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The History of WarBirdBob.

Bob came to us at American Aero*  one fall day shortly after the Collings Foundation's B17 Bomber arrived for it's Annual Inspection.
*American Aero is an aircraft restoration facility in New Smyrna Beech just south of Daytona Beach Fl.  At American Aero (Bob's Home) we restore and maintain World War Two and other Vintage Aircraft.

He literally marched into the hangar as if he owned it. Checking out each of us and of course each aircraft.

The B17 seemed like it was his home. It is possible he may have been a stowaway.

The B17 comes each year in November for it's Annual Inspection and stays until January when it leaves for a tour of Florida followed by a national tour to points as far away as Alaska.

He was not much more than a Kitten but had the mannerisms of a very intelligent being. Perhaps a reincarnated Veteran.

He would move thru and over the 17 as if he knew ever inch of it. It was like he was caressing a true love as he would climb into every panel that  we had open for maintenance.

It was not unusual to look into an inspection panel with your light and see a pair of eyes staring out at you.

Or to have your hand brushed or grabbed as you reached into a tight spot. Very unnerving at first. 

We all had a great laugh when one day, Jeff  as he walked under the wing root, had Bob reach out and  pull on his hair.

He has the ability to climb almost anywhere. One day while standing on a tall stand working on one of the engines, I looked up to see Bob sitting on the prop dome  a very small, slippery spot he seemed at home on. His balance and climbing abilities are almost supernatural.

His name at first was simply Hangar Cat.

That all changed the Saturday morning when he used up life number 1. He came into the hangar crying loudly. One look sickened us as we saw what was left of his tail.

A quick trip to the vet and a few days later he returned without a tail but with a new name "Bob" and life Number 1 used up.

For the story of life Number 2 click here.

As time passed it became very apparent that Bob is partial to War Birds. He is never content, unless there is a new WarBird to investigate.
On occasion, as you will see, he will sit on "His Cessna 170" or check out other aircraft but he is never as happy as when he has a WarBird to oversee.
So over time he has become known as
"War Bird Bob"