[Milsurplus] radios in old A/C

[David Stinson]

-----Original Message-----
>From: telegrapher at att.net
>Subject: [Milsurplus] radios in old A/C
>
>Just before i retired from the fone factory i went to the local CAF outfit 
>wanting to sign up and help with the restoration of their B-25.  
>Since my prior life in the AF i was an aircraft mechanic they 
>were glad to have me.  I asked about putting original radios 
>in them to make it a more authentic situation.  No No was the replay.  
>YOu can't use them and the by removing them it gives us 
>the ability to carry more weight, you know, like another passenger!

I've heard that before, too, Larry, and I think it's a load of bull.
The aircraft was made to haul TONS of BOMBS, for pity's sake.
The percentage of total gross weight represented by the radios
vs. not having a bomb load makes that argument a joke.
I think the real reason is a matter of ego, frankly.
Real radios don't have the "Ahhhh! Ohhhh!" factor
of dolling-up the outside or the guns.  You don't get money stuffed
in the contribution boot by people saying: "Gosh! Those 
radios sure were cool!"  Getting the historic technology correct
has to be a matter of principle, and money trumps principle
for some of these groups.  Thank God there are exceptions.

As far as liability for burning up the plane:
You have a point, J, but then 
the whole thing is 60 years old and is filled with stuff 
that can catch fire.  These planes caught fire on a whim 
when they were new.  If that's a "show-stopper," 
they better never start the engines.

>... (Their) response told me things about them and i felt i might have a hard time
> living in their political world.  I don't do well with political people.

Amen.  Say it twice.