What a flippin' shame. When I went to TVAL I was blown away by all the dead-on details of every plane they had. Unfortunately, only several BE2's and the new Alb D.II were in the hanger. The rest were out for "air shows" all over the world... Makes ya think. I didn't meet DeMarco, he was on site but working in one of the other shops that does not allow visitors and wasn't speaking to the public anyway. I got to meet one of the young pilots that fly the Dr.1's which was a fun conversation and I had the pleasure of sitting with another of the builders from one of the shops. We talked for hours about the very nature of the planes, how they make them and the techniques they use to do so. It's different for each plane they make, which I thought was incredible. He did mention the same as the article did, that they often reverse engineer the parts using Jackson's movie studio. We saw that place on the trip as well...and it was fantastic too.
I'm so happy for Peter that he gave the world the amazing work that these planes are and deeply saddened that this will most likely be the end. If anyone has had the chance to go to TVAL, it was worth every hardship it was to get there and enjoy these planes one-to-one and in person.
The Alb D.Va that Mark, Mike and I got to see at RAF Henson was breathtaking as well. It's one from Jackson's earlier efforts, painted in Jasta 5 Josef Mai, and worth the look if it's still there.
Growing up in Long Island, NY...as the #%&*$# did as well... I often went to Rhinebeck to see The Black Baron of Rhinebeck Cole Palen (my avatar and sig). I so admired him and the work he did..which forged the way for jerk-off DeMarco. Rhinebeck was an amazing place to me, and to have had the blessing of travel and go see TVAL was nothing short of a life accomplishment. I'm so deeply saddened that once again...evil presents himself in the strangest places and effect everyone around him in the deepest way
Jeeze... I just can't believe this. What a freakin' shame. I hope they can recover those planes and get them back to Peter Jackson. Sure Kermit is pissed as well...
Thanks for posting this Ted. I wish you could have been with us at Hendon... 😊
Ugh... I'm so f'n sick to my stomach that the prick is from LI and did this to Jackson. I hope the fry him. Jerk.