Fagen Fighters adds a Dauntless

[Warbirdnerd]

According to their Facebook page the Fagen Fighter Museum has acquired Lone Star Air Museum’s A-24 Banshee (SBD) 42-54682.

[sandiego89]

Nice addition. Was she flown much by Lone Star?

[marine air]

How many Dauntlesses are there flyable? Guessing four. There are still a few o SBD's and Wildcats on the floor of Lake Michigan in poor shape. Nonetheless they would make the basis for future restorations. The Navy changed their policy and can now sell these assets. Any movement on this idea?

[Steve Nelson]

In addition to natural deterioration, I've heard that encrustations of invasive Zebra and Quagga Mussels are rapidly rendering the aircraft in Lake Michigan non-viable for restoration (or at least much more difficult and expensive.)

SN

[Steve Nelson]

In addition to natural deterioration, I've heard that encrustations of invasive Zebra and Quagga Mussels are rapidly rendering the aircraft in Lake Michigan non-viable for restoration (or at least much more difficult and expensive.)

SN

[kalamazookid]

How many Dauntlesses are there flyable? Guessing four. There are still a few o SBD's and Wildcats on the floor of Lake Michigan in poor shape. Nonetheless they would make the basis for future restorations. The Navy changed their policy and can now sell these assets. Any movement on this idea?

I believe there are five SBDs that can be considered airworthy -

N34N - Jim Slattery, based at the National Museum of WWII Aviation, Colorado Springs
N5254L - Erickson Air Collection, based in Madras, OR
N670AM - Planes of Fame, Chino, CA
N82GA - CAF, based at Airbase Georgia, Peachtree City
N93RW - Now Fagen

Military Aviation Museum, Virginia Beach, VA, has one of the ex-Lake Michigan SBDs under restoration to airworthy condition. It is currently at Avspects in New Zealand. Not sure if there are any others that have been sold for restoration to airworthy condition.

[aerovin]

FWIW, her is a page I did on the now Fagem A-24B as it once was a Tallrmantz airplane:

https://www.aerovintage.com/tallmantz-aviation/the-tallmantz-a-24b/

I’ll do an update to the page showing the change.

[ErrolC]

How many Dauntlesses are there flyable? Guessing four. There are still a few o SBD's and Wildcats on the floor of Lake Michigan in poor shape. Nonetheless they would make the basis for future restorations. The Navy changed their policy and can now sell these assets. Any movement on this idea?

I believe there are five SBDs that can be considered airworthy -

N34N - Jim Slattery, based at the National Museum of WWII Aviation, Colorado Springs
N5254L - Erickson Air Collection, based in Madras, OR
N670AM - Planes of Fame, Chino, CA
N82GA - CAF, based at Airbase Georgia, Peachtree City
N93RW - Now Fagen

Military Aviation Museum, Virginia Beach, VA, has one of the ex-Lake Michigan SBDs under restoration to airworthy condition. It is currently at Avspects in New Zealand. Not sure if there are any others that have been sold for restoration to airworthy condition.

Minor correction, MAM's is with Pioneer Aero in NZ (also Ardmore Airport).
https://www.militaryaviationmuseum.org/ ... structure/

[kalamazookid]

Thanks for the correction, ErrolC. I got my New Zealand restoration shops mixed up!

[RyanShort1]

Nice addition. Was she flown much by Lone Star?

She used to. I remember sitting under the wing at several airshows in San Antonio back in the day. Lately, I suspect not much.

[JohnB]

Just a guess, but I wonder if the Dauntless isn't the least expensive well known, but rare (<6 flying), warbird out there?
Good to see it go to a good home and the type receiving some attention

[Stoney]

^^^^ that's why I painted my SNJ like one.

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[bdk]

Military Aviation Museum, Virginia Beach, VA, has one of the ex-Lake Michigan SBDs under restoration to airworthy condition. It is currently at Avspects in New Zealand. Not sure if there are any others that have been sold for restoration to airworthy condition.

How about Kermit Weeks?

[Warbird Kid]

Military Aviation Museum, Virginia Beach, VA, has one of the ex-Lake Michigan SBDs under restoration to airworthy condition. It is currently at Avspects in New Zealand. Not sure if there are any others that have been sold for restoration to airworthy condition.

How about Kermit Weeks?

I believe just his outer wings are being worked on at Aero trader in conjunction with MAM's set. I don't think the rest of the aircraft is being restored currently.