Has the Vulture's Row SBD Flown Yet?

[kalamazookid]

Then the correct answer of course would be, yes.

It is one of five of the type flying - four SBD's (Jim Slattery, Planes of Fame, Commemorative Air Force, Lone Star Flight Musuem) and an A-24 dressed like an SBD (Erickson Aircraft Collection).
The CAF and LSFM SBD's were, for a long time, called A-24's, but more recent research has shown that both were originally manufactured for the Navy as SBD's, and the confusion over calling them A-24's came from their time in the Mexican Air Force and re-importation back into the US (when they were re-imported back into the US, their Navy BuNo's were read as being partial USAAF serial numbers of early A-24's (that went to the Pacific), rather than the late-production SBD's they are).

Besides the Lewis F4F-3 and the Slattery SBD-4, both Lake Michigan recoveries already flying, the only other Lake Michigan recovery that I'm aware of in private ownership that could be restored and flown is the FM-2 55404, which is now in England (reg. G-WCMO).

Although not currently flying, the Pacific Air Museum F4F-3 (12296) was also a Lake Michigan recovery. It was restored by David Kensler in the 1990s before heading out to the Olympic Flight Museum for a number of years. That could technically be made airworthy again, but I don't know how likely that is with the Pacific Air Museum. I have no idea if any of those aircraft are flown.

No matter where this SBD falls in the line of Lake Michigan aircraft to make it back into the air, it's spectacular to see. The world can always use another flying Dauntless. Here's hoping it comes east for an appearance or two sometime in the future. I would love to see the work done by Vulture's Row in person.

[Mike]

Mike, I've seen mention that it is now at the Castle Air Museum undergoing long-term restoration (in need of a lot of work).

Thanks John

[Thomas_Mac]

The SBD is now in Colorado at the National Museum of World War II Aviation. road trip?

http://gazette.com/article/1613159?TC_SC_REF

EDIT- Didn't see John's earlier post. Apologies!

[sdennison]

Some have been on loan to/on display at the "National Museum of WWII Aviation" (Colorado Springs), including the P-38, Tigercats, Skyraider and F3F.

Dauntless there now as well... https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A% ... nvCIOMLotA