Warbird Information Exchange

Just a little update & info about the BAHF C97G STRAT restoration at the hangar in Brooklyn NY. at Floyd Bennett Field. This Mighty C97G STRAT (was a KC97L at one time WITH 2 J47 jets on the wings,outboard) when complete will become a Flying Museum Exibit of COLD WAR History & memorabilia. Our volunteer workforce has been hard at work in preparing the C97G for a gear retraction & training on this critical task. New cargo ramps have been installed & getting ready for installaton of a new headliner. A lot has been going on over the summer months to move forward with this huge project. The C54 is now at the St Louie airshow for the long holiday weekend & should be returning to NJ next week. Stay Tuned!

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Flightcrew member on the DC4/C54 ^Spirit Of Freedom^ Flying museum exibit of History & Education & Tribute of the Berlin Airlift of 48/49

Need an FE to help fly it?

We will look to our membership folks & those who want to become a member for flightcrew positions in our Unique Aviation & Project on returing this Boeing STRAT back to the skies once again! Thanks JR

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Flightcrew member on the DC4/C54 ^Spirit Of Freedom^ Flying museum exibit of History & Education & Tribute of the Berlin Airlift of 48/49

Is there a website to see this beast, make donations etc?

http://www.spiritoffreedom.org/

(Google is your friend......... )

For those folks that want more info on this project you can go to www.spiritoffreedom.org & also find some great pics of both our classic Proptransports. Our Aviation Foundation has been going strong now for over 15yrs! Our home base of operations is at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn NY. In the summer Months we operate our C54 Skymaster out of RJ Miller Airpark near Toms River NJ. Cheers! JR

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Flightcrew member on the DC4/C54 ^Spirit Of Freedom^ Flying museum exibit of History & Education & Tribute of the Berlin Airlift of 48/49

Is the runway at Floyd Bennett Field in decent shape? what involved with getting the plane in and out of there?

The runway at Floyd Bennett Field is approx 7000ftx150 & is all concrete runway with a few weeds here &there. We can turn at end & taxie down other old runway back to the hangar. It is a closed runway but we do get permission & clearance to land & takeoff once every year in for the winter & out for the spring. Floyd Bennett is a part of the Gateway National Park System & other activities go on there & some special events. The approch is over the water at the other end of the field. Hope this helps! Thanks, JR

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Flightcrew member on the DC4/C54 ^Spirit Of Freedom^ Flying museum exibit of History & Education & Tribute of the Berlin Airlift of 48/49

Are you a holder of an FAA Recip FE Certificate?
Are you willing to get involved in all phases..maintenance, flight ops, floor sweeping and emptying the porta potty?

We wear many hats here. It is critical that everyone be willing to do whatever is necessary to complete a mission or task.

Where are you located?

PM me if this sounds like you.

KK

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Kevin Kearney
Vice President
Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation


C-54D "Spirit of Freedom" 43-17228
C-97 "Angel of Deliverance" 52-2718 (painted as YC-97A 45-59595)
C-54E/R5D-4 "Spirit of Freedom" 44-9144 BuNo 90414 (wfu April/2020)
http://www.spiritoffreedom.org

Yes. I have a FAA recip ticket. I have about 130 hours on the panel of FIFI and about 2,800 hrs. of C-130 FE time (it still has props, quit laughing!). I work as a maintenance crew chief for a major airline so I can travel relatively easy, provided there's space. Once FIFI is flying again I hope to get my FAA DFEE ticket (designated flight engineer examiner). All my military instructors on the C-130 were KC-97L FEs, so I have a wealth of knowlege to fall back on. One of our B-29 pilots was a KC-97L pilot instructor also.

How is the C-97 coming along?

Any photo updates???

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S.

Since last posting, where I showed the photos of us installing the #3 engine, a few critical items have been addressed.

We removed both elevators and drug out our recovered control surfaces which were destined for 53-3816 before we bought her for spares.

A fabric expert assessed them today and has approved the use of them, so we will be reinstalling the recovered elevators in the near future, along with newly recovered ailerons.

Also, the interior is being brightened up a it with a new coat of paint, and the cocpit seat cusions have been recovered.

We have spent the bulk of the time in the last 3 months performing maintenance on the C-54, "Spirit of Freedom", which will be complete on Wednesday.

So, that's whats going on....

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Kevin Kearney
Vice President
Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation


C-54D "Spirit of Freedom" 43-17228
C-97 "Angel of Deliverance" 52-2718 (painted as YC-97A 45-59595)
C-54E/R5D-4 "Spirit of Freedom" 44-9144 BuNo 90414 (wfu April/2020)
http://www.spiritoffreedom.org

That is a BEAUTY!

I hope she and Fifi get a chance to be on the same tarmac together!

SUPER job!

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Do-17z fact and history site, setting it straight.
There is something deeply wrong with a society more offended by breasts than by entrails.

Now.., that would be a 'dream' shot!!!!!

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S.

Please keep us updated on progress, and anyother happenings on this.