[ARC5] A Letter from the pCAF

[David Stinson]

Some of the people in our community have asked me why I have
an "attitude" about the (pollitically)Correct Air Farce.
I just got a letter from one of their wings.
This might shed some light:


Mr. ********** wrote:
 > Hello again:
 > Thought I would mail you direct instead of using gmail.
 > Hope your listing in qrz is current.
 > I have not checked with Midland on this, but,
 > I would like to find enough "STUFF" to make up
 > an original set up for our B-17 here
 > in ************** Wing of the CAF.
 > Would appreciate any input you might have on the subject.
 > Carry on

Respectfully, Mr. **********, and without any wish to
give you personal offense; I was pleased to meet you,
and am sure your intentions are entirely honorable.
Those of the CAF, however....

Over the years, I have had some very bad
experiences with what I now call the
(politically)Correct Air Force, encountering elitist
and dismissive attitudes towards anyone who could not
write a check for a P-51, and especially for the historic
technology that made these aircraft possible.
In my experience, the pCAF strips the historic
technology out of an aircraft and build what amounts
to a big, "WWII-looking" Cessna.  Frankly, if I want to
see a Cessna cockpit, I'll go to the local grass strip.

To help you better understand my position,
let me relate some of my experiances with the pCAF:
In the past, I have attempted to donated equipment,
expertise and time to help with pCAF "restorations."
I have been either rebuffed as one would a bothersome child,
or had my equipment (and money) condescendingly accepted,
only to learn that it was subsequently thrown away.
I've also had the distinct pleasure of a leader
of a wing I shall not name, tell me that he didn't
want any of that "old crap" in his wing's aircraft,
and that the pCAF "already had a warehouse full of
that old sh*t- we can't throw it away fast enough."

As a result, I am extremely selective about whom
I offer my time and equipment,
and I fear I have neither for the pCAF.
I have no interest in assisting them in any way.
Both my time and equipment supply are limited,
and I choose to offer them to orgainizations
with a better attitude.
I'm sure that, with the money of the pCAF members
and patience, they can find all they need on Ebay.

If this offends *you,* I am truly sorry.
If it offends the pCAF, I am not sorry in the least,
for I am simply returning the courtesy given me.

Sincerely,
David S.