Flight,
Today the "America's Huey-091" folks gave a briefing to the Ft Wolters chapter of the VHPA quarterly meeting. As the Member at large of the chapter I took a strong interest in the briefing. I had originally recommended we remain neutral in the fight until I spent a couple of hours with the Huey 091 folks asking hard questions. At the end of it I am convinced the "America's Huey-091" folks are on the right track and only interested in providing a 'Clean" transfer of 091 to the Smithsonian, rather than let it be part of what may become a for profit operation. I reviewed the list of folks on the committee and know them to be men of honor. Each member has signed an affidavit swearing he will refrain from ANY Persona Benefit from the project. I've known some of these folks for over 25 years. The ORIGINAL PRODUCER of the film is a part of 091 so I can't see where they are stealing the idea.
What they are trying to do is make a clean transfer of the aircraft from one museum to another and it seems the ISOB folks recently decided to form a non profit to claim the aircraft. Not going to happen. I did not have a dog in this fight but I am siding with men of honor that I've known half my adult life. Period.

Another thing happened today. Several of us went to see the chopper and several of the men from American Airlines who fly and maintain the bird. In Feb. it will begin it's last flight around the nation and arrive at it's final LZ at the Smithsonian for a 30 year display and be restored to it's original Robin Hood colors.
And someday my grand kids can look at that bird and say " my grand pa flew that bird". Today for the first time since I left the army in 1977 I flew a Huey. I was like a monkey on a football and pure rust, but I hovered it, Taxied it. took off, flew a pattern and landed it. Then I met the CEO of American Airlines ( after he had a flight in the bird) and I gave him a set of the NVWM Army Aviator Wings. He beamed and I was proud. I will not try to tell you guys what to do but I have checked both sides of this fight and know both sides and have friends there. But as for me/ I will support America's Huey-091 because IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO!