"Reida Rae" A-26 Invader restoration

[Jerry O'Neill]

Just thought some might be interested in the progress of the restoration of "Reida Rae" the combat veteran A-26 Invader at the New England Air Museum. Click on the "photos gallery" on the "Project Status" page, for a glimpse of the progress.

http://sgamboti.com/cts/a-26_project/index.htm

She originally had a glass nose. Very hard to locate a decent, reasonable one.
Jerry

[Elroy13]

Looking good! Im glad to see them getting her back into shape!

[davegnz]

Actually, I e mailed the project director and his comments were: an solid nose for the A-26 costs about $ 5,000 - a museum quality nose (including having new glass blown) costs about $ 50,000

I wrote him because Pacific Coast Air Museum, Santa Rosa, CA is restoring their A-26B which has a A-26C nose but could use a early (6-gun nose) which NEAM's A-26C happen to have installed (could have been a good swap)

[Jerry O'Neill]

Actually, I e mailed the project director and his comments were: an solid nose for the A-26 costs about $ 5,000 - a museum quality nose (including having new glass blown) costs about $ 50,000

I wrote him because Pacific Coast Air Museum, Santa Rosa, CA is restoring their A-26B which has a A-26C nose but could use a early (6-gun nose) which NEAM's A-26C happen to have installed (could have been a good swap)

So you proposed swapping a glass nose for a hard nose and they didn't go for it? What shape was the glass in?
I use to be a curator at NEAM, and did some of the original research to uncover "Reida's" history, and as such, I find it hard to believe they wouldn't want to put the correct nose on a true combat veteran.
Jerry