Consulting   Safety First: Saving Human Life through Training is the core of the Red Star Aviation mission. Safety starts long before a pilot enters a cockpit: It starts with good advice. But where can a new operator turn for good, unbiased advice? Certainly not to the seller of an airplane, as there’s only one motive there: To exchange money for merchandise. Can he turn to existing operators? At times, yes. Some operators are working at a high standard of safety and training, and can act a good role model. But at other times existing operators are doing little more than acting as a bad example. Can you tell the difference? One of our missions is to identify a group of high quality volunteers, who are willing and able to assist new operators. If you are considering the operation of a Warbird, contact us in advance. We will be pleased to offer you assistance ourselves, or to refer you to a local Red Star Aviation volunteer who will be equally pleased to help.   Consulting: Red Star Aviation offers consulting services to present and prospective Warbird owners. As a non-profit educational foundation we provide these services in order to serve the public, and do so by offering non-commercial advice and assistance as the advocate for the customer, not as an advocate for the seller. We have no possible conflict of interest, as we have nothing to sell! We do not sell aircraft, nor do we profit from referrals. We desire to break the commercially motivated chain that has resulted in unqualified pilots being sold the wrong aircraft model, or a qualified pilot purchasing an inferior example of a particular model, by sellers who are interested in profit above safety. If you are interested in our services, all it takes is an email or a phone call. If we do not know the answer to your question, we will refer you to someone who does. In fact, it may fairly be said that more importantly than knowing all there is to know about a subject, it’s best to know exactly who to ask. With our extensive contacts and based on our own lengthy education in the operation of these aircraft, we have probably encountered your questions ourselves in the past, and have needed to solve the riddle previously. It is said that “Experience is the best instructor. It’s also the most expensive.” Why re-learn lessons that have been learned before at great expense, when you can turn to experts for advice? We have a network of over 50 experts who are willing to offer advice and assistance on almost every conceivable warbird subject. We do not charge for our consulting services! Please call and discuss any topic of interest at no cost. If you are purchasing an airplane, we will review maintenance records, FAA Operations Limitations, and Inspection Programs for free, in order to assist you. We will act as your agent to your local FAA office for any operational requirements, again for free. If you desire “airplane side” instruction on a model that we operate, feel free to come to our facility for orientation and advice. Why do we do this? Our Corporate Charter states that our mission is to serve the public. Our goal is simple: To save human life by giving back to the public what we know. Yes, we need to be funded: We are supported entirely by voluntary donations. Should you feel that we have served your interests and wish to make a donation, please feel free to do so! If you do not wish to make a donation, we will serve you anyway. All donations are fully tax deductible as a charitable contribution; however no donations are required in order to obtain our services. Just a few of the areas in which we are able to assist are described below. Pilot Mentoring and Development: “Can I learn to fly a Warbird? If I need to gain additional experience before entering the sport, how can I prepare myself now in order to safely operate one five years from now?” Aircraft Model Selection: “What airplane is right for me at this point of my career?” Aircraft Purchase Analysis: “I’ve found several airplanes of that model for sale, which one is best? Who can look over the records to see if it’s been properly maintained?” Training Suggestions: “Who is the best person or organization to teach me to fly a particular model Warbird?” We do offer introduction flights and flight training in certain aircraft, but as we do not profit from this activity we have no reason to do so if there is an equally or more qualified person available, perhaps closer to your home. There are many qualified operators of these aircraft, and we will be pleased to refer you to operators in whom we have full confidence for introduction flights and for flight training. We are, naturally, delighted when we are asked to fly with you and consider it an honor to be entrusted with this responsibility. . Flight Testing and Examination: “I need a flight test in my airplane. Who is qualified and has a good reputation?” Once again, we have internal ability to provide flight tests in many models of Warbirds, ranging from single engine piston powered aircraft to supersonic interceptors. But since as a non-profit we do not obtain any benefit from this activity, we feel free to recommend to you the MOST QUALIFIED Examiner in any particular type. Our recommendations will be based on what is best for YOU. In-Flight mentoring: “I’d like a really experienced guy to fly with me for a time to teach me the “real stuff”. Can you do this, or can you recommend someone else near my home?” Ground school and Seminar mentoring: “Where can I attend a good fly-in for training? How about formation training? Where can I associate with other quality operators?” Maintenance Suggestions: “Who can work on my new airplane and how does he get advice when needed? Where are parts and technical publications available for purchase?” FAA Liaison: “My local FAA office wants to restrict my operations. Can they? How do I write an Approved Aircraft Inspection Program? How do I amend one? Who knows how to help me? Legal Assistance: “I’ve been involved in an enforcement action. Who can act in my interests to help me? What are my rights? Who specializes in this work?” Mishap Investigation: “A loved one has been injured or killed in a mishap. Can you assist me in investigating how this occurred? Can anyone help me submit evidence to the NTSB?” These are just a few of the different services that we can offer. If you need to know something not listed, let us know! If we don’t know the answer, we know someone who does. Please feel free to contact us at any time about any of your questions. The only stupid question is the one you keep to yourself!