Warbird excitement for everyone!
Jay Smith
Although all airplanes capture my attention, there's something special about a warbird. If you have ever flown a full-scale aircraft, you know that a certain level of training is required to ensure the pilot understands the flight principles and can handle the aircraft in a proficient manner.
Now consider that shortly after becoming comfortable piloting your aircraft you are thrust into battle, having to contend with enemy aircraft, antiaircraft, and random small-arms fire. Pilots often fought over enemy territory and large bodies of water, which challenged their chances of survival if they had to bail out of their aircraft.
World War I fighter pilots had a typical life expectancy of just weeks while flying in combat. In World War II, one statistic suggests that approximately one out of four fighter pilots would not complete his tour of duty, and bomber pilot losses were more than double that.
As a child, it was the nose art of the Flying Tigers P-40 that grabbed my attention. The now-famous shark's mouth fit perfectly on the nose as if to warn enemy pilots that this aircraft was not one to be messed with.
Later, I would have the opportunity to meet several of the living Flying Tigers at their 2004 reunion held at the Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, Florida. Not only were their stories interesting, but it was also exciting seeing them again take flight in the dual-seat P-40 flown by Kermit Weeks.
Although many of us will never have the experience of actually flying a full-scale warbird, we can achieve that thrill on a smaller and less-costly scale with our model aircraft. In fact, modeling allows us the ability to pilot all types of military aircraft from World War I to the present.
Fighters, bombers, jets, trainers, and transports are all waiting to satisfy our urge to fly "heavy metal" and they are available in sizes from miniature to Giant Scale, making them accessible to everyone.
I hope you enjoy our warbird coverage and be sure to check out our exclusive review of the Top Flite Focke-Wulf 190. You won't see it anywhere else. Check six!
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
