an experienced airframe mechanic would get me farther than my skills with a broom? Though, being an Army veteran, I can push a broom better than a world champion Olympic athlete. :);)
 
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@HKG
 
[QUOTE="Low&Slow, post: 2786776, member: 10683":...Maybe leveraging my skills as an experienced airframe mechanic would get me farther than my skills with a broom? Though, being an Army veteran, I can push a broom better than a world champion Olympic athlete. :);)[/QUOTE]

Maybe they will need some rocks painted? ;) Good luck with it!
 
How does one go about getting to fly the A-1E Skyraider? My dad flew those from NKP during the Vietnam War and I would LOVE to fly one.
This Christmas will be 20 years since he passed away and I still think about him often and miss him. I know I tend to be very sentimental, but I think it would be an awesome way to experience a part of his life.

I am not sure if the exemption letter for the Skyraider allows for flight training to actually fly it. But you can get a ride in it that is for sure. 900 for 30 minutes in the front seat.
 
He looks like the kid that got told he has to play a flower for the school play. My Newfoundland used to do the same, only his cone was big enough he could plow snow with it.


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DUde this was the grossest thing I've ever seen. just before bed, wife went to pet Him and screamed. He had a gaping hole in his shoulder down to the bone. You could see tendon and muscle and his shoulder blade. So a trip to the animal ER at 1130pm last night. Apparently he had gotten in a fight with another cat a couple days ago and got bit. But the way cat bites work, since their teeth are so little and so sharp, it creates a bunch of little puncture wounds that close up quickly. This traps all the bacteria inside so it swells up like a balloon and apparently last night the balloon popped.
 
It's specific because I noticed the E-model off the wingtip in that pic and it got me thinking about it. I'll look around, though it's a very rare bird. Thanks!
As a side note, I'm a full-time airframe mechanic and am a volunteer helping to build the B-17G "Champaign Lady" in Urbana Ohio from the original Boeing blueprints we got from the Smithsonian, when I get time. The majority of the airframe parts are hand-crafted because the machines and presses originally used were destroyed after the war ended. We have some parts from wrecks around the world though.
I also contributed to the restoration of the "Memphis Belle" at the USAF Museum. I was at the right place at the right time with the right skill set while working on the Champaign Lady.
Maybe leveraging my skills as an experienced airframe mechanic would get me farther than my skills with a broom? Though, being an Army veteran, I can push a broom better than a world champion Olympic athlete. :);)
I am not sure if the exemption letter for the Skyraider allows for flight training to actually fly it. But you can get a ride in it that is for sure. 900 for 30 minutes in the front seat.
That might be the easiest, albeit expensive, invite into the hangar to achieve your dream. Good luck. Hopefully you don't pay to push a broom.
 
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