How to arrange warbird flight for a veteran?

I know the B-17, B24, and the Mustang that show up at the Hillsboro Air Show as part of Portland Rose Festival do rides on a pay basis.  They also do them at the Eugene and Corvallis airports on the way up.   Don't know if they swing up any further north, but Olympia is only about 125 miles from dthe show.

I just don't know who to contact for that info, might try the Rose Festival or Hillsboro airport to see if they are coming this year and who they are.  

I know the Erickson Collection supposedly does flights in their Mustang, but have heard a tick on the spendy side. Erickson is in Madras Oregon about 60 miles north of Bend.

Check with Honor Flight.  They take veterans back to locations they visited during the war.  I don't know about going on an actual vintage craft but it might be a good place to start.   I guess I'd also check with the few people who own one... Commemorative Airforce maybe?  www.commemorativeairforce.org

Honor Flight is usually more to get the vet back to DC to see the memorials for them.  Have to be accompanied by someone as well. The vet's trip is covered, but the accompaning  persons expenses are not.

I must be thinking about something else.  One of my coworker's fathers, a WW2 engineer, went back to Normandy a few years ago with the help of an organization and is going to Italy this summer with a few other vets.  When she gets back Monday I'll ask her the name of the group.

Bomber rides are cheaper and probably longer (I've seen prices between $350 to 500). I had a 20 minute ride in a Commemorative Air Force P-51 that would have cost me $1200 had I paid for it but I won it on a $50 raffle ticket. The P-51 ride had a full gambit of aerobatics (rolls, loops, hammerheads, etc) and would be a bad idea for someone not in good health. I suppose you could ask for a slow turn gentle ride but price would probably be the same.

Yep, I think the B17/B24 rides were around $425/450 last year IIRC . More people to spread out the cost of flight time. I heard 1500 for around 20 min. in a Mustang.  Single ride would probably be tailored to the individual and what they are comfortable with.

It's been my experience that folks who own warbirds are some of the nicest and most generous people I've ever met. Wondering if you could ask around at local airports, try to find one,  hook up and tell your story?

If you go bomber, pick a Liberator. its the only one where you can move around much front to back. He probably wouldn't be up for walking the girder down the middle of the bomb bay anyways, but you can.

Greg

It's been my experience that folks who own warbirds are some of the nicest and most generous people I've ever met. Wondering if you could ask around at local airports, try to find one,  hook up and tell your story?

That's a BIG Bingo!!!

There are lots of T-6's around. Check with the local airport manager...if there is not a T-6 (or other warbird) based there, chances are that they would know of one somewhere nearby, and could probably put you in contact with the owner. As a courtesy, I'd recommend offering to pay for some fuel and their time...chances are good that they will refuse any payment though....but then again, fuel aint cheap!

The T-6 is a great ride! Having riden in a T-6, PT-17 (stick time in both), B-17 and B-25, I'd have to put the T-6 at the top.

Totally agree with asking to pay for fuel. This is legal for the owner to accept (unless something in the regulations has changed in the past decade), and as fermis said, avgas isn't cheap anymore.

Thanks, guys. Looks like I found an outfit in Olympia that can hook me up. Got an email back from them today, and I'll call on Monday to sort out the details.  They have a Stearman, which is his favorite plane, so we're gonna try to get him up in that.

  Thanks again!

 Chris

Now that will be an E ticket ride in a nice open cockpit! Sweet!

dirkpitt77

Thanks, guys. Looks like I found an outfit in Olympia that can hook me up. Got an email back from them today, and I'll call on Monday to sort out the details.  They have a Stearman, which is his favorite plane, so we're gonna try to get him up in that.

  Thanks again!

 Chris

A Stearman?!!!

Excellent! Hope it all works out for you guys. A Stearman is a whole 'nother experience...wind in your face...wind whistlin through the rigging..you can even feel the weight of the wings as you bank. You definitely feel like you are along for the ride while moving a machine through the sky, rather than putting in "inputs" to use a machine to move yourself through the sky (as you would in a Cessna for example)...if that makes any sense!

Prayers are being said for your dad, Chris. I hope that everything that you're doing for him goes well. Everyone deserves a son like you.

Man.. that is awesome news. No doubt he will enjoy that ride. Post pics when you get a chance.

Sounds great!!! Good job on the research!