B-17G Champaign Lady Restoration

390BG · **Posted:** Fri May 09, 2014 1:10 pm

We have one inboard wing that is pretty much complete-other than new skin. The other inboard wing will be (re)built using the original spar tubes (repaired) and the usable truss sections (some will need to be new). The outboard wing sections are in bad shape and will require a lot of work - but they are less complicated than the inboard sections. All the skin on the wings will be new, the engine nacelles are 95% new. Don't really have much of the trailing edge that is usable.

B-29 Watcher · **Posted:** Fri May 09, 2014 3:04 pm

I am planning a trip to go see a lot of these warbirds and you are in my old backyard, I am from southwest of Dayton, (Germantown). Would love to come see the Champaign lady & all of your collection if I get up that way. Anyway I was wandering about the projected timeframe to Flight ready, if you have any idea. I follow your work here And on facebook, you all are doing a bang up job.

Thanks

Chris Brame · **Posted:** Fri May 09, 2014 4:29 pm

390BG, did you folks check out the set of B-17G outer wing panels up at Vintage Aircraft Ltd. in Fort Collins, CO? Don't know if they are any better than yours internally but they looked fairly good externally in the one photo I've seen. There's a photo in this thread (third photo down):
viewtopic.php?t=8836&start=0

390BG · **Posted:** Fri May 09, 2014 6:18 pm

I will pass info along to the group. Don't know if they investigated the Ft. Collins parts. What we have found (believe it or not) is that with our volunteer labor pool we can build it ourselves from scratch cheaper than buying finished parts (that might still require a lot of work to be airworthy).

Xrayist · **Joined:** Wed Jun 08, 2005 12:51 am **Posts:** 314

Vintage Aircraft closed down several years ago. The owner is my brother's next door neighbor. I think the parts belong to the Whittington brothers, but can't be sure. Next time my brother sees Daryl (the owner of Vintage Aircraft) I will have him ask about them.

RAMC181 · **Posted:** Sun May 11, 2014 7:24 pm

Steady on guys, the way you're cracking on means there won't be anything left for me to do in August...

390BG · **Posted:** Tue May 13, 2014 5:24 pm

Will save you a wing.....

390BG · **Posted:** Tue Jun 10, 2014 10:29 am

Last skin sections for radio room.

[/URL]

Travisd80elcam · **Posted:** Tue Jun 10, 2014 3:38 pm

390BG, with those last skins going into place on the radio room section of the fwd fuselage, does this complete the fwd section(structurally)? Other than running wiring, hydraulics, and detail work? Thanks for the Photo update.

Travis :spit

Iclo · **Posted:** Tue Jun 10, 2014 3:43 pm

It's a beautifull job :drink3:

Do you know what is the plan : assembling the complete fuselage in short term, or wait the final assembly to reunite them ?

390BG · **Posted:** Tue Jun 10, 2014 6:43 pm

The forward fuselage will be pretty much complete (structurally) other than installing the outboard (bottom) bomb bay trusses. The rear fuselage needs the skins installed on the vertical, the tail wheel structure installed, and the horizontals (plus the interior structure for rudder and elevators, etc. The Cheyenne tail is pretty much done other than plexiglass (don't have any windows/glass installed anywhere yet.

I don't think the fuselage sections will be joined until pretty late in the assembly process.

B17news · **Posted:** Sun Jun 15, 2014 9:03 pm

Its looking great!

390BG · **Posted:** Tue Jul 15, 2014 4:12 pm

Radio room roof almost done.

[/URL]

kennsmithf2g · **Posted:** Tue Jul 15, 2014 4:26 pm

A few pictures from my visit on July 27th\

DH82EH · **Posted:** Tue Jul 15, 2014 6:34 pm

Awesome!

I feel a wedding coming on!! (marriage of front to back) :lol:

Seriously, this project is coming along beautifully! Congrats to all involved. Enjoy, and be proud! :drink3:

Andy

Warbird Information Exchange

B-17G Champaign Lady Restoration

Who is online