RE The Nose Art:
The Star Wars thing for the nose art was told in Air Classics a bit, but here goes...
We were working in Moses Lake, WA and due to the remote location had 3 guys there full time for 4 weeks, with me there 3 to 4 days a week, jumpseating in on airlines to Pasco and then commuting up. Daylight starts at about 0600 for work and continued to 2100. We worked solid trying to get the plane back in the air. We also felt it would be essential to have a named plane. Most PBY's were nameless, with nose art being non existent. In any case a source of discussion....Every night was punctuated by exhaustion, and the hotel computer allowed us to follow Glacier Girl and a couple other warbird things that were going on. One of our number well versed in You Tube found this which I absoultely found hilarious. I mean I was so tired and worn down I cried it was so funny. In any case this was the video....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3rtjUSo58s
In any case the next day we discussed this and it was still pretty funny. As the airplane neared ferry readiness, the similarities to Han's Falcon kept getting mentioned, especially Princess Leia's first comment when she saw the thing on the hangar deck of the Death Star. She said "you guys came here in that??! You're braver than I thought!" That seemed even more perfect! And so after our first ferry window fell through we all left Moses Lake and our nameless airplane.
When I returned the re deployed maintenence crew (Matt) (For GOOD Luck) had painted this nose art on the plane, as a personificaton of the ferry flight. Things began to go better. Lots of parts came from Yanks Air Museum and Bud Rude's Tanker 85 and we began to operate with reliability. We also had over the last few months had a share of lookey loos that were in the "what in the hell kinda plane is that" variety. In any case it was pretty special and the "Aluminum Falcon" made the cover of Air Classics. see Flight of the Aluminum Falcon.
Prior to discovering the combat history of the plane there was much discussion for the markings the plane was to wear. There are very few accurate PBY's out there. Since our Super Cat configuration is somewha non standard we thought a good paint job would at least set her apart. In any case after the Aleutian Theater history with VP-61 came to light, and actual photos of the real aircraft, along with an original crewmen from VP-61 came to light we had the paint scheme to finish it in.
As sanding began, the restoration team was planning to sand off the nose art, but due to the attachment that many of the museum workers had to the plane and its new name, it was carefully masked and remains. It can be sanded and repainted very quickly at any point, but the plane, as most do, has taken on a "personification" of sorts. In any case she will remain the Aluminum Falcon.
And thats the rest of the story...
Oh heck...another one...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56dEFjDiKRk
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