Tue Apr 07, 2009 7:10 pm
Very nice looking photos of the Restoration Hanger. I miss working over there as a volunteer. I helped to restore the Main Landing Gear oleo struts for the Belle. They were a mess when they arrived from Memphis. Took us three months to restore them back to like new condition. My dad flew the Belle as an instructor pilot when it was assigned to the Training Command at MacDill Field in Tampa where he taught both pilot and co-pilot training in it. I also helped to restore the Kawanshi N1K-2 George 21 Japanese fighter when it was still in Restoration. Did most of the restoration work on the George's flap mechanisms, oleo struts on the main landing gear, restored the bomb shackles and helped to restore the wing structures. It was a fun project to work on. My current job at the Aero Club keeps me too busy to volunteer over there anymore. Thanks for sharing.
Jim
Jim
Tue Apr 07, 2009 7:41 pm
Thanks for the kind words...I appreciate it. I could have nerded it up in there for hours if'n they'd have let me.
You might be able to answer a question for me based on what you did there. Te Belle had those main gear wheel covers with the unique pattern on them. Are those still around somewhere there? I asked Dale, but he had no idea.
You might be able to answer a question for me based on what you did there. Te Belle had those main gear wheel covers with the unique pattern on them. Are those still around somewhere there? I asked Dale, but he had no idea.
Tue Apr 07, 2009 9:14 pm
First off great pictures and thanks for posting. The wheel covers are indeed around, and a little research has turned up some interesting facts. Most know that the Belle had those covers on them, but most think that they were red on both sides, but after some research one of them was blue and was red.
Wed Apr 08, 2009 6:04 am
These are going to be fantastic restorations. I wish Robert Morgan had lived to see this...
Wed Apr 08, 2009 7:39 am
I kept thinking the same thing.
The Wyler film was shown in my 6th grade reading class, and sunk its hooks in deep. This aircraft is ground zero for me in my 39-year warbird obsession.
It was kinda like my personal Grail moment, shich explains the predominance of Belle images I shot. Honestly, I could have happily just spent the time shooting detail images if it weren't for the restoration gems I knew I could get from Dale The Turret Fixer.
The Wyler film was shown in my 6th grade reading class, and sunk its hooks in deep. This aircraft is ground zero for me in my 39-year warbird obsession.
It was kinda like my personal Grail moment, shich explains the predominance of Belle images I shot. Honestly, I could have happily just spent the time shooting detail images if it weren't for the restoration gems I knew I could get from Dale The Turret Fixer.
Wed Apr 08, 2009 3:56 pm
Fantastic stuff! I was able to make a quick solo afternoon trip to the museum about a month ago. We're bringing the kids for the Night at the Museum event. Won't be able to do the restoration hangar anytime soon. 
Did you get to see the XC-99 at all?
Did you get to see the XC-99 at all?
Wed Apr 08, 2009 4:33 pm
I'm curious..how much (if any) of her original markings did the Belle keep during her assignment at McDill? Obviously the unit markings were changed and insignia updated, but did she keep the nose art? When was she actually retired from service?
SN
SN
Wed Apr 08, 2009 5:23 pm
She had the training code of J5 I believe painted on the waist where the DF-A is. I think it was repeated on the nose, but the nose art did stay on it through training. It was retired August 1st of '45 to Altus. I think the next summer it went to Memphis for display. There the nose art was changed a few times along with it's markings.
Wed Apr 08, 2009 6:52 pm
skydaddy61 wrote:Fantastic stuff! I was able to make a quick solo afternoon trip to the museum about a month ago. We're bringing the kids for the Night at the Museum event. Won't be able to do the restoration hangar anytime soon.
It's in pieces outside the restoration hangars, but depending on your route in from I675, you can actually see it pretty well there.
Sat Apr 11, 2009 7:40 am
The XC-99 is a mess. Last time I worked over there they were estimating that it would cost between 8 to 10 million in just sheet metal material alone to restore this bird. They have started to restore it. One guy was making new wingtips for it from scratch because the old ones are too deterorated to be reconditioned. It will take 20 to 30 years to fully restore the XC-99.
The wheel covers for the Belle are in storage in the locked room with other miscellaneous parts. One is painted red and the other is painted blue last time I saw those pieces. They looked to be in very good shape.
The nose art was still on the Belle when my dad flew it at MacDill. The Wright R-1820 engines were changed to ones made under license by Studebaker at MacDill. Seems like the Training Command always got the crappy engines because the good ones were needed in combat.
Jim
The wheel covers for the Belle are in storage in the locked room with other miscellaneous parts. One is painted red and the other is painted blue last time I saw those pieces. They looked to be in very good shape.
The nose art was still on the Belle when my dad flew it at MacDill. The Wright R-1820 engines were changed to ones made under license by Studebaker at MacDill. Seems like the Training Command always got the crappy engines because the good ones were needed in combat.
Jim
Sat Apr 11, 2009 7:53 am
GREAT pics!! Makes me want to go even more. Man I've got to get up there one of these days. Until till I do, keep ALL the pics from ALL over coming. Thanks for sharing. 
Sat Apr 11, 2009 8:08 am
Is the P-82 there yet? Will it be on display or squandered away in a secret location?
Sat Apr 11, 2009 8:18 am
Obergrafeter wrote:Is the P-82 there yet? Will it be on display or squandered away in a secret location?
I know they plan to bring this P-82 to the museum, but I'm not sure what they plan to do with it. They may put Betty Jo in storage and put this one on display in its place for awhile after its restored.