Time for New Clothes!

[GaryS]

Re: Time for New Clothes!

I've only posted a couple of times, and unfortunately only made it to Reno once, but I just had to respond to this thread.

With all the talk of CY being less than a hero to many this thread has taken a whole different meaning than it started out as. Personally I could care less who's markings a P-51 is in if it's flying, compared to one that sits in a museum and never sees the light of day.

Lockheed Bob, I'm hoping you're not talking about Randy "Duke" Cunningham, the Navy Vietnam ace, as being a hero in the same paragraph that you put down CY. Mr. Cunningham accepted bribes, ect, while he was a congressman for my district in California. He's now spending time in prison, most likely until his death...what a hero. CY may not be the nicest guy, but at least he didn't make millions off of bribes as a public official. If there's another Randy Cunningham that I'm not familiar with, please correct me.

Thank you.

GS

[EastCoastFan]

Re: Time for New Clothes!

For what it's worth I'll add my $.02:

I have had the great pleassure of meeting Gen. Yeager, Bob Hoover & M. Scott Crossfield on occasions. I have to say that I found CY to be very short & arrogant. He's there for himself and is not really interested in you.

In contrast, Bob Hoover will talk to you as long as you would lend an ear. He shows a genuine interest in anyone he speaks with and really tries to get to know you as a person. A consumate gentleman. Also, I had the pleasure of talking with M. Scott Crossfield one Sunday morning in the pits at Reno after Voodoo had shed a portion of it's tailfeathers. I found him to be very insightfull & extremly humble. I talked with him for over an hour & will never forget his kindness. At the end of our conversation, I was almost ashamed to ask him for his autograph, but he gave it willingly. He was first class, & is a great loss to the aviation community, & the promotion of aviation in general.

ML

[King]

Re: Time for New Clothes!

Man, I never knew that a simple paint scheme could represent so many bad things about a person. We really should have asked you guys how we should have painted it.

When you guys are ready to paint your P-51s, we all will help out with a scheme.

Oh wait..................do any of you have a P-51?

[Leo]

Re: Time for New Clothes!

I'll back ya King, I LIKE the "Glamorous Glen III" scheme. Gets used a lot it seems but it is also easily recognised and I bet if you parked in a row of other mustangs it would draw the largest crowd.
On the subject of CY, I met him at a book signing and would have to agree he was second only to Pappy in attitude. I got to talk to Bud Anderson who tried to have a conversation in our limited time. CY was more of a "next!" attitude. Pappy was probably the best example of the grouchy celebrity.
The japanese pilot who claimed to have shot him down used to peddle his book at Reno, across the walkway from Pappy. The year I bought both books, he offered to sign pappy's also, then set me up by telling me Pappy would sign his. Ha! Pappy almost placed that book in a very uncomfortable place and I retreated under a hail of curses!
They are the exception tho. I got a chance to sit with Jimmy Dolittle and several others at a luncheon (he's what I consider THE great aviator) and you could'nt ask for a more graciuos person. We could'nt have gotten him to stop talking about flying, if we had wanted to, and I once stood next to and talked airplanes with a man during quali's for an hour before finding out it was Niel Armstrong. Absolutely no pretense or bravado about his place in history and a great guy.
Most of the aviation personalities I have been fortunate to meet have been that way, one or two bad examples won't change that for me.

[John]

Re: Time for New Clothes!

Interesting about Yeager and Boyington...

Didn't Bud Anderson say he had to keep an eye out for Yeager due to the latter having a tendency of getting himself shot down during World War 2?

[Joe]

Re: Time for New Clothes!

Oh wait..................do any of you have a P-51?


No, I guess we don't. Should we all now bow to your greatness?

Looks like you picked the right scheme.

[AAFO_WSagar]

Re: Time for New Clothes!

LOL.. what a thread!

Though I've never met Mr. Yeager, I think it's safe to say that some pilots are legends in their own time as well as in their own minds.

Some are even actually famous...


That said, most of the guys and ladies I've met who are pilots with some fame have been really fine folks. As long as we're talking heroes who are nice folks, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Gen. Robin Olds!

He is an absolute delight and boy does he like the ladies! (PM me and I'll tell ya a story)

Please, though, guys/gals, let's try to keep this thread to personal recollections and not get it personal...

CY is crusty.. OK... so are a lot of people. Maybe he'd have been just as crusty if he'd have driven a bus during the war I once knew a steam fitter who drove a duce and a half on a remote island during the war and he was a jerk... it's just the way some folks are made up I guess.

[King]

Re: Time for New Clothes!

Oh wait..................do any of you have a P-51?


No, I guess we don't. Should we all now bow to your greatness?

Looks like you picked the right scheme.

[canadair]

Re: Time for New Clothes!

I too have a Yeager story...
I met the fellow in 2002, I was the FO on the Atlanta 747 which we flew into Oshkosh on day one and parked on Aeroshell Square for the show.
On arrival we attended a little ceremony on the podium, hosted by Paul and Tom Poberezny, and "Mr" Yeager. He could not have been more polite in the company of Paul and Tom, so of course we had no indication of the verbal arrogance to follow.
I had the misfortune of a hotel room in the Hilton across from Yeager, and next morning at breakfast myself and our FE happened to mention it would be a pleasure to get some photos of him up in the 747 cockpit when he had some free time.
I was not prepared for the swearing and arrogant comments which followed ! " why would I want to have my picture taken in that old piece of sh*t?!" was the first part, followed by "dont bother me" and I have no time for every idiot that asks for my picture" all this in front of my wife, and his "girlfriend"
This was pretty suprising ! his girlfriend then tried to apologise for his comments and he told her to shut up!
Bottom line, the man is a disgrace!
I am still suprised that EAA chose to name him as an "ambassador" but I guess it comes down to those that only know the name will still associate him with accomplishment, too bad, because one meeting will cure that!
I echo the opinions of Bob Hoover however, thoroughly nice man, and extremely talented, it`s a shame he has lived in the shadow of Yeager all these years, or at least been associated with him.
I did watch with pleasure at a dinner when a (nameless) but very well known person in Aviation told Yeager exactly what he thought of him!
and he was not complimentary!

[MLenoch]

Re: Time for New Clothes!

I am amazed to read the sentiments about CY. I very much agree with them. I once asked him to autograph my plane's rudder. You'd think that I raped his family or something. He was not pleasant. I was so shook up and sad to have met this 'legend'.
However, meeting Hoover, Armstrong, Crossfield, White, Olds (great singer...at the bar!!) were all a treat and highlight!
My 2 cents.........
VL

[King]

Re: Time for New Clothes!

I am amazed to read the sentiments about CY. I very much agree with them. I once asked him to autograph my plane's rudder. You'd think that I raped his family or something. He was not pleasant. I was so shook up and sad to have met this 'legend'.
However, meeting Hoover, Armstrong, Crossfield, White, Olds (great singer...at the bar!!) were all a treat and highlight!
My 2 cents.........
VL

HE does have a Mustang! Hiya Vlado!

[AAFO_WSagar]

Re: Time for New Clothes!

I am amazed to read the sentiments about CY. I very much agree with them. I once asked him to autograph my plane's rudder. You'd think that I raped his family or something. He was not pleasant. I was so shook up and sad to have met this 'legend'.
However, meeting Hoover, Armstrong, Crossfield, White, Olds (great singer...at the bar!!) were all a treat and highlight!
My 2 cents.........
VL

Vlado, I've met Armstrong (GREAT and very patient "HERO" type, totally tolerant of the groundlings *me and my lady*) Crossfield, a true gentleman, not "modest" by any means but he wore his fame quite well! Hoover, simply a really nice guy. If you didn't know he had "fame" you'd never know it. Olds.. same way, he's famous but I introduced my lady to him and he.. well.. she melted him, but she didn't know he was anything other than a really nice "old" gentleman" until I showed her his handlebar moustache pix and told her of just exactly what he'd done in his life... her reaction to his pix.. "Ohhhhh he's cute!"

His reaction to her when he met her (she's gonna kill me if she reads this) he didn't quite get through the introduction "Oh, nice to mee.... Look At Those Eyes!!!!" (she has eyes to die for!)

Watching Olds and ... damn.. what's his name, red hair'd fellow who jumped from the high altitude ballons way back.. Kittenger... chatting it up at Nellis a few years ago.. PRICELESS!

Glad we have such men still with us.. .Honor them while you can!!!!!!!



Speakin of nice guys in Aviation Vlado.. when we gonna see you out Reno way again!??!

[stuntflyr]

Re: Time for New Clothes!

Yeah Vlado,
We need a P-51 acro guy every year at Reno, like The Hoov was to many of us kids way back when. You are a pleasant guy with consumate skills and a fine ship. The folks need to see more fighter acro, to put some perspective to the modern tumbles. Moreover; to show the folks the real growl and grace of the propeller driven fighter.

I was five when I saw my first airshow that I remember the airplane doing acro, Bill Fornof in the Bearcat. There were other acts there I'm sure, but I don't remember them. The Bearcat was impressive and had a big, round tone to it's aural presence, not 'hide under the car' loud like the T-Birds or Blues. Kids stood spellbound, I did. Mustangs have the same appeal, distinctive aurally and good looking. Pleasing.

There is big draw to WWII fighter acro.

Chris...

[Lockheed Bob]

Re: Time for New Clothes!

GS
I meant that Randy Cunningham was another so called "Hero" that went down in flames as a politician. He disgraced not only the Navy but but the whole country.Sorry I stated it in the wrong light. By the way I do have his autographed book which anyone can have free of charge.
Lockheed Bob

[GaryS]

Re: Time for New Clothes!

Ok, thanks for clearing that up! I misunderstood what you were saying. I totally agree, and also have his autographed book.