Schwan's Corp. (parent company of Red Baron pizza) announced today
that the Red Barons are permanently grounded. After 28 years of
sponsorship they are redirecting their marketing efforts away from air
shows.

RED BARON SQUADRON GROUNDED
The Red Baron Squadron, a team of four vintage Stearman biplanes that
has flown formation aerobatics at air shows for 28 years, will fly no
more, the team's sponsor, the Schwan Food Company, said this week.
"The Red Baron Squadron has been an incredible asset to our company
and we are very proud of its long, successful history," said Bill
McCormack, executive vice president. "The retail grocery industry has
experienced considerable change over the past few years. And, as a
result, we have decided to refocus our Red Baron marketing program and
to discontinue the Red Baron Squadron." The team flew at more than
2,000 airshows and gave rides to more than 80,000 passengers. They won
the Art Scholl Award in 1995 and the Bill Barber Award in 1993.

See www.AvWeb.com for more info.

It's always sad to see something like this come to an end. The Red
Barons and their big, loud Stearman biplanes were always fun to watch,
and my kids have grown up with them at airshows every summer. I'm
sure they were very expensive to sponsor, though, and I, for one,
would like to thank Schwans for a lifetime of great memories.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay Honeck wrote:
>
> It's always sad to see something like this come to an end. The Red
> Barons and their big, loud Stearman biplanes were always fun to watch,
> and my kids have grown up with them at airshows every summer. I'm
> sure they were very expensive to sponsor, though, and I, for one,
> would like to thank Schwans for a lifetime of great memories.

Yes it is. You know, they could become the Alexis Park Inn squadron.

> Yes it is. You know, they could become the Alexis Park Inn squadron.

Ha! I'll bet their annual budget is more than our annual revenue....

What's it cost to feed and clothe four Stearman biplanes (plus a
spare), plus four pilots, plus support staff?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

I met th e head pilot of the team during a flight to Denver in 2005. I
have his card around here somewhere. He was a nice fellow that just
loved flying in the airshows. I had remembered reading something about
the Red Barons in the paper a few years ago, but couldn't remember
what it was I had read. I asked him and he told me that it was hard to
watch your friends die. I hadn't know it was that tragic, or I would
have not brought it up. I have seen them do a few airshows and They
will be missed.


Tom

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
...
> Schwan's Corp. (parent company of Red Baron pizza) announced today
> that the Red Barons are permanently grounded. After 28 years of
> sponsorship they are redirecting their marketing efforts away from air
> shows.
>
> RED BARON SQUADRON GROUNDED
> The Red Baron Squadron, a team of four vintage Stearman biplanes that
> has flown formation aerobatics at air shows for 28 years, will fly no
> more, the team's sponsor, the Schwan Food Company, said this week.
> "The Red Baron Squadron has been an incredible asset to our company
> and we are very proud of its long, successful history," said Bill
> McCormack, executive vice president. "The retail grocery industry has
> experienced considerable change over the past few years. And, as a
> result, we have decided to refocus our Red Baron marketing program and
> to discontinue the Red Baron Squadron." The team flew at more than
> 2,000 airshows and gave rides to more than 80,000 passengers. They won
> the Art Scholl Award in 1995 and the Bill Barber Award in 1993.
>
> See www.AvWeb.com for more info.
>
> It's always sad to see something like this come to an end. The Red
> Barons and their big, loud Stearman biplanes were always fun to watch,
> and my kids have grown up with them at airshows every summer. I'm
> sure they were very expensive to sponsor, though, and I, for one,
> would like to thank Schwans for a lifetime of great memories.
> --
> Jay Honeck
> Iowa City, IA
> Pathfinder N56993
> www.AlexisParkInn.com
> "Your Aviation Destination"

I got to fly with them once, it was a thrill getting to do formation loops
and rolls with nothing holding you in but a wide lap belt.

--

*H. Allen Smith*
WACO - We are all here, because we are not all there.

On Thu, 6 Dec 2007 07:51:18 -0800 (PST), Tom > wrote in
>:

> ... he told me that it was hard to
>watch your friends die. I hadn't know it was that tragic, or I would
>have not brought it up. ...

I've talked with one former aerobatic pilot.

He said much the same thing about watching
friends die. He told me about a couple of his
close calls when he used up pretty much all of
the adrenaline his body could produce.

Reminds me of Ernest K. Gann and his book,
Fate is the Hunter.

Marty

--
Big-8 newsgroups: humanities.*, misc.*, news.*, rec.*, sci.*, soc.*, talk.*
See http://www.big-8.org for info on how to add or remove newsgroups.

Jay Honeck wrote:
>> Yes it is. You know, they could become the Alexis Park Inn squadron.
>
> Ha! I'll bet their annual budget is more than our annual revenue....
>
> What's it cost to feed and clothe four Stearman biplanes (plus a
> spare), plus four pilots, plus support staff?

I wouldn't want to even try to pay for their beer (:

Jay Honeck wrote:
> Schwan's Corp. (parent company of Red Baron pizza) announced today
> that the Red Barons are permanently grounded. After 28 years of
> sponsorship they are redirecting their marketing efforts away from air
> shows.
>
We spent two days following those guys around when we were weathered
in coming back from Oshkosh. Nice guys. One of them lives near our
property in NC.

It's their own loss. The only reason I ever bought Red Baron pizzas
was because of the squadron. I'll go back to another brand now.

"Ron Natalie" > wrote in message
m...
> Jay Honeck wrote:
>> Schwan's Corp. (parent company of Red Baron pizza) announced today
>> that the Red Barons are permanently grounded. After 28 years of
>> sponsorship they are redirecting their marketing efforts away from air
>> shows.
>>
> We spent two days following those guys around when we were weathered
> in coming back from Oshkosh. Nice guys. One of them lives near our
> property in NC.
>
> It's their own loss. The only reason I ever bought Red Baron pizzas
> was because of the squadron. I'll go back to another brand now.

A decision that probably was made by some twenty-something marketing genius who wants
the money to post kewl video ads on YouTube and send young hotties to grocery store
parking lots to hand out free samples to teenage boys.

"John Mazor" > wrote in news:Eue6j.81$bW.26@trnddc07:

>
> "Ron Natalie" > wrote in message
> m...
>> Jay Honeck wrote:
>>> Schwan's Corp. (parent company of Red Baron pizza) announced today
>>> that the Red Barons are permanently grounded. After 28 years of
>>> sponsorship they are redirecting their marketing efforts away from
>>> air shows.
>>>
>> We spent two days following those guys around when we were weathered
>> in coming back from Oshkosh. Nice guys. One of them lives near our
>> property in NC.
>>
>> It's their own loss. The only reason I ever bought Red Baron pizzas
>> was because of the squadron. I'll go back to another brand now.
>
> A decision that probably was made by some twenty-something marketing
> genius who wants the money to post kewl video ads on YouTube and send
> young hotties to grocery store parking lots to hand out free samples
> to teenage boys.
>
>
>
I like te hotties idea..


Free samples of what, though?


Bertie

"Bertie the Bunyip" > wrote in message
.. .
> "John Mazor" > wrote in news:Eue6j.81$bW.26@trnddc07:
>
>> "Ron Natalie" > wrote in message
>> m...
>>> Jay Honeck wrote:
>>>> Schwan's Corp. (parent company of Red Baron pizza) announced today
>>>> that the Red Barons are permanently grounded. After 28 years of
>>>> sponsorship they are redirecting their marketing efforts away from
>>>> air shows.
>>>>
>>> We spent two days following those guys around when we were weathered
>>> in coming back from Oshkosh. Nice guys. One of them lives near our
>>> property in NC.
>>>
>>> It's their own loss. The only reason I ever bought Red Baron pizzas
>>> was because of the squadron. I'll go back to another brand now.
>>
>> A decision that probably was made by some twenty-something marketing
>> genius who wants the money to post kewl video ads on YouTube and send
>> young hotties to grocery store parking lots to hand out free samples
>> to teenage boys.
>>
> I like te hotties idea..
>
> Free samples of what, though?
>
> Bertie

A piece of... pizza. But we all know what the male libido translates that into.

"John Mazor" > wrote in
news:Phf6j.14$0O1.11@trnddc05:

>
> "Bertie the Bunyip" > wrote in message
> .. .
>> "John Mazor" > wrote in
>> news:Eue6j.81$bW.26@trnddc07:
>>
>>> "Ron Natalie" > wrote in message
>>> m...
>>>> Jay Honeck wrote:
>>>>> Schwan's Corp. (parent company of Red Baron pizza) announced today
>>>>> that the Red Barons are permanently grounded. After 28 years of
>>>>> sponsorship they are redirecting their marketing efforts away from
>>>>> air shows.
>>>>>
>>>> We spent two days following those guys around when we were
>>>> weathered in coming back from Oshkosh. Nice guys. One of them
>>>> lives near our property in NC.
>>>>
>>>> It's their own loss. The only reason I ever bought Red Baron
>>>> pizzas was because of the squadron. I'll go back to another brand
>>>> now.
>>>
>>> A decision that probably was made by some twenty-something marketing
>>> genius who wants the money to post kewl video ads on YouTube and
>>> send young hotties to grocery store parking lots to hand out free
>>> samples to teenage boys.
>>>
>> I like te hotties idea..
>>
>> Free samples of what, though?
>>
>> Bertie
>
> A piece of... pizza. But we all know what the male libido translates
> that into.
>
>
>

Goes without saying.
(we're talking about sex, right?)


Bertie

> A decision that probably was made by some twenty-something marketing genius who wants
> the money

Doubtful. As they said in their press release, the grocery business
has changed dramatically in the last 28 years, mostly due to the "Wal-
Mart-ization" of the business.

Back when they started sponsoring the Red Barons, vendors had a great
deal of autonomy and control in the marketplace. With WalMart's entry
into the grocery world, that changed.

WalMart is famous for driving the absolute lowest price from their
vendors, and ruthlessly slashing them if they don't comply with their
draconian demands. Since that would mean a loss of millions of
dollars, the vendors are compelled to bow to their wishes -- at nearly
any cost.

As a former vendor of WalMart, I absolutely despise their business
tactics (they STILL owe me money, six years after I closed that
business -- they didn't get to be the world's largest company by
paying their bills on time) -- but it's hard to argue with their
results at the consumer level. If you want to save money on food (or
just about anything else), WalMart is your store. And millions of
Americans shop there every day.

Bottom line: Red Baron pizzas used to be a LOT more profitable for
Schwans, which left some bucks for the flight team. Those days, and
those profits, are gone.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
...
>> A decision that probably was made by some twenty-something marketing genius who
>> wants
>> the money
>
> Doubtful. As they said in their press release, the grocery business
> has changed dramatically in the last 28 years, mostly due to the "Wal-
> Mart-ization" of the business.
>
> Back when they started sponsoring the Red Barons, vendors had a great
> deal of autonomy and control in the marketplace. With WalMart's entry
> into the grocery world, that changed.
>
> WalMart is famous for driving the absolute lowest price from their
> vendors, and ruthlessly slashing them if they don't comply with their
> draconian demands. Since that would mean a loss of millions of
> dollars, the vendors are compelled to bow to their wishes -- at nearly
> any cost.
>
> As a former vendor of WalMart, I absolutely despise their business
> tactics (they STILL owe me money, six years after I closed that
> business -- they didn't get to be the world's largest company by
> paying their bills on time) -- but it's hard to argue with their
> results at the consumer level. If you want to save money on food (or
> just about anything else), WalMart is your store. And millions of
> Americans shop there every day.
>
> Bottom line: Red Baron pizzas used to be a LOT more profitable for
> Schwans, which left some bucks for the flight team. Those days, and
> those profits, are gone.
> --
> Jay Honeck
> Iowa City, IA
> Pathfinder N56993
> www.AlexisParkInn.com
> "Your Aviation Destination"

I was just being sardonic but as soon as you mentioned Wal-Mart, I got the picture.

According to a post at airshowbuzz.com, Schwan markets under:

Tony's Pizza, Red Baron Pizza, Freschetta Pizza, Edwards Baking, Mrs. Smith's Baking,
Asian Sensations, Larry's Potatoes, Chicagotown Pizza and Deserts. Also, they are
partners with Wolfgang Puck and his Pizza.

john smith > wrote in news:475aad38$0$28800
:

> If you are going to do a RED BARON suite, now would be the time to
> contact them for room "stuff".

Oh barf.

Clyde Pangoborn is rolling in his grave.


Bertie

Richard Riley > wrote in
:

> On Sat, 8 Dec 2007 15:55:33 +0000 (UTC), Bertie the Bunyip >
> wrote:
>
>>john smith > wrote in news:475aad38$0$28800
:
>>
>>> If you are going to do a RED BARON suite, now would be the time to
>>> contact them for room "stuff".
>>
>>Oh barf.
>>
>>Clyde Pangoborn is rolling in his grave.
>>
>>
>>Bertie
>
> He's got a point. Not just for a Barron von Richtoven suite, but for
> a stearman suite or a barnstormers suite.
>

OK, now Manfred Freiherr von Richtofen, Lloyd Stearman and Clyde Pangborn
are rolling in their graves.

Clyde's doing 1850 rpm.

Bertie

> If you are going to do a RED BARON suite, now would be the time to
> contact them for room "stuff".

Um, you mean like *this* one?:

http://www.alexisparkinn.com/the_red_baron_suite.htm

:-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay Honeck > wrote in news:aede472c-9091-4a4f-a58c-
:

>> If you are going to do a RED BARON suite, now would be the time to
>> contact them for room "stuff".
>
> Um, you mean like *this* one?:
>
> http://www.alexisparkinn.com/the_red_baron_suite.htm

Class.

Bertie

Jay Honeck wrote:
>> If you are going to do a RED BARON suite, now would be the time to
>> contact them for room "stuff".
>
> Um, you mean like *this* one?:
>
> http://www.alexisparkinn.com/the_red_baron_suite.htm
>
> :-)


What? Not one antique wooden prop on the wall???

Otherwise, a very nice suite Jay!!

Cheers'n beers.. [_])
Don