Warbirds: Why do we love them?

[@rockcrawler3119]

That shot from the tail wheel at the end--- pure plane porn!! The 46 is special to say the least. No way in 50 years will anybody be making a video about how cool an Airbus is!

[@JoeBLOWFHB]

They saved us ....it is only right that we return the favor!

[@rogerblackwood8815]

Great sentimentJoe!

[@aserta]

That's well put. Wish more people shared this mentality. .

[@xsbuilder1]

What I love about the C46 is that it is powered by P&W R2800 engines. It is unique among WWII production transport aircraft in that respect. During the war, the R2800 was used in fighter aircraft like the: F4U Corsair, F6F Hellcat, F8 Bearcat, P47 Thunderbolt; medium bombers like the: A26 Invader, B26 Marauder and the patrol bomber PV-1 Ventura. All famous combat aircraft, I think of them as the WWII "radial elite". For the C46 to be a part of that group is doubly impressive IMHO.

[@NesconProductions]

Your comment was near the bottom and didn't see until I posted something nearly identical :-P. Much agreed!

[@crazybrit-nasafan]

Why do we love warbirds? If you have to explain it, they wouldn't understand it.

[@rconger24]

Men love the machines they survive with.

[@daverobinsonTnT]

Culver Props making the prop for the DR.1 That’s got to be an exclusive special episode itself 🤔

[@bobwhite4701]

Loved this episode! The C-46 has been playing second fiddle to the DC-3s for a long time now.

[@cgrotewohl]

Did a check in one in Fairbanks last month, nice machine

[@barryfoster8491]

Great piece of video artistry at the end following the tail wheel!

[@kencohagen4967]

The C46 and C47 were durable aircraft, built to take a hell of a beating and keep flying! I'd like to see a Lockhead 18 as well. I love those old birds, especially the Howard 500 redesign. With two R2800's it was one of the best corporate aircraft ever built. During the war it was an important liaison aircraft and some of them were turned into maritime patrol aircraft with bombs and guns on board to sink Nazi Uboats if they could. All of them are great aircraft! Built like tanks and they served in all theaters. To find one of the C46's or Lockhead is very rare now let alone flying examples. The C47/DC3 was the most widely used and highest number of them produced compared to the other two warbirds and the fact that they're flying today is a testament to how well they were built, and how serviceable they were. They were flown in cold climates during the war too, in the Aleutian Islands where the Japanese tried to invade and take our land up north. Not many people know about the Aleutian campaign, but the bases there were basically protected by all the spare aircraft that weren't in mainstream use at the time, like the P39 fighters and a handful of early model B17's. They fought hard and bravely and prevented the Japanese forces from taking the island chain from us, which would have given the a foot gold in the area where we were fairying lend lease aircraft to Russia, also in the fight against the Japanese. Their war was focused on Germany, but after the Germans surrendered they were headed to Japan next, and the Japanese New they would be coming, hence their desire to take the Aluetians and block the flow of arms to Russia.

[@grumpyoldfart1945]

Plus 100 for the Burbank Bombers. Big fan of Lodestars/HW250’s/LearStar’s; Super Ventura’s/HW350’s; and the mighty HW500 here.

[@colleensessentallife2439]

Because they are amazing and awesome. Can't wait to see one again.

[@davidangel-blair9358]

Did it work? Yes Mikey, it worked. Great video! Shot from behind the tail wheel was amazing.

[@ddyodaman5515]

It’s the roar of the cylinders and style of the time! That’s why we love warbirds👍I have stick time in a P51C and after the flight I thought one thing ....Wow!! Only those who have flown an old war bird big or small will understand the true feeling flying one of them.

[@norwaysept2830]

Plane Savers production value just gets better and betterer! Thanks Mikey

[@dk2428]

Great question. Grew up near a military airfield (Used as a training facility for the Belgian Air Cadets). Grandparents were in the airforce and the resistance movements during WW2. First flight @ age of 10 in the cockpit of a C130...As for a 'reason': I'm passionate about aviation and i love history...the warbirds combine both. I can't help it, any time i see and hear one of those birds...i've got a huge smile on my face :-)

[@TheSpuggy1965]

Love your videos Mikey! From the UK

[@richardwillett]

Why we love warbirds?…….good question! For me it's the sounds, smells like that whistle a P-51 with open gunports make, that's just the coolest sound in the world! Warbirds that still fly are living monuments to the men and women who built, flew, maintained these aircraft! When the B-17G Nine-O-Nine went down a few months ago it was tragedy not only for the people on the plane but we also lost one B17 out of ten still flying! To walk thought an aircraft like a Flying Fortress or your C-46,47's [like DTD] there hollowed like Gettsyburg!

[@binglamb2176]

It's living history. I love the time period of the 40s and 50s: the music, movies, and of course, the aircraft.

[@SmokeFlame1]

Lovely shots of the C-46 Mikey. Good info from the pilot too.

[@tony66au]

Warbirds are a living, breathing reminder and testament to Greatness and sacrifice. They never fail to evoke emotion and remind us.

[@flyingfortressrc1794]

Thanks for this great video Mikey. I love warbirds because of my dad who was a top turret gunner on a B-17 and we helped restore a 17 when I was 10-12 before he died.. I've always liked the C-46 since I saw the one in Tucson at the pima air museum when we were working on the B-17.. Thank you for keeping her flying with the radials she was meant for...

[@Jeffrey-Flys]

Beautiful birds. Great content and editing, Mikey

[@1919champ]

Great episode! C-46's are the cat's ass. A Manly Man's airplane. Used to fly on them in the Caribbean years ago with Shamrock Air Cargo. Keep em flyin!

[@jamesglenn2006]

Good stuff Mikey. Its pretty cool seeing William flying these aircraft, with some of the best mentors in the world 👍

[@paulgerald5808]

These are vintage war birds and with in these old ladies they carry the history that fought for freedom . Love the sound of those big round engines the They were built to fight and carry cargo into foreign battle fields to supply our forces . Thank you .

[@paulgerald5808]

Curtiss props or Hamilton Standard props .?????.

[@paulgerald5808]

The big round and old inline engines ,Pratt and Whitney ,Curtiss Wright ,Rolls Royce and Allison power plants Best Music in the World . Thank you .

[@vicvalente4874]

there is nothing like an old radial engine aircraft. I think it is wonderful that Buffalo Airways are keeling them alive. It is a dream of mine to come HP there, take a few flights with you, and assist in maintenance and restoration. I know what a special feeling it is to make an old plane fly again, it is what keeps people like us going!

[@jessemillington5988]

I think this was one of my all time favorite episodes yet. Just the sounds alone in 2020 in the cold. Rev it up and turn it up. Amazing job Mikey! She and her sisters are the last of the old titans!

[@crushingvanessa3277]

I can't answer it either. I remember AVO and TPO at Scair Manitoba, you'd always stop what you're doing to watch a C-46 or DC-3 when one would go by.

[@donaldparlettjr3295]

So cool that Alaina is making your prop. I subscribe to her and she is incredible. Warbirds are built like tanks, I couldn't agree more. As a flight engineer on B-25s Warbirds aren't comfortable but totally practical in the haul mode.

[@DutchThackers]

Really enjoying your videos Mike. Thanks for all the hard work. Have a great weekend.

[@frankjames7247]

Just listen to the sound of those engines, magnificent ! Good decision with the engine for the Fokker.

[@Steve-xf4uv]

I love that sound; there is absolutely nothing exactly like it ! And who wouldn't love to fly a tank ?

[@k50moga]

I haven't checked in with Plane Savers for months and I was impressed with this episode. There has been a tremendous improvement in the cinematography, the story planning structure and story telling, and the sound. Well done. It really is pro work.

[@davidjones8680]

Yep, it sure worked for me Mikey. Sitting here now with a massive great big grin on my face after watching it three times! Dare I suggest that this episode was inspired by my comments about the C46 taxing in when that new fangled areobus was taking off in the taken-down episode? These planes have been "givin'er" for so so many decades and the numbers still stack up today for it to be a more than viable package to absolutely anything else, new or old. Long may these wonderous warbirds continue. Thanks Mikey for taking the time to do this feature, in my eyes it's all totally brilliant, and has just gone straight to the top of my favourite episodes list. Regards David Jones Coventry UK

[@ufm10xxl27]

Hello David. Happy 2020. Hope the TK is going well. Greetings from the welder in McHales. Chris

[@davidjones8680]

@@ufm10xxl27 Hello Chris, hope all's well with you and thanks for your good wishes, all going well here. The old TK is in hibernation at present. Regards David.

[@wizzells]

The closing shot of the C-46 going away is amazing. Thanks for the episode, Mikey.

[@larryd.214]

As always, nice video Mikey! Love the old birds!

[@frederickmoller]

Thanks Mikey that was a really, really good episode in my eyes as earlier in the week I did some research on this plane as I didn't know much about it and think that's a really cool airplane. As I mentioned I am a big fan of radial engines, I despise jets and any and all electric vehicles, so this plane fits my idea of a 'real' airplane. It was nice to meet another Buffalo mechanic and hear his positive thoughts about the C-46, also William too.

[@troymolitor7766]

The C-46 looks wicked cool, sounds magnificent, and with the warm engine oil smell after shut down, even smells great, The C-46 fleet are grand birds from a long ago purpose build period. They deserve to be well taken care of and looked after. There will be a day the C-46 fleet won’t fly again, but until that day comes, I can only hope they’re well taken care of so the general public can stop what they’re doing, look up at them taking off or landing and keep smiling at a wonderful aircraft doing what they were built for and doing it better than purpose build aircraft 75 year younger. Long live the C-46.

[@sixtoes2313]

Bloody Good Show

[@Nblades78]

Why do we love old planes? Same as old cars, old motorcycles, old guitars and amps, etc. Lots of Reasons! It's Analog. No fly/drive-by-wire here. Physical, manual controls. Analog engines. No computers. Simple, Rugged, built like a tank, made to last. It seems to me that these old pieces, whether they are planes or cars, trucks, motorcycles, guitars, amps, etc - they go back to a time when craftsmanship meant a Lot. When things were built to last and not be thrown away on a whim because back then materials were precious and hard to get your hands on, money was tight and a lot of thought went into a spending decision which included, "How long will this thing last me?". Built by hand. That they still are flying today is a testament to their durability. Plus the challenge of operating it well. It isn't Easy, and that is part of the mystique. Over the years, there have been tremendous advancements in the technology and computers have largely taken-over many aspects of operating and maintaining equipment. But has it made it necessarily better? You need to be a computer programmer to work on a modern car, truck, tractor or airplane. People can't fix their own gear anymore. Look at the huge debate over "Right to Repair" going on right now. With the old gear, you Can repair it, as long as you can find or manufacture the parts. Look at the Boeing 373 Max 8 scandal. Look at the F35 JSF debacle. Massive, massive, massive costs. Computer problems still not solved. Sacrificing quality for profit. Look at all the guys restoring old pre-emissions road tractors like Pete 359's and such, to put them back on the road as working trucks. Last week news stories were going around about mid-1970's to mid 1980's John Deere tractors selling for big prices at auctions. Why? Because they are less computerized and the operators can at least service the things. New highly computerized gear, you have a warning light, you are shut-down on the side of the road, calling a dealer to send a Tech out at $100 plus an hour plus travel to diagnose the problem with computer software. The old gear has become cheaper to operate because the operator can service it themselves. A component breaks, you replace or repair the component. Simple. I think a lot of us believe people have forgotten the lessons of the past, and have strayed too far in the name of technology.

[@ufm10xxl27]

What he said ! Wise words

[@kevinhaynes9091]

I'm not a pilot, but I was fortunate enough a year or two ago to sit in the cockpit of Peter Monk's MkIX Spitfire TA805 'Spirit of Kent'. We love them because of their provenance and character, and we love them because of what they helped us achieve. Freedom.

[@madcableguy]

These planes were built to do a job and keep on doing it. It's a true testament to the designers and builders that these beasts are still doing the same job today (minus the bullet holes). Can't beat that sounds of those engines either!

[@ronaldlewis5326]

Keep up the great work Mikey. Love it!!

[@ajc5869]

I love that the old Lufthansa logo is on it, showing it’s past life!

[@motoys4me]

Great closing shot. “It worked” 🙂

[@blimpcommander1337]

SHAKEY JAKE!!!!! Excellent choice Mikey!

[@jamesyoungblood555]

Just look at that beautiful airframe with those great lines and they are still flying. I'm 76 years old and they were flying before I was born. Thanks Mikey for this video and may you have a blessed weekend. Shabbat Shalom my brother.

[@bryant3825]

Why we love Warbirds? For me its like a flying museum, its the fact that these amazing aircrafts are flying to this day is a testament of their design, engineering and know how of Aviators like us that love Warbirds. Its a way of preserving history in a very awesome and cool way that they are not just static in a museum although that is awesome too but to see it flying is amazing because these birds belong in the skies. Another factor why i like Warbirds is that they have another life ahead of them, such as Cargo, Air Races, Air shows, hobby flying, etc. I remember going to Sun N Fun in 2017 and in 2019 and i was astonished of how many airplanes there was there even Warbirds as well. Plus the engine sound of a P-51 Mustang with its Merlin engines are amazing its a beautiful sound, sounds majestic and just right. I wish i can fly again but its too expensive to do that at the current time because i am a College Student but i do want to fly again and if anything i do want to fly a Warbird they look very fun to fly on, especially on a living piece of history. Flying is majestic and wonderful.

[@jmguevarajordan]

Very nice video on the C-46. I liked how Jeff Schroeder explains the characteristics of the C-46, and he explains why we like old 'warbirds'. The C-46 is not an easy to fly airplane (many people got kill in C-46 accidents), but it is probably the best transport airplane of ww2. Its fame and activity have reached us in the 21 century. 👍

[@jamesburleson1916]

Sounds like the old girl has a lot of character. Can't say I'd be fond of a plane that tried to kill me in calm weather though, but hey, I can appreciate the challenge.

[@billdennis2993]

Great video content and who can top the scenery of warbirds earning their keep and the crews that make it happen in the artic environment. Thanks for sharing Plane Savers and Buffalo Air.

[@loddude5706]

Like James said, they were overbuilt to handle tough jobs at a rough time, they had true purpose . . . so they still do. A fine testament to those Edwardian trained engineers who set out to build something 'new & fandangled'. Epic result : )

[@richardmessenger9474]

The sound of that C46 taking off was awesome....that's why people love the old warbirds....👍👍👍

[@joelquinn3953]

Thank god best decision ever thanks mikey, i was hoping you would go radial. Great episode man

[@AN2Felllla]

I love the noise of the C-46. It gives me goosebumps ❤️

[@andrewlake6498]

In the First World War my grandfather made props at a airfield in Bedfordshire uk called old warren. It's still there and flying old airplane. Great place.

[@kb7pat]

Yes, the radial is perfect!!!

[@drdoolittle5724]

Your videos could be 2 hours long Mikey, I still would be glued start to finish. Thanks yet again.

[@georgeadair7799]

I always like to see the old girls still flying after all these years. Working in the 80's on those same ones you guys fly today just makes me feel nostalgic as well. TPO, AVO and TXW were always my favorites along with all the Daks that Air Manitoba had in their stable. Keep them flying as long as you can guys. Forgot to mention that the sound of those powerful PW radials throttling up is just awesome. I would say almost on par with the sound of 4 Lancaster Merlins, almost but not quite.

[@andrewrixon2347]

All fixed and the “bang bang” went away !

[@grandham5]

Great video mikey love the sounds and the stories of the plane great stuff. take care

[@rmiller640]

Glad to hear you reached out to Alaina at Culver Props to build your prop. I commented to you early on to contact her. I messaged her to see if she would do a series on the building the plane savers prop

[@PaddyPatrone]

Because!

[@shadowraith1]

Nice C-46 tribute. Shot from receding tail wheel with sun on horizon done well. Good to hear DR-1 has a motor kit on the way along with prop. Straightening the frame should provide some interesting video.👍🛩👍

[@creativemodels3830]

The C46 is simply a beautiful plane that was built to last never get tired of seeing it fly. Thanks Mikey

[@MarkBrandonAviation]

When i was spotting in Yellowknife last year, CFAVO was my fav catch - this was the plane i wanted to catch so badly.. and im glad that i did a few times!

[@Luigi-pk8mk]

Many years ago the skies above Nassau County NY were alive with all kinds of military aircraft, C46s C54s, C47s, Fairchild Boxcars, B-25s, P-47s delivered from nearby Republic Aviation in East Farmingdale , Grummans of all kinds, from nearby Grumman Aircraft Engineering in nearby Bethpage, all landing at the long gone Mitchel Airforce Base. Its now the home of Hofstra University, Nassau Coliseum and Nassau Community college, but if you know where to look you can still see some of the main runways. My Dad left for the tail end of WWII from there and returned there after he served. Some days if you listen real hard, you can still hear R-2800s warming up in the distance.....

[@dennisharrington6055]

Thanks

[@jamesretired5979]

C46 sounds like it is a BIG version of a Piper Pacer when it comes to handling' you just never know where it is going.

[@srnc9740]

Great video! These birds are still flying because of enthusiastic and hard workers like you, people who really love vintage planes. I am from Edmonton and working on the company who's keeping on-air many of those planes!

[@clintstephens7287]

Lots of books in the school library during the 60's about WW2 and my father taking me to air shows in the late 60's and early 70's so pretty much grew up with the history.

[@Sel-Shackfield]

Culver Props, that's awesome Mikey! It's only my opinion but that lady turns out, what I call, functional art. She is truly gifted. 👍

[@respectbossmon]

That closing shot of the C-46 taxiing from just behind the tail gear was excellent. LOL, yeah it worked. I love the C-46. I don't recall seeing one until I started watching Ice Pilots. 'Sexiest cargo plane ever,' is what I thought back then. For me, it's still true today.

[@cessnapilot8656]

William is really lucky to start his career hand flying the c46 ,you couldn’t find a better foundation to build a career on when he graduates to an airline he will know how to actually fly. His experience will have taught him what a large aircraft feels like through the controls to his hands and feet

[@briantrausch3637]

Very cool final shot as it taxing out sun rises and all👍

[@flyingkub]

Yes Yes YES!! Some news on the Fokker DR1 at last!! I fly a tail dragger and know the feeling of getting good without ever thinking you have mastered them (the day you think you are master is the day you meet up with the Ground Loop Monster). Some pilots just can not understand why you would want to fly an aircraft that is harder to handle on the ground, when there is an easy option, I think it comes down to what your mission is and what you want out of your flying.

[@robertbrady9597]

hi to everyone on here today Danville pa

[@iananderson7883]

Looks like some some sort of prehistoric creature that has just emerged from another dimension. It has an unwavering solid look to it that says it means business.

[@PoweredEvents]

Great episode Mikey, flew Pitts Specials for years, looks like landing a C-46 has similar challenges but thats so rewarding for a keen pilot. The flying only stops when you’ve got em parked!

[@ufm10xxl27]

Class , Greetings from Ireland plane savers

[@radarmike6713]

Why do we love war birds #Planesavers? Cause they have a character and an ambiance unlike modern planes. War birds were build to survive. But weren't expected to during war. But some have persevered and are still showing how they love to fly. Look at DTD. She sat forgotten and unloved for 27yrs. But n 53days she was begging to fly. On the 56th day she impressed ever BUFFALO JOE on how she wanted to fly and flew better than any modern airliner or personal use airframes today. That's why we LOVE war birds!

[@dcm7777777]

now mikey that one I really enjoyed! :)

[@Skeeter51244]

There is a C-46 on static display at the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum in Hammondsport, New York. One of my dreams, probably never to be realized, is to see this fly again. Glenn Hammond Curtiss was a cool dude and, as far as I know, he was the last person to hold both the land and air speed records concurrently, even if only for one day.

[@greghall1307]

Killer video Mikey. Thanks so much for sharing. Wish my uncle Hartwell was here to see your videos. I flew with him every weekend back in the 80s and 90s.

[@goatflieg]

Definitely one of my favorite Plane Savers episodes! Been hoping for an in-depth C-46 episode, and your videography was spectacular on this one. I became fascinated with warbirds at an early age (my first plane drawing was a B-17) and I've never lost the fascination. I've gotten a LOT of warbird rides and gotten instruction in Stearmans, Texans/Harvards, Chipmunks and others. I'm building a Van's RV-8 because it's the closest I'll get to owning my own personal fighter plane. Thanks for keeping 'em flying!

[@donmeyer1621]

Super episode Mikey!! Thanks Will and Jeff for your insight on the beast they call the 46!!

[@legotrain15]

No doubt the DC-3 in the C-46 are some of the most Majestic aircraft I've ever seen.

[@markthompson4885]

Yes, Mikey, it works! Very beautiful scene. I love your choice of the Jacobs 755. We need someone to film your prop being built! I will choose Culver props when I build my plane too.

[@aleksandramarson2334]

Veličanstvene mašine !!!🇭🇷

[@Agwings1960]

Because they show what men can do when they come together in a common cause against evil and tyranny

[@aserta]

A reminder from better times.

[@drenk7]

C 46 A great and now rare aircraft. Short coupled landing gear. Sounds like a huge version of a Luscombe. When it lands you just remain calm and wait for which direction it will try to depart the runway. Then calmly make corrections. Without getting “Happy Feet” - over correcting!

[@justinhobart8747]

Yes Mikey it worked! 👍😂 👁 ❤ WARBIRDS !!! We need a rib update with Benjamin as well...

[@mischef18]

Enjoyed the video bro, long may the C46's keep flying your sky's. Good news on the DR1. All the best to everyone in the Plane Savers crew. 31c here today

[@CaptRD]

While the focus of this season is on the Fokker I really love the wide variety of topics you keep bringing to us. I do hope we get an update on the Fokker soon though, I am missing Benjamin's accent. I think I have seen all of Culver Propeller's youtube videos. They do some amazing work. I hope that somehow you can be on hand at their shop when your propeller goes into production. Maybe Benjamin would like to add prop making to his resume?

[@FlyingAl2006]

Totally agree with your entire comment. Would love to see both of them down there while the prop is carved out and finished.

[@sixtoes2313]

Plane Savers, Variety Show

[@daverohsner3940]

My Dad had about 2200 hrs in C-46's. He loved them.

[@MatsGarage]

I think its because they represent an era when flying was still the greatest adventure imaginable.

[@angelreading5098]

Warbirds were built to last with tough thick skinned airframes designed by men of steel,dripsy oily with heavy controls stick & rudder machines that you have to fly properly,the wing loading is such that they can be operated into small jungle airstrips and carry useful payloads,it will be a sad day when Buffalo retires their C-46's but what will be capable of replacing them ? Everts say they have enough spares and full sets of drawings to keep theirs flying for a very long time and no doubt Buffalo will be able to too,you have the expertise and people onboard who will ensure this happens,we just love warbirds full stop so keep them flying Mikey !

[@johnbruckner4681]

Love this production! THANKS!

[@bearcatracing007]

More videos like this, it was fantastic. Thanks

[@ronosborn9372]

I was fortunate enough to see a C46 in Winnipeg, Manitoba back in '92. Loved the look. Who knows... maybe it was this one? I'll have to go through some old photos and see if I can find it. If so, I'll share. Love the planes Mikey! 8)

[@RTatBstoke]

If the aircraft were designed in the 30’s, 40’s or 50’s then it’s all about the crews who operate them, the sound they make also cool to 😎. Great to hear the news on the D1, it sounds like the right choice. 👍👍