NMUSAF Restoration update-B-17 "Swoose"

[mustangdriver]

Here is the Swoose. Wings have arrived. Inside is pretty rough.

Nice photos

I think it needs to be restored to flyable


Steve

[mustangdriver]

Umm no

[steve dickey]

Thanks for those Chris, was the insulation original to this airplane or only after it became a VIP transport? Also was the insulation removed previously or just now?
Thanks again.

Last edited by steve dickey on Sat Nov 08, 2008 6:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[cadet77]

Nice to see, even if it is in the rough.
What is the plan on the restoration?
Are there interior items to be installed?
Thanks for sharing the photos.

[Nathan]

Just think the chance to see an early B-17 flying! I cant wait.

[mustangdriver]

Nice to see, even if it is in the rough.
What is the plan on the restoration?
Are there interior items to be installed?
Thanks for sharing the photos.

It is going to be restored to when it first became the Swoose. It will be O.D. over gray, and have all of it's bomber weapons installed such as the bath tub. I really don't know what the configuration of the interior will look like. I think that the insulation is a VIP deal, but someone else may know better.

[Owen Miller]

Chris, this is tremendous material!
Thank you for posting it so everyone
can enjoy it!!!!

Blue skies,
Owen

[Steve Nelson]

Just think the chance to see an early B-17 flying! I cant wait.

She's being restored to static display condition. As much as I'd love to see a "shark tail" fort in the air, since she's the only one left it's probably best not to try flying her.

SN

[John Dupre]

This is one plane that I can claim to have actually touched. When I volunteered for the Collings Foundation he brought a bunch of us down to D.C. I believe for a B-17 owners meeting but the highlight was a tour of Silver Hill. I wandered away from the group for a little bit and found the Swoose and actually opened the door to look inside. I remember one of the hinges on the door was broken. The executive interior was pretty intact then if rough. I remember that it seemed to be mostly plywood.

[Garth]

It is going to be restored to when it first became the Swoose. It will be O.D. over gray, and have all of it's bomber weapons installed such as the bath tub. I really don't know what the configuration of the interior will look like. I think that the insulation is a VIP deal, but someone else may know better.

Since some of the markings, particularly the "Swoose ... If Flys" picture, are of historic nature, does NMUSAF have any plan to try to preserve them? Either by replacing those sections of skin, or by overpainting in a way that preserves the underlying artwork?

[APG85]

Wow, where do you start? Start documenting every square inch and then begin the stripping out process I suppose. Do you have any pictures of the tail section? Thanks for posting these. Great thread!!!

[Fouga23]

does the interior still exist? any pictures of that?

[Nathan]

Just think the chance to see an early B-17 flying! I cant wait.

She's being restored to static display condition. As much as I'd love to see a "shark tail" fort in the air, since she's the only one left it's probably best not to try flying her.

SN

haha yeah I know Steve. I was just being sarcastic.

[mustangdriver]

Wow, where do you start? Start documenting every square inch and then begin the stripping out process I suppose. Do you have any pictures of the tail section? Thanks for posting these. Great thread!!!

How is this?