Warbird Information Exchange

Anyone been on the behind the scenes tour of late? The museum's restoration page has not been updated since March. Just wondering if restorations are still ongoing.

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

Was able to do the a Restoration Shop tour several weeks ago. The first things we saw after entering the building was an Osprey which I think is their latest acquisition. Also near the front was a Stearman (or something close) that our guide said was going to be painted in a Tuskegee scheme. The last plane in the front was a twin engined, twin boomed cargo plane (C119?).
During our tour there was not many workers there-we were told that they kinda work on their own schedule and many were off on Friday afternoons. One guy was working on rudder parts for the USAAF version of the SB2C Helldiver (A-25 I think he said). Also got to see the MIG 25 that was dug out of the desert in Iraq.
Our guide said there is no work going on either Memphis Belle or The Swoose at this time. Apparently they are not in a hurry to get done as we were told neither would be moved until the fourth building is done at the Museum complex. They have a long way to on both. I would say they look the same as the most recent pictures posted here on WIX.
I was able to take a ton of pictures, if there is anything that anyone would like to see, let me know.

I hear tell that this is a very bad decision regarding this particular airframe.

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Keep Em' Flying,
Christopher Soltis
Dedicated to the preservation and education of The Sikorsky Memorial Airport

CASC Blog Page: http://ctair-space.blogspot.com/
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Chicks Dig Warbirds.......right?

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Jerry
S/Sgt. - USAF Radio Operator '52-'56
C-119 "Flying Boxcar" - Korea & Japan

Volunteer: National Museum of the US Air Force (2007-2016)
LTM 381st Bomb Group Memorial Association

Probably the C-82 Packet. I believe the C-119 is still in the Air Park ... will know for sure this coming Friday when I am on again.

_________________
Jerry
S/Sgt. - USAF Radio Operator '52-'56
C-119 "Flying Boxcar" - Korea & Japan

Volunteer: National Museum of the US Air Force (2007-2016)
LTM 381st Bomb Group Memorial Association

67N20, let's see some pictures!

I recently came back from Dayton and couldn't get there on a Friday to see the BTS tour. It's been a while and I would love to see how far they've come on some of their projects (especially Belle and Swoose).

Probably the C-82 Packet. I believe the C-119 is still in the Air Park ... will know for sure this coming Friday when I am on again.[/quote

You are correct. The C-119 is in the outside display area.

If I can get Photobucket to co-operate, I'll put some up tomorrow.

until 67N20 shows the new pics, here's two more from june. I read that he saw the osprey was there, but I have no recollection of it! well, I did take 3 photos. I don't think it grabbed me like the mixmaster or the jetmaster. and here's another swoose shot. so, is that stearman the pre-tuskegee look? it looks nice to me. if a bit too clean....

The CV-22 was an Eglin test bird that was based at Hurlburt for years...

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"Everyone wants to live here (New Jersey), evidenced by the fact that it has the highest population per capita in the U.S..."

OK, here are a few shots of the Restoration Shop. If any more wanted, let me know.

A V-1 looking thing


The Osprey


The soon to be painted in Tuskegee scheme Stearman


C-82


The MIG25 that was buried in Iraq


The Swoose


All the places the Swoose went


Right front of Memphis Belle


The last of the original paint


Memphis Bellerfrom the rear


The tailgunners position


Some of the graffiti scratched into the tailgunners position

Great pics! You're right, the Belle and Swoose look about the same as when I last saw them nearly two years ago.

The Stearman looks a bit odd..they've put a Navy designation and BuNo on the tail (I assume that's this airframe's actual provenance?) That plane hung from the ceiling for many years in the usual USAAF blue and yellow scheme. Last time I took the shop tour she had just been brought in for a desperately needed recovering. I don't mind the silver finish, but the Navy markings seem a bit odd.

Here's what the Stearman looked like before they started work on her. As you can see the fabric was really getting bad.

SN

Geez, I thought the plan was to finish the Memphis Belle ASAP and get it on display. Originally they were going to place the Memphis Belle in the WW2 area and ship ShooShooBaby to the NASM. With the layout I have seen of the new (4th) building, there is no room there for B-17 or maybe 2.

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

I hear the Belle will still go into WWII and Shoo Shoo go to Washington. There is a specific date in mind when the Belle will be rolled out and into the Museum. Unfortunately, I'm having another "senior moment" and can't remember what I was told other than it has something to do with the Belle itself.

Probably shouldn't have even written this since it is adding concrete info. I'll be at the Museum tomorro AM for a shift and perhaps I can find out.

Thinking back ... how about May 17, 2018 the 75th Anniversary of Mission 25?

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Jerry
S/Sgt. - USAF Radio Operator '52-'56
C-119 "Flying Boxcar" - Korea & Japan

Volunteer: National Museum of the US Air Force (2007-2016)
LTM 381st Bomb Group Memorial Association

Wow, thats a longs ways off!

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!