Inside a KC-97

[bugazon]

My buddies and I did a day trip to Castle Air Museum and they had a stairwell up into the KC-97 they had. So we hurried on up to check it out. I did get too excited and I forgot to take a picture of the outside however So here are the interior photos







Enjoy!!

[APG85]

Wow, looks ready to fly!

[mustangdriver]

Looks to be in great shape to me as well.

[B-29 Super Fort]

Very cool pic of the boom operator's prone position that they worked from.

[bugazon]

From what I understand, It was a reserve unit when it was deactivated and they flew it in to Castle. Each aircraft there is assigned a volunteer to maintain, clean and repair when it is necessary so it is kept in almost tip top shape.

[peter]

I know its against the msueum policy, but wouldnt it be great if they could keep the aircraft electrically live??

[mustangdriver]

It would be cool. I had the chance to get into a few of the aircraft at the NMUSAF, I always feel that it is an honor to be in one of them.

[Shay]

I know its against the msueum policy, but wouldnt it be great if they could keep the aircraft electrically live??

Great? Yeah I think it would. But the safety monster reers it's ugly head at the possiblity of something shorting out and causing a fire. At the least procedures for periodic maintenance and additional safety features would need to be implemented. But yes it would be cool.

I had the chance to get into a few of the aircraft at the NMUSAF

I loved it when I worked there, especially when they would open up aircraft for the christmas party.

I got to crawl through "Strawberry Bitch", "ShooShoo Baby", the "Peacemaker" (I was surprised that alot of cockpit stuff was missing).

The ME 262 was my favorite although be it a tight fit (small German pilots I guess) . Then they also had the A-10, F-117, SR-71 and a couple of others. I wish they had had more aircraft open.

Good Times

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

[APG85]

Was Bockscar open?

[Shay]

Was Bockscar open?

Not for the Christmas Party.

But it did get openned for Fred Olivi who visited the museum after hours a month prior in 94'. A real honor to meet him.

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

[mustangdriver]

Very cool stuff Shay. A lot of stuff has been put in the cockpits recently. When was that that you were in them last. I was in the B-17 and B-24, and they were complete.

[Shay]

Very cool stuff Shay. A lot of stuff has been put in the cockpits recently. When was that that you were in them last. I was in the B-17 and B-24, and they were complete.

This was the christmas of 1994. I was only referring to the B-36 cockpit being devoid of alot of equipment.

The B-17 and B-24 were complete and looked very factory fresh.

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

[mustangdriver]

When I was in the B-36, the instrument panel was complete. It looked mostly there, but I am not an expert on the B-36. I am so glad that after next year, the entire collection will be indoors and on the same side of the field. As for this KC-97 in the pics, I swear she could fly.