CONTEST: MEN ONLY: Free Framed Gee-Bee Z Airplane

[Vintage Betty]

I have just sent instructions to the judges to review all qualified entries for judging that were submitted before April 13. All entries submitted after April 13 are admired, but are not eligible for this contest.

Please accept my apologies for the delay and remember! You still have time to bribe the judges as their entries are not in yet.

Due to the quantity of entries, the judging may take a little longer than normal. Thank you for your patience!

Vintage Betty

 

[Aviator]

I know it is too late; and good luck to all...

Let's be honest, no way I could compete with some of the prior entries (Wingnut/KilroyCD/Paddy), but here are a couple of pics of me dressed as a pilot:

Driving the Hercules C-130 (which began flying in 1954) during a flyover of a Tampa Bay Buccaneers game last fall:
<a href="http://s97.photobucket.com/albums/l230/HercDriver1500/?action=view&current=P1010444.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l230/HercDriver1500/P1010444.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

An outside view:
<a href="http://s97.photobucket.com/albums/l230/HercDriver1500/?action=view&current=P1000221.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l230/HercDriver1500/P1000221.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Formation over the field:
<a href="http://s97.photobucket.com/albums/l230/HercDriver1500/?action=view&current=DSC01413.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l230/HercDriver1500/DSC01413.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>


And afterwards, on the field hanging out (I'm the guy in the back smiling):
<a href="http://s97.photobucket.com/albums/l230/HercDriver1500/?action=view&current=P1000249.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l230/HercDriver1500/P1000249.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
(If men were judging I would hope the last photo would get me a waiver on the deadline)lol



Not a bad way to earn a living from my Uncle Sam.

 

[rumblefish]

Whoops!:eusa_doh: I guess then I hope my entry was admired. So much for me reading the rules through
Good luck everyone. The judges have have a tough job on their hands!

 

[Josephine]

No one has tried to bribe me yet! :*(

 

[Diamondback]

How many pounds of Ghirardelli would it take?

If it weren't late, I'd say (granted, as a guy) that the Coastie's last photo was the "FTW"* shot... So, Aviator, get any phone numbers? Any of 'em single and into reclusive, brainiac, propellorhead gun-nuts?lol

*"For The Win!"

 

[Aviator]

How many pounds of Ghirardelli would it take?

If it weren't late, I'd say (granted, as a guy) that the Coastie's last photo was the "FTW"* shot... So, Aviator, get any phone numbers? Any of 'em single and into reclusive, brainiac, propellorhead gun-nuts?lol

*"For The Win!"

Actually when queried the ladies were happy to share some personal comments. They said being around all of the pro football players got old. The comments from them were along the lines of:

"I dig a paunchy guy. It shows he isn't vain".
"I'm into bald guys or guys with thinnning hair. I love that on a man".
"You know what I like in a man? That they are comfortable in their own skin...drinking a beer...watching sports. That is what I like".

It was sad, really, seeing all of these lovely young women not able to find their perfect guy. I went home and said a prayer that each will find what they are looking for.

 

[rumblefish]

No one has tried to bribe me yet! :*(

Do you have a time machine? lol

 

[Vintage Betty]

We have a winner!

WOW! What great entries! Each of the judges and many people watching this thread commented on the wonderful entries. Each one of you is inspiring, and I would like to personally thank you for entering the best contest I have posted yet in the Classifieds. :eusa_clap

The judges had a very difficult task ahead of them, and to make it easier, I just asked for the entrant name, not the individual entry (too many to count!)

I'm pleased to announce that the winner is.....









drumroll please.......















Wingnut!

Thank you to our GREAT judges who had a difficult task. We appreciate you!

Thank you to everyone again, and Wingnut, please PM me with your shipping address and email so I can send you the parcel.

 

[Spitfire]

:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap
CONGRATULATIONS Wingnut. You deserve it!

 

[Smithy]

Well done Wingnut, you looked brilliant in those pics :eusa_clap

 

[Copper]

Just adding my name to the chorus here... well done Wingnut! those were some fine photos indeed. :eusa_clap

 

[PADDY]

Congratulations!!

And WELL DONE!!:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[The Wingnut]

Thanks, everyone, I didn't think I'd get it with all the great photos submitted by everyone else! There is some fantastic talent here, and plenty of photogenic people.

Betty, a PM is on the way!

 

[KilroyCD]

Congratulations, Wingnut! Those were great pics!

 

[rumblefish]

Congratulations Wingnut! Ditto what everyone said! :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[RedPop4]

Alas I have no pics of my aviation days as they were lost to me along with about 3,000 sheets of negatives. I had worked with a music industry photographer friend for several years while in college and had amassed tons of rolls of film including 15 concerts I did for Stevie Ray Vaughan, BB KING, Garth Brooks. Ugh. A friend helped me move back to Virginia and tossed out a box she thought was trash. I didn't catch it for several days.

Anyway, I was fortunate enough to have numerous golden era flight experiences. My father was a naval pilot (P5's and P3's) My earliest memories are flying Beech 18's over the Florida coast looking for schools of fish running, to know where to fish later. I clearly recall a flight as a youngster with my father and Greg "Pappy' Boyington. He was in town for several days and I'm still not sure how he made it happen, but my dad made it happen. The show about him was a big hit at the time. He gave me a signed record which was the audio biography of his life, which I still have.

I started flying at an early age and majored in aerospace in college. My senior project was to completely restore a Dehavilland Beaver, which I did as well as the complete build on a modified Cassutt stunt plane. One of my professors was a close friend of Chuck Yeagar's In fact Yeagar absolutely idolized this man, Col. Jean Jack. I had several opportunities to drink with Chuck. At his advanced age he could still drink this college boy under the table.

After college and not so vintage jobs of flying MU-2's with mail and stock car drivers I landed a job flying DC-3's with cargo out of Spokane and Juneau. Unfortunately the company refused to allow us to fix needed repairs, I crashed a DC-3 one night and had had enough of that gig. Incidentally that plane was repaired, which it shouldnt have been. Later a new crew crashed it and died.

I was lured into a somewhat family business of politics for several years and got to do some lobbying for the aviation industry so that was fun. But I burned out.

I got a job with a company who recovered WWII and Korean vintage aircraft and brought them back to the states to rebuild and fly them. We flew all over the world looking for these planes, that was great fun. I had the opportunity to fly about everything you can imagine, warbirds and bombers, trainers and even WWI open cockpits. It was a dream job. Like some dream jobs, they do not sustain families well. So I headed back into politics where I have been ever since.

That is my golden era flight story. I am amazed at the knowledge of some of the buffs on this site. In fact some know more than I do about planes I flew. Truly a dedicated site for historians of aviation. I have enjoyed the photographs.

I have visited just about every aviation museum in the country I think, some big and some small. Wright Patt is my favorite. Any buff owes it to themselves to visit Dayton at least once. I lost myself in there for days on numerous occasions and I was just telling my wife the other day it is about time to take my son and daughter up there. She does not desire them to fly however, as she hates flying especially small planes. Everytime I head to Oregon to visit my old college roommate, who is a captain for American, she tells me to stay out of his airplanes. I always say I will, but sssshhh I don't. I discovered long ago I had no interest in flying commercial as it bored me to tears and was like being a glorified bus driver. It's good for some and not for others. So considering my wife's attitudes i guess it worked out anyway. Oh, and she hates motorcycles too, which I had always owned several since the age of 5 or so. Dang no fun.

WOW. What amazing stories, Warbird, but since you don't play dress-up and post photos, no one comments. Sorry to see that, what tremendous memories to have.

 

[The Wingnut]

Indeed! This one seemed to get glossed over in all the eye candy! You live a charmed life, sir.

 

[Vintage Betty]

Actually, I received many nice comments on ALL the entries. But since I was a Judge, I didn't want to show favortism to any single person.

The prize has been mailed. Thanks for a great contest fellas!

Vintage Betty

 

[PADDY]

Thanks Betty!!

Thanks for being the inspiration in launching this and seeing it through. You're just so kind :eusa_clap