Soplata Collection Sold?

[OD/NG]

Don’t waste your breath talking about restoring the B-36 to flight or whatever. Really dumb thought. I got to tour the one in Nebraska as the owner of the Falcon I fly had a family member that was a crew chief on one. The tour was given by a former B-36 pilot. It’s an outrageous design that had lots of magnesium in it’s construction, many miles of wiring and hydraulics and was quite difficult to land, especially in a tailwind. It would nice on display or better yet, someone buy it and use in their hangar for an office and sleeping quarters. The cockpit is small and cozy but the other areas have more room. The bomb bays are massive.

Thank you, Mr. Positivity!

[JohnB]

For those of you too young to remember...
The Ft. Worth B-36 (now at Pima) was the subject of a serious attempt to restore and fly it in the '70s.
I'm no expert on the group, but it was part of the organization that did restore it and store it until a local museum could built...which never happened...and after it was stored for a few more years eventually found its way to Tuscon.I

One account I read said the USAF finally put the idea to rest by saying it wasn't keen on a strategic bomber in civil hands.

Given the state of this aeroplane, I'd predict there using enough money in the world to restore and fly it, even if the USAF and FAA gave their blessings.

What might have been possible back then in the days of cheap fuel, plus the help of former B-36 crewmen and maintainers with experience in the type, is likely no longer possible.

[quemerford]

I myself have not seen them... They are in the belly of the B36..... I friend was in there last week and told me about them..... I did find it kind of strange, but with this collection you never know..... By the way the F-86 could be a E or F instead of a A..... It is hard for me to tell without looking at the ID..... Sorry to ruin the crated P-47 in the B-36, it is not there.....

From what I've seen in photos it looks like an F-86F with wing leading edge extensions (6-3 wing). But it will be interesting to find out for sure.

And I echo the sentiments of many here: the historic aviation community owes your family a massive vote of thanks for saving these artefacts at a time when most folks assumed they were only worth scrap value.

[Dan Jones]

Would love to create some space in the shop for what's left of the XBT-12.


Mrs. K just reminded me we have to get kids #4 & #5 through college yet.


Killjoy.

Hi Dan - when was this picture taken?

[Dan K]

I believe the pic was taken in 1982.

Remember: Fleetwings used lots of stainless steel in their airplanes.

[Lon Moer]

It would be awesome to see someone get the Cutlass flying!

[peter]

How much for the cf100 and is there more than just the cockpit?

[bsoplata]

Peter please use the mail contact to start discussion...

[Dan Jones]

I believe the pic was taken in 1982.

Remember: Fleetwings used lots of stainless steel in their airplanes.

Have you got a shot of the BT-13 that it's parked beside? (I think it's mine and I'm always looking for pictures of it.)

thanks!

Dan

[Dan K]

Have you got a shot of the BT-13 that it's parked beside? (I think it's mine and I'm always looking for pictures of it.)

thanks!

Dan

Well, there's this on the interweb thingy:


http://photobucket.com/gallery/user/Stu ... w==/?ref=1

[quemerford]

Well, there's this on the interweb thingy:


http://photobucket.com/gallery/user/Stu ... w==/?ref=1

Nice selection but again there's the F-86F mis-identified as an E.

[Woodsy Airfield]

Dans - As a point of interest, I took a photo of the BT-13 referred to on Photobucket, dis-assembled sitting next to F2G #74. My caption indicated that Valiant was being dismantled for display in Akron-Canton area, photo date 11-26-90...Don't know if answers any question...

[Dan Jones]

Thanks for the help. To the best of my knowledge he had three of them (two for certain) and mine left in 1989. The picture of that one beside the Fleetwing shows it to be in much better condition than mine was so that might be the one that the original buyer of mine chased down the highway when he saw it drive past on a trailer.

[bsoplata]

Just a FYI, there was a F-86a in the collection..... That left the collection this morning..... Yes there are still 2 other F-86's in the collection.....

[quemerford]

Just a FYI, there was a F-86a in the collection..... That left the collection this morning..... Yes there are still 2 other F-86's in the collection.....

Wow - any i.d or photos?