The Confederate Air Force sadly caved to the PC crowd and voted too change their name to the Commemorative Air Force in 2001. Still, that is an awesome commercial and the CAF is an awesome organization.
I spoke with a member at an air show about this topic, several years ago. He pointed out that their corporate sponsors were being pressured by shareholders to drop funding because of the name, and corporate sponsorship is the lion's share of the CAF operating budget. By that time, they were "Confederate" in name only, dropping the Rebel flag from insignias and memorabilia. (I have one of their "blood chit" patches, with US and Texas flags displayed.)
A similar outfit called Flying Legends of Victory brought a B-17 *and maybe a P-51) up to a WWII re-enactment last year at Linden, TN. They'll take you up, but it is pricey. One of my friends who is a pilot got to ride left seat a few years ago (I think it was, but not sure if it was the CAF's though) and "took the stick" for ten minutes. I almost paid the money for the back in the nineties when my son was young for a ride, but didn't for some reason or another. The CAF has been coming to Pryor Field in Decatur for a while.
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ReplyDeleteThe Confederate Air Force sadly caved to the PC crowd and voted too change their name to the Commemorative Air Force in 2001. Still, that is an awesome commercial and the CAF is an awesome organization.
ReplyDeleteBeat me too it, although I don't think the CAF is an awesome organization since they caved to the PC crowd.
DeleteI spoke with a member at an air show about this topic, several years ago. He pointed out that their corporate sponsors were being pressured by shareholders to drop funding because of the name, and corporate sponsorship is the lion's share of the CAF operating budget. By that time, they were "Confederate" in name only, dropping the Rebel flag from insignias and memorabilia. (I have one of their "blood chit" patches, with US and Texas flags displayed.)
DeleteA similar outfit called Flying Legends of Victory brought a B-17 *and maybe a P-51) up to a WWII re-enactment last year at Linden, TN. They'll take you up, but it is pricey. One of my friends who is a pilot got to ride left seat a few years ago (I think it was, but not sure if it was the CAF's though) and "took the stick" for ten minutes. I almost paid the money for the back in the nineties when my son was young for a ride, but didn't for some reason or another. The CAF has been coming to Pryor Field in Decatur for a while.
DeleteI gots the sadz when they changed their name, BUT...I still kick some coin their way each year to keep Fifi in the air.
ReplyDeleteI still get goose bumps when I see that.
ReplyDeleteOh my God .... you used the word Confederate .... you racissss bastard !
ReplyDelete