A whole lot of 'Hell' in those hangars ...

[Mark Allen M]

Creating some 'Hell' long ago so that Hell could be paid.

Airplanes being assembled at the Curtiss-Wright Corporation, Airplane Division, Plant 3, Columbus, Ohio, December 30, 1942.





Below some more recent Hell that is about to be released soon.

Below the Curtiss SB2C-1 Helldiver in the WestPac hangar nearing completion at the National Museum of World War II Aviation in Colorado Springs. Expected to be completed and flying in time for the Pikes Peak Regional Airshow, august 17 & 18, 2024





And of course the Fagen Fighters SB2C-5 Helldiver nearing completion as well getting ready for the Oshkosh WI gathering.

[JohnB]

They have my utmost respect, doing a challenging restoration (likely without the outside suppliers one might rely on if they were restoring a Mustang or popular/common type) of a type that likely won't have an economic upside.
They're true historians and preservationists.

[AG pilot]

I love the factory new aircraft images. Thanks for posting those, and the new restoration looks great!

[Mark Allen M]

There’s a rumor that a third airplane may be joining Fagen’s two Navy planes to Oshkosh this year wearing the same Air Group scheme. I’m sure most will know what type plane that could be.

[Mark Allen M]

Per, National Museum of World War II Aviation.

"Painting of our SB2C Helldiver has been completed. It wears the WW2 tri-color scheme used on U.S. Navy planes starting in 1943. Painting of cowlings, fillets, fairings, gear doors, flaps, ailerons, canopies, vertical tail and rudder, horizontal tail and elevators -- all preceded the final step, painting the outer wing panels and the fuselage from tail to firewall. Paint supplied by Consolidated Aircraft Coatings (https://www.conaircraft.com/)"
Restoration is underway in the WestPac facility on the campus of the Museum at the Colorado Springs Airport.

Photo credit: Rich Tuttle