Secret Warbird Collection?

[blacksheep]

I had this article forwarded to me from a friend in Seattle.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/134637114_collection19e.html

Seems Paul Allen, the owner of the Portland Trailblazers ,the Seahawks(I think)and co founder of Microsoft has a collection of warbirds at Arlington Field .
Including a restored B-17, a B-25, and a FW-190 among others

The kicker is he keeps it a secret, he doesn't allow visitors

[AAFO_WSagar]

Re: Secret Warbird Collection?

Originally posted by blacksheep
The kicker is he keeps it a secret, he doesn't allow visitors

Well, I guess everyone has the right to do with their possessions whatever they want but I think it's a shame to keep that collection hidden from the eyes of this country.

There are many guys who have to work a lot harder for their money and have a lot of sweat equity in their airplanes and they share them with the world..

I'm expressing "editorial" PURELY MY "opinion" here.. personally, to me, this is like having world class historic art and putting it in a closet.. what's the point?

Easy for me to say, I guess, I don't own them, will likely never have the money to even own that Mustang radiator they mention in the article but it if were my collection.. I'd share it with the world!!

I don't know if he's ever flown in any of them (the article would indicate not) but he's really missing out on one of life's special moments by not, at least, going for a ride in one of them!

*sigh*

Wayne Sagar

[52eme]

Here's an (incomplete) list of what Paul Allen owns :

MITSUBISHI A6M5-52 N1303 #1303
MITSUBISHI A6M5-52 N652Z #4400
MITSUBISHI A6M3 N3852 #3852
NAKAJIMA KI-43-1B N750N #750
CURTISS JN4D N3712 #3712
LOCKHEED P-38L N79123 #44-27231
CURTISS WRIGHT P-40C N2689 #194
REPUBLIC P-47D N7159Z #45-49406
NORTH AMERICAN P-51D N723FH #44-72364
DOUGLAS AD-4N N2692 #126924
GOODYEAR FG1D N700G #88303
GRUMMAN F6F-5 N79863 #79863
MESSERSCHMITT Bf-109E-3 G-BYDS #1342
MESSERSCHMITT Me 262A N94503 #T-2-4012
BOEING B-17E N12355 #2682
NORTH AMERICAN B-25J N41123 #44-30254
FOCKE WULF FW 190-A5 N19027 #0151227
FIESELER F1-156-C2 N436FS #4362
POLIKARPOV PO-2 N46GU #641543
POLIKARPOV I-16 N7459 #2421014
SUPERMARINE Spitfire Mk.VC N614VC #AR614
HAWKER Sea Hurricane G-KAMM #BW881
NORTH AMERICAN F-86A N4912 #49-1217
REPUBLIC F-84G N6599V #10586
CASA 2.111 N11105 #005
CASA 2.111 #B.21-37
NOORDUYN Mk VI (C-64A) N4474 #44-70513
LTV F-8 (x2)

I agree with Wayne, I think he is missing something with his collection. Beeing the guy with the money he can however do whatever he wants.
But it seems to me that beeing so secretive makes much more people talk about his collection than if it was public..

fred

[Mayo]

You can add the Champlin Fighter Collection to that list as well.

[AAFO_WSagar]

My goodness, that is quite the collection! It would take a huge facility to house those..

Now I'm jogging a memory, perhaps, just a senior moment (hey, I got my AARP application all filled out ) and I'm remembering something that I really didn't forget.... but..

Back when I was involved with the Spruce Goose project, I *seem* to remember hearing something of a "plan" where Allen was going to open some sort of museum/gaming facility, I think it was maybe going to be in Seattle area..

So maybe that's why he's "hiding" them, so he does not spoil the surprise when he does finally share them...

Well, like I said, I don't know if this is "senior moment" stuff or something I really heard but.. fun to think about!!

Wayne

[52eme]

Originally posted by AAFO_WSagar
Back when I was involved with the Spruce Goose project, I *seem* to remember hearing something of a "plan" where Allen was going to open some sort of museum/gaming facility, I think it was maybe going to be in Seattle area..

So maybe that's why he's "hiding" them, so he does not spoil the surprise when he does finally share them...

I heard similar rumors..

The Champlin has been bought by the Seattle Museum of Flight, not by Paul Allen.

regards
fred

[ShermB]

The Boeing Museum of Flight is getting ready to show a part of the Champlin Collection pretty soon.
I have seen a Spitfire at Arlington, flown by Bud Granley, purported to belong to Paul Allen.

[Randy Haskin]

Originally posted by ShermB
The Boeing Museum of Flight is getting ready to show a part of the Champlin Collection pretty soon.
I have seen a Spitfire at Arlington, flown by Bud Granley, purported to belong to Paul Allen.

For what it's worth, it's not the "Boeing" Museum of Flight...it just happens to be located at Boeing Field. Although Boeing is obviously a huge corporate sponsor, they do not control or own the MoF.

Second, my understanding is that the Champlin Collection was purchased by Allen *for* the MoF. I don't know whether he simply provided the capital or the financing to purchase the airplanes, or whether it was an outright donation.

Nevertheless, the "private" collection seems to be completely separate from the Champlin airplanes.

When I worked at Galvin Flying Service in Seattle, I spent a lot of time servicing Allen's Canadair CL-601 Challenger bizjet, N601AF. In his hangar at the time, he had a blue and gray camouflaged T-38, and the pilot indicated that there were several more military airplanes where that one came from (ergo, in Allen's collection), and that was in the '93/'94 timeframe.

[AAFO_WSagar]

Hey Randy.... Glad to hear from you's... Hope the weather back there on the "east" coast is agreeing whit'chas's....

Keep em burnin and turnin my friend!

Wayne

[Randy Haskin]

Originally posted by AAFO_WSagar
Hey Randy.... Glad to hear from you's... Hope the weather back there on the "east" coast is agreeing whit'chas's....

Keep em burnin and turnin my friend!

Wayne

No comment, Wayne....nooooooo comment!

[AAFO_WSagar]

Originally posted by Randy Haskin


No comment, Wayne....nooooooo comment!

Understood.. have been watching the weather reports.. snow, but looks like much warmer coming.

Hope all is well with you and yours!

Wayne

[gemini44]

Re: Secret Warbird Collection?

Hello All:
The collection is hardly a secret! The collection has moved from Arlington WA Airport to Paine Field in Everett WA. Currently on display are WWII aircraft representing 5 nations: US, UK, Germany, Russia and Japan. Of the 15 on display, 10 actually fly and do so regularly during the summer. Please refer to the website www.flyingheritage.com to view the collection. Also, the collection is VERY PROUD to anounce the addition of a FW-190A-5 "Shrike" soon to be added. This aircraft is scheduled to be flown on "Luftwaffe Day" this summer along with our Bf-109E. There are currently no multi-engine aircraft on display but that is also due to change this summer with the addition of a B-25J. The collection has gotten a LOT of recent "press" in Air Classics and Warbirds reference out Bf-109, our FW-190A5 and our P-47. It should also be noted that we have the only remaining FW-190D-13 in existance, but we do not fly it due to its rarity. Any questions or comments, please post.

[AAFO_WSagar]

Re: Secret Warbird Collection?

Welcome to the forum Gemini... The title of the thread is a bit misleading... since the original post was made almost 10 years ago...

[Randy Haskin]

Re: Secret Warbird Collection?

Hello All:
The collection is hardly a secret!

It was 8 years ago when the thread was started!

[John H]

Re: Secret Warbird Collection?

I had this article forwarded to me from a friend in Seattle.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/134637114_collection19e.html

Seems Paul Allen, the owner of the Portland Trailblazers ,the Seahawks(I think)and co founder of Microsoft has a collection of warbirds at Arlington Field .
Including a restored B-17, a B-25, and a FW-190 among others

The kicker is he keeps it a secret, he doesn't allow visitors

Wow really? Never heard of that. Thanks for letting us know!