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Red Bull P-38 to be shipped, not flown.

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  • Red Bull P-38 to be shipped, not flown.

    I was looking at www.flyingbulls.com web site and they have decided to ship the P-38 not fly it 'over the pond'. This is a copy off their web site:

    P-38 Ferry Flight ex USA/Texas

    Information for all P-38 Lightning friends...

    The flight to transfer the aircraft from Texas across the North Atlantic to Salzburg, which was scheduled for this week, is not going to take place.

    We welcome this personal decision, which ultimately was made by Sigi Angerer himself, and regard this as sign of due respect for this not quite risk-free “adventure”. Although the restoration works have now been completed with highly satisfactory results, the risk of choosing a flight across the North Atlantic over the safer sea route was not taken.

    The ultimate reason for the decision was that despite the fact that all systems are functioning smoothly and successful flight tests have been performed, the residual risk is nevertheless quite high, because the aircraft in fact was not built to fly such long distances at all. 3.5 hours between Canada and Greenland, in weather conditions which are ultimately never totally predictable and with only one hour’s worth of fuel reserves may even turn the smallest technical problem into a catastrophe.

    After three and a half years of restoration time, the P-38 has turned into a world-wide unique showpiece and has now also become too valuable to undertake such a flight.

    We have the greatest respect for Sigi’s decision, which doubtlessly was not easy for him. At the same time, we are all the more pleased to be able to present the aircraft in all its splendor at around the end of October on our home base in Salzburg.

    We are convinced that you welcome this new situation as much as we do and will keep you informed of the latest developments through our website.

  • #2
    Re: Red Bull P-38 to be shipped, not flown.

    <sigh> See ya White Lightning. Thanks for all the memories

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    • #3
      Re: Red Bull P-38 to be shipped, not flown.

      Finally, someone with common sense makes the "right" decision here. Very prudent and correct decision to not fly the aircraft to Austria from Texas. A valuable and stunning P-38 could have been lost because of someones ego. I hate to see her go, but she is in good hands and will be admired by many.


      Dave

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      • #4
        Re: Red Bull P-38 to be shipped, not flown.

        Will it make a side trip to Reno prior to shipping?
        Rutan Long EZ, N-LONG
        World Speed Record Holder

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        • #5
          Re: Red Bull P-38 to be shipped, not flown.

          I 'second' Bob....
          Attached Files
          DB

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          • #6
            Re: Red Bull P-38 to be shipped, not flown.

            Probably a good decision on Red Bull's part, especially considering the P-38, in recent years, doesn't have a good record of successfully completing the Atlantic crossing.

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            • #7
              Re: Red Bull P-38 to be shipped, not flown.

              Good idea, but I thought it had eight hours of fuel with drops?

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              • #8
                Re: Red Bull P-38 to be shipped, not flown.

                Stuntflyr,
                she is not plumbed for drops,and to my knowledge when Lefty owned it all those years he never used any enternal tanks. The system was probably pulled early in its racing career post WWII. It has enough fuel to make the trip but without any externals the "pucker factor" goes up!
                Hope this helps?

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                • #9
                  Re: Red Bull P-38 to be shipped, not flown.

                  ......
                  _________
                  -Matt
                  Red Bull has no earthly idea what "air racing" is.

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                  • #10
                    Re: Red Bull P-38 to be shipped, not flown.

                    ...... What does that mean, end of discussion???????????

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