B-24 at PIA

[mustangdriver]

Does anyone have any information on the B-24 that used to be at the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics many many years ago?

[aircuda]

I went to college there and heard that one was there at one point. I recall seeing a picture of it somewhere. I often wondered what ever happened to it as it was probably scrapped in the mid 50's. Although, even in 1992, we were working on state of the art Ranger in-line engines at the school so who knows.

[mustangdriver]

I saw a pic of it once. It was a later model as it had a turret in the nose. When you were there, did you still have the Mohawk with all of the engines hung under it?

[aircuda]

Yup, The Mohawk was still there. We ran up the jets several times. There was also a Sabre Jet, and several Beech T-bones. What ever happened to all of that stuff. I know the school sold off at least 2 of the buildings but what ever became of the equipment?

[mustangdriver]

THey sold off the Sabre and the Mohawk right before I started there in 1998. The Beechcrafs are all still there. Pretty fun to start them up and taxi them. THen they were given a 727 from FedEX, and without warning one day, the brough a bulldover in, and just scrapped the whole thing. IT made me sick.

[valdez25]

Dude, PIA is the Peoria Illinois Airport. You got my attention though.

[mustangdriver]

Ha ha it is also the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics

[John Dupre]

THen they were given a 727 from FedEX, and without warning one day, the brough a bulldover in, and just scrapped the whole thing. IT made me sick.

That must be going around. Right this minute they are dismantling a 727 here at Hanscom Field (KBED). It was given to the local A&P school. (Fomerly East Coast Aero Tech) about 25 years ago. They are using a giant articulated claw. They started around 11 AM and as of 2 PM had ripped the empennage and one wing off and crushed them up and had half of the remaining wing torn up.

[phil65]

I went to ECAT, sorry to hear about the 27, spent some time on her.

Phil