YAM & The Smithsonian

[seabee1526]

http://wemu.org/post/yankee-air-museum-gets-smithsonian-affiliation

http://www.yankeeairmuseum.org/hangarhappenings/october2011.pdf

[capt.grumpyly]

now that is the joke of the day, all you have to do is ask the old members, nothing is going to save this MUSEUM,

[Warbird Kid]

:supz: now that is the joke of the day, all you have to do is ask the old members, nothing is going to save this MUSEUM,

Hmm sure seems like there making progress to me.

[Mudge]

:supz: now that is the joke of the day, all you have to do is ask the old members, nothing is going to save this MUSEUM,

Capt....We all know you have a grudge against the YAM. You don't need to haul it out at every opportunity. It's gotten old and boring. Why don't you take it up with someone who gives a rat's a _ _ about your gripe? I'm not sure many here do.

Mudge

[kalamazookid]

From what I've read there seems to be quite a few good things happening at Yankee. The Smithsonian affiliation will be great for them and give the museum access to interesting traveling exhibits and potentially some aircraft to display. The Air Zoo is a member of the Smithsonian program and has restored the XP-55 Ascender, V-1 Buzz Bomb and the El Kabong Gemini test capsule as part of the program. I can recall there have been a couple interesting traveling exhibits as well.

I read the YAF Hanger Happenings every month they're posted online, and I like the sounds of the museum's been doing. The Sabre Dog and Huey are now inside, the B-24 assembly diorama and Privateer restoration are progressing nicely, and a nice Spad replica is under construction. I believe a few projects have been de-accessed though, including the AT-11. Anyone know if that is correct? Also wondering if there are any updates on the C-45 that was on display at TOM two years ago- I was told it was being restored to fly but haven't had any updates. This isn't the hulk that was being used as a parts source for the AT-11, but another airframe.

I also see in the latest Happenings that they will be getting a Franklin PS-2 for display, which will be nice for them as an artifact with local history. It will tie in nicely for the area's aviation history along with the B-24 diorama. I just hope in their enthusiasm to display artifacts with local history, they don't take too many resources away from keeping up the outdoor displays.

Hopefully the museum will be able to get the entire collection under one roof sometime in the near future. It has to be frustrating to have to keep moving the flying collection around, and I'm sure they'd love to get the Privateer and the other outdoor displays inside.

[YAF340]

Matt, Your run down is pretty close. The AT11 and the C45 have been put up for sale. The crew tried to find a sponsor to save the project, but no luck. We got a load of parts for the PB4Y2 just before Thunder that included the Starboard side blister and engine mounts to go back to 1830's. We won't run out of work on that project. JOE

[kalamazookid]

Too bad about the AT-11, always thought it would have been an interesting aircraft to help tell the story of the training for B-17 crews. Hopefully it and the C-45 will find good homes and make it back in the air someday.

Nice to hear about the parts the museum is getting for the Privateer. I took a look at the many turrets and parts that were on display at TOM was impressed with the amount of original parts YAF has acquired for it. Is the plan still to restore it in overall USN Dark Blue? Interesting to hear about the 1830s as well, does that mean you have the correct Privateer cowlings? That's just one of those details that could really add to the restoration if you have them. Keep up the good work!

[Chappie]

The aircraft at YAM fly, yes? That'd be fabulous to see a PB4Y-2 fly in war colors. Does that aircraft have a combat history?

Chappie

[Todd Hackbarth]

Chappie,

The quick answer is no! For more information on the history of this aircraft, see:
http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4757

"A fairly detailed history of the YAF's PB4Y-2 can be found at:
http://www.ais.org/~schnars/aero/yaf-list.htm"

Aug 8, 1975, while on a flight from fire bombing in Alaska to Greybull, Wyoming with a total of 1475 hours of flight time, flying on one engine due to running out of fuel, a landing was attempted at the airport in Port Hardy British Colombia, Canada. The aircraft landed very hard, breaking the left landing gear off, damaging the nose wheel, left wing tip and flap. The aircraft then continued on through a chain link fence into a salt water bay. The pilot and copilot escaped and swam to shore.

On August 11 the aircraft was pulled ashore by a bulldozer and stored on airport property next to a hangar. $142,500.00 was received by H&P as an insurance settlement for the aircraft. The aircraft was then sold, by the insurance company, to Airplane Supply Centre of Vancouver B.C. for $2,600.00 who, in turn, sold it to the Canadian Museum of Flight and Transportation in Richmond B.C.

By 1981, the C.M.F.T. was unable to transport the aircraft to Richmond and the aircraft stayed at Port Hardy for six years where it was heavily vandalized. Under pressure, from the airport, to move the aircraft, the C.M.F.T. sold it to a concern from Michigan who planned to restore it. In order to move it, the aircraft was cut, with a diamond saw, from top to bottom ahead of and behind the wings and outboard of the wing attachment joints. The vertical and horizontal tail surfaces were removed properly. The engines were removed but the blade tips were cut off to fit the flat bed trailer to keep the width under the maximum allowable."

See also: http://www.warbirdregistry.org/b24registry/pb4y-59876.html

For my complete history of this aircraft along with photos taken after the crash landing, see the July/August 1993 issue of Air Progress Warbirds International.

The aircraft suffered extensive damage when it crash landed and ran off the airport, through a fence and into the ocean. At high tide, the only part of the aircraft not submerged in salt water was the vertical fin. After three days, it was pulled ashore by a bulldozer and dragged back to the airport, suffering further damage. It was vandalized for almost 6 years while it lay abandoned. As described above, it was crudely sawed apart and then trucked to Michigan.

Could this aircraft be restored to flying condition? I suppose, but it would require an extremely expensive and extensive restoration. The amount of money spent would easily surpass the monetary value of the aircraft when finished. The four H & P Privateers and even the one at Pensacola would be much more viable candidates to restore to airworthy status.

Todd Hackbarth"

[Chappie]

Thanks for the info Todd. Quite a story.


Chappie

[capt.grumpyly]

Matt, Your run down is pretty close. The AT11 and the C45 have been put up for sale. The crew tried to find a sponsor to save the project, but no luck. We got a load of parts for the PB4Y2 just before Thunder that included the Starboard side blister and engine mounts to go back to 1830's. We won't run out of work on that project. JOE

no disrepect to you joe, all you are trying to do is impress the leadship of museum as a new member, you will learn be be careful, next time you talk with DON FOSTER, he will tell you happen to me, i was member from 1993-2011 (life) before the fire 10-09-04, the museum was moving forward, after the fire it started to sink, we as members try to stop it, but fail, the following is the truth, please don't look at it with BLIND EYES AND CLOSED MIND, about the AT-11 this is been going as a project for over 11 years, just look at it, C45 i would love to see that fly, but you have department that don't want it fly, about SPONSER'S once this wouldn't be a problem, but the MUSEUM, have pissed people over the following, paying salary's to people who aren't doing a JOB, MUSEUM CURATOR pay for 6 years, with no MUSEUM BUILDING, a EDUCATION CENTER BUILDING sitting emtry for too many years, when a foundation pay for this, project, ( close to a million dollars) i have been told it smells inside, the NEW HANGER , that has been going on for over 7 seven years, members like myself raise's money, foundation, business, have step up still no HANGER, donations have been refused, answer this WHY IS THE AIR PARK LACKING IN DISPLAY'S OF AIRCRAFT FOR A MUSEUM BEING AROUND FOR 30 YEARS, (same few aircraft since i join in 1993) but other MUSEUMS, have loads of aircraft in the the AIR PARKS, always receiving new ones, JOE be careful don't be make a fool of, ONCE IT WAS A GREAT MUSEUM FOR THE MEMBERS AND PUBLIC,

[Mudge]

Dear capt.grumpyly...As I've said before, I have no way of knowing if English is your second language or not. That said, you might try reading your own post over a couple of times before you actually post it here. The grammar and lack of attention to sentence construction makes it pretty difficult to make sense of. You seem to leave out words here and there which makes your sentences kind of meaningless.

Mudge the translator

[capt.grumpyly]

Dear capt.grumpyly...As I've said before, I have no way of knowing if English is your second language or not. That said, you might try reading your own post over a couple of times before you actually post it here. The grammar and lack of attention to sentence construction makes it pretty difficult to make sense of. You seem to leave out words here and there which makes your sentences kind of meaningless.

Mudge the translator

THANK YOU FOR POINTING THIS OUT SORRY ABOUT MY WRITING, THE TRUTH IS IT SMELLS,

[capt.grumpyly]

:supz: now that is the joke of the day, all you have to do is ask the old members, nothing is going to save this MUSEUM,

Hmm sure seems like there making progress to me.

hello CHRIS we used to be friends on FACEBOOK, but that is your chance, but if you was a member of this organiztion 1993-2011, you would understand my feelings i worked very hard to raised money for the museum, ending up being kick to the street for asking questions about wasted money, one thing after leaving the organiztion, i have save large amounts of money, my friends who support this organiztion pull out, to justice me you must be here to watch the ending of a once great MUSEUM, for the members and PUBLIC, thank you for your comments,

[Steve Nelson]

Ya know, there's a key on your keyboard called a "period." You might want to look into it.