Warbird Information Exchange

I just posted an update on B-17G 44-85740 (EAA's Aluminum Overcast) that I had a chance to check out during Oshkosh week.

https://www.aerovintage.com/2023/08/02/update-on-b-17g-44-85740-aluminum-overcast-july-25-2023/

The disassembled B-17 was temporarily pulled out of the EAA maintenance hangar for other airshow activities. The good news is that the EAA reports that the FAA has pre-approved the required repairs to the wing attach structure (as per the current AD), so the EAA can move forward and get the work done. The EAA is still hoping for a summer 2024 rebirth and, with nine months to go, it seems on the surface to be doable. However, time will tell and, understandably, there won't be a rush to get it done.

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Scott Thompson
Aero Vintage Books
http://www.aerovintage.com
WIX Subscriber Since July 2017

Thanks for the update, she looks lonely...

Phil

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A man's got to know his limitations.

Any guesses as to the source/ID of the replacement vertical?
And did they get a good deal on it, or did they have to pay re-tail?

...I'll see myself out.

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

Chris, might I humbly suggest a self-imposed, 2-week ban from posting.

And Scott, thanks for posting.

As far as I could tell, AO sat outside all/most of the event up at the Weeks Hangar.

Did anyone else feel EAA should have towed her by the crowd? Maybe surround her with pretty volunteers requesting a $5 donation? Monday's pocket change could've paid for much of the rebuild!

Just sayin'...

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

Totally agree...have it by the old brown gate with donation buckets. Missed opportunity.

Totally agree. Why EAA didn't want to have that project front and center is beyond me. Aside from maybe someone in the organization saying: "We don't want to show off unfinished projects! Nobody wants to see that!". At least I've encountered this mentality before in our own museum at times. People like a good sad story, and being able to help fix said sad story. If they passed the hat around front and center, maybe at least ADJACENT to Boeing Plaza, I bet they would have raised some decent money to help.

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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/
Warbird Wear: https://www.redbubble.com/people/warbirdwear/shop

Chicks Dig Warbirds.......right?

Here is what the RedTail looked like in 1990 when the MN Wing started raising funds for it. No pretty girls just a sign and a donation bucket...

Scan0017 by Bryan Darnell, on Flickr

Definitely a missed fundraising opportunity for AO.

I remember seeing the CAF's SB2C Helldiver wreckage on a trailer at a Breckenridge air show "back when". They had set up a display to tell the public about the rebuild and there were donation buckets available. People were dropping money into those buckets right and left.

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Dean Hemphill, K5DH
Lake Dallas, Republic of Texas

For what it is worth, the EAA seriously considered towing it out to the airshow side but decided, for whatever reason, not to put it on display.

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Scott Thompson
Aero Vintage Books
http://www.aerovintage.com
WIX Subscriber Since July 2017