B-58 55-0666 Begins.

[Chris Brame]

Thanks for the info, Curt!
Have you been by there lately, and has anything else been cut up since I was there last October?

[Spectre_I]

As part of the restoration team I was able to view the cockpit areas on the B-58 during a maintenance inspection. It's been a while but as I recall the front and rear cockpits are pretty well striped but not sawsall striped as we have seen in some other aircraft. Entry was made through the rear canopy (very heavy) and we were able to crawl through the center cockpit to the front. Pilot and co-pilot seats were in the front cockpit and seat was still in the rear but center section was modified to hold various banks of electronic test equipment as I was told 666 was used as a test bed for what I don't know. There were dozens of cannon plugs wrapped in plastic bags secured with rubber bands when electronics were removed.
Your team is very fortunate to have found a replacement front gear. Hopefully main bogie and be repaired for static. Always hoped to be able to put her back on her feet but we didn't really have a decent way to lift her up to get the bogie repaired not to mention the time and money thing.

Hello! 666 was a test bed for the noise suppression exhausts for the XB-70. After that, off to electrician school. Were you there when the gear got busted? We have our theory, but we'd love to talk to a witness.

[wendovertom]

It always amazes me what piece parts you can find 'laying' around - and how they ended up where they are. This will definitely be a reason to go see the Castle museum. The only way it could get better is for Boeing or someone of like stature to rebuild and fly one for testing purposes.

Tom P.

[sandiego89]

As part of the restoration team I was able to view the cockpit areas on the B-58 during a maintenance inspection. It's been a while but as I recall the front and rear cockpits are pretty well striped but not sawsall striped as we have seen in some other aircraft. Entry was made through the rear canopy (very heavy) and we were able to crawl through the center cockpit to the front. Pilot and co-pilot seats were in the front cockpit and seat was still in the rear but center section was modified to hold various banks of electronic test equipment as I was told 666 was used as a test bed for what I don't know. There were dozens of cannon plugs wrapped in plastic bags secured with rubber bands when electronics were removed.
Your team is very fortunate to have found a replacement front gear. Hopefully main bogie and be repaired for static. Always hoped to be able to put her back on her feet but we didn't really have a decent way to lift her up to get the bogie repaired not to mention the time and money thing.

Hello! 666 was a test bed for the noise suppression exhausts for the XB-70. After that, off to electrician school. Were you there when the gear got busted? We have our theory, but we'd love to talk to a witness.

Great bonus photo of the "Tijuana Taxi" school bus! You see her in many XB-70 and B-1 trials, often driving alongside in taxi tests.

"Noise suppression" on the XB-70 may be a relative term ...would have loved to hear her (or a B-58) in real life. Old family friends were stationed at B-58 base and reported they would beat up the base on a regular basis- they definitely knew when they were flying!

[Spectre_I]

It always amazes me what piece parts you can find 'laying' around - and how they ended up where they are. This will definitely be a reason to go see the Castle museum. The only way it could get better is for Boeing or someone of like stature to rebuild and fly one for testing purposes.

Tom P.

Hello Tom. I can give you about 70 reasons to come to CAM. That, combined with many things you can see all one place. Where else can you see a Vulcan, a B-50, a B-45A, a B-18, a B-36, plus all the "usuals" in one place? That and we open them all up for inspection twice a year. If you've never visited us. please do. You will not be disappointed.

[JohnB]

Anyone know if anyone...The NMUSAF, a collector, a DM area scrap yard, L-M (as the successor to GD)...has spares that could be used to partially restore this aircraft?

A few years ago I did a story on a Breckinridge, TX firm that made rotor parts for Bell, on the owner/boss's desk was an ancient Topping B-58 desk model. I asked him about it, back in the early 60s they made airframe parts for the Hustler, he had a casting hanging in his office, very proud of their contribution to it.

[Cvairwerks]

No spares in Fort Worth, or they would have gone with 668. We tore the plant up looking for some spares for our last flight test F-111, E-4, down at Eglin, when I was an FTI guy.

[Fouga23]

What about Snoopy? Stripped of just about everything, but still has good landing gear I think?

[carseneau]

[quote="sandiego89"][quote="Spectre_I"][quote="carseneau"]As part of the restoration team I was able to view the cockpit areas on the B-58 during a maintenance inspection. It's been a while but as I recall the front and rear cockpits are pretty well striped but not sawsall striped as we have seen in some other aircraft. Entry was made through the rear canopy (very heavy) and we were able to crawl through the center cockpit to the front. Pilot and co-pilot seats were in the front cockpit and seat was still in the rear but center section was modified to hold various banks of electronic test equipment as I was told 666 was used as a test bed for what I don't know. There were dozens of cannon plugs wrapped in plastic bags secured with rubber bands when electronics were removed.
Your team is very fortunate to have found a replacement front gear. Hopefully main bogie and be repaired for static. Always hoped to be able to put her back on her feet but we didn't really have a decent way to lift her up to get the bogie repaired not to mention the time and money thing.[/quote]
Hello! 666 was a test bed for the noise suppression exhausts for the XB-70. After that, off to electrician school. Were you there when the gear got busted? We have our theory, but we'd love to talk to a witness.

[url=http://s411.photobucket.com/user/Spectre_I/media/B-58/066testnoise%20testing_i_zpsl943bgsd.jpg.html][img]http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp194/Spectre_I/B-58/066testnoise%20testing_i_zpsl943bgsd.jpg[/img][/url][/quote]

Great bonus photo of the "Tijuana Taxi" school bus! You see her in many XB-70 and B-1 trials, often driving alongside in taxi tests.

"Noise suppression" on the XB-70 may be a relative term ...would have loved to hear her (or a B-58) in real life. Old family friends were stationed at B-58 base and reported they would beat up the base on a regular basis- they definitely knew when they were flying![/quote]
Spectre, I was not there when the nose gear was broken. The story I heard was that the Hustler had been on static for many years on a street corner on the base not far from the museum. The plan was to tow the aircraft and a local farmer stepped up with a tractor to do the tow. The years on outdoor static had seized the pivot of the nose gear and it snapped when they tried to make a turn during the tow. That is the story I heard but I wasn't there. If anyone knows it to be inaccurate, I would be pleased to be corrected.

[carseneau]

[quote="Chris Brame"]Thanks for the info, Curt!
Have you been by there lately, and has anything else been cut up since I was there last October?[/quote]
Chris,
Haven't been around the Museum for months. I retired and moved the Tucson a few weeks ago so my on site reporting has come to an end.

[Spectre_I]

After an unexpected delay (don't ask) things are back on track. We are expecting the rest of Triple 6 this summer.
https://www.facebook.com/Worldwideaircraftrecovery/

[Spectre_I]

I am pleased to announce that Triple 6 arrived at Castle today, 6-18-17 at about 4 PM. We start immediately. World Wide is anxious to get it off their truck, and on to the next move, which coincidentally is another move for us that has been pending for several years.

I have lots of pictures, but I guess I have to figure out a new host. Who are people using?

[DH82EH]

Photobucket can go pi$$ up a flagpole!

Sorry I don't have any solutions for you, but I wish you my congrats on the move of 666.

Andy

[Chris Brame]

I have lots of pictures, but I guess I have to figure out a new host. Who are people using?

All My Chanute photos are on Flickr - been very happy with it.
Email me some photos and I'll put 'em up until you get something going.
A couple quick-and-dirty screengrabs from the Worldwide Aircraft Recovery Facebook video:

[Pat Carry]

I am pleased to announce that Triple 6 arrived at Castle today, 6-18-17 at about 4 PM. We start immediately. World Wide is anxious to get it off their truck, and on to the next move, which coincidentally is another move for us that has been pending for several years.

I have lots of pictures, but I guess I have to figure out a new host. Who are people using?

Great work by everyone! The Next move, would that be the Connie in Montana??