Warbird Information Exchange

P-63 Folks:

The cockpit of Bell P-63E USAAF 43-11732 in better times! TNT. c. 1977. Photo J.B via C/w.com

As a suggestion, this aircraft should be moved indoors while restoration takes place. Otherwise, there will be not much left to restore of the only P-63E S. of the border! P-63E/Buff FAH619®

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FAH619®

p.s ....and now the pic! Photo J.B c. 1977

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FAH619®

Rick,

If you are referring to the FCN train station located in San Pedro Sula, I visited the site about three months ago in order to obtain information about their 1930s and 40s steam locomotives. The building or ‘train station’ that your partner suggested as looking “empty”, holds the administrative offices of the Ferrocarril Nacional (FCN), which suspended their regular passenger service many decades ago, however, they still handle cargo to and from Puerto Cortés, as has been their routine since long before WWI.
Now, if your friend referred to the trains which were run by USA companies, Tela Railroad Company and Standard Fruit Company, they closed operations in the late 50’s or early 60’s due to financial problems. But the tracks and bridges are still there, although I’m not sure about their stations in Tela and La Ceiba.

About the P-63E in question: it was officially transferred to the Museo del Aire in 2003, I believe, and there is no question it is in need of extensive restoration work. As with most museums throughout the world, financial resources are not easy to obtain, and the very little monies we have managed through different fund raising activities and donations, have been dedicated to restore other aircraft which were in worse condition.
I will post photographs of two aircraft which have been fully restored (static display): the only surviving North American NA-16-2A, NAA charge number NA-42, in the world (there is another NA-16 displayed in Sweden, but it is a Swedish-built Sk 14. The other, a combat veteran North American AT-6C.

We have many aircraft in dire need of restoration work, a Vought F4U-5N (credited with being the last propeller driven aircraft in the world to down other propeller aircraft – three in fact), a Beech AT-11, a NA T-28B, an AMD Supermystére B.2, an F-86E, a C-118, two C-47’s, etc, and of course, the Bell P-63E, but unfortunately, we currently don’t have the funds for such endeavor.
At this point in time, I’m afraid our aircraft restoration work plan will have to adjust to such situation.

Cheers,

Amado

Amado, I wasn't throwing stones. I was trying to make the point that rescources were tight and the government had bigger things to worry about than restoring old aircraft. You can't justify restoring aircraft when there are so many other things to expend government funds on that are admittedly more important to the general population.

Rick,

No problem whatsoever, but many thanks for your explanation.

Just for general information, the Museo del Aire de Honduras (MAH) has a current inventory of 25 aircraft, most of which were donated by the Honduran Air Force (FAH). Just recently, they have announced their intention to turn over to the museum one of their Lockheed C-130A, but other than aircraft donations, the MAH does not receive monetary contributions from any Honduran government institution.

Being a private entity, the MAH sustains itself with funds obtained from diverse activities directed by a very small membership and through volunteer work.

I am not sure this may be an infringement to any WIX rule, but anyone wishing to visit our website (sorry, in Spanish only) is most welcome:
http://www.laahs.com/fmah/

Cheers,

Amado

The guys at the Honduran museum have been doing a sterling job with the limited resources at hand.

They have enthusiasm and they have willpower. Money is the sticking point here, there and elsewhere, but they have done a lot, with very little funding.

While they are working to preserve history, there are dark forces trying to destroy their work through lies, innuendo and outright attacks. This is a sad
state of affairs true for almost any aviation group in latin america, and it is really amazing to me, that so much has been done, not only in Honduras, but also in Brazil, Chile, Argentina, El Salvador, Ecuador, and so on and so forth.

If you happen to go to Tegucigalpa, Honduras, stop by and say hello to the guys there, and visit their museum. You will be glad you did.

Saludos,


Tulio

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Why take the best part of life out of your life, when you can have life with the best part of your life in your life?

I am one of them 'futbol' people.

Will the previous owner has pics of this double cabin sample

GOOD MORNING, WELCOME TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Press "1" for English.
Press "2" to disconnect until you have learned to speak English.

Sooooo, how am I going to know to press 1 or 2, if I do not speak English????

P-63E Folks:

When the former FAH Commander Col. Armando Escalon Espinal (RIP) had the idea of displaying FAH 403 in front of the O'Club c. 1960s he had in mind "Preserving FAH History."

After some 45 yrs at the mercy of the elements and many paint jobs later FAH 403 is showing its age. It is slowly deteriorating due to humidity & inside corrosion. This is not what Col. Escalon had in mind!

C/w.com knows that budgets are tight everywhere but as a minimum this aircraft should be under cover or disassembled, then put into storage while the future restoration takes place.

The pic below shows the former FAH 402 in a storage stand in Falcon Field, AZ. Photo Via Chuck Gardner. C/w.com will be willling to donate the first 100 pesos for this dexion project! P-63E Buff/FAH619®.

We invite you to see more pictures/data of FAH 403 in our forum. http://www.catrachowings.com



p.s No more train stuff plz. Let's stick with the P-63E and get some action going!

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FAH619®

as to the topic..... & what is currently available info wise, it should raise a few eyebrows / as to the quantity / magnitude of rare birds that are unaccounted for in south america. unappreciated too, not from from a history perspective but from 1 of the small obscure details. a real mystery to he south!!!

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

First of All thanks Brad for donating the photos to Tulio, you couldn't have picked a better person to have them and share them with those with legitimate interests in Honduran and latin american aviation history.

Just to clear this up "This aircraft is currently on display at the FMAH Museum in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. The picture below was taken c. 3-2005 and it shows the P-63E as it is now." posted by FAH619.

The aircraft even though that it belongs to the Honduran Airmuseum it is not on display at the museum it is on the Airforce officers club, adjacent to the museum but not on the museum grounds. when the museum can move it , it will be moved to the museum.

hrham

P-63E Folks:

Enough said on this subject! C/w.com will be posting regular pics/updates on this bird to see what kind of progress is being made since 2003! P-63E Buff/FAH619

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FAH619®

YES!
FAH619 Buff/CARLOS PLANAS

Carlos Planas Buff

BrokenWrench/ Warbird Restoration Folks:

Just out of curiousity about how many people/man hrs will take a team of trained individuals to remove the wings of the P-63E below and place the center fuselage on a stand?Photo FAH619®

p.s Lifter Included! P-63E Buff/PhotoFAH619® Via C/w.com

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FAH619®

p.s Same warbird different angle! P-63E Buff/FAH619®. Photo BV. c. 5-2005

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FAH619®

FAH619

It could give the complete names us of the authors of the photos, since in addition by the respect to the author copyrights, if it is possible to even locate them, we would like to ask to them but details, in addition if they have but photos of other airplanes located in that site.

The second photo seems to me of the collection of the good friend Boris Arturo Valle H. Sr., that it lives in Tegucigalpa, Bo. Buenos Aires.

P63 Buff / Air Museums Buff / Forums Buff
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Carlos Planas Buff

[quote="FAH 619"]BrokenWrench/ Warbird Restoration Folks:

Just out of curiousity about how many people/man hrs will take a team of trained individuals to remove the wings of the P-63E below and place the center fuselage on a stand?Photo FAH619®

The only good thing about the project is that it is tilted back so the rain can drain out. it need to get indoors ASAP. The humid air down there has probably corroded the metal paper thin in the tail and floor. It could be torn down in a afternoon but I would do it in 3 do to the high expense of the project. You just don't treat a race horse like a Cessna! I would remove the flight controls and the prop and take measurements for the construction of a cradle. "The cradle should support the fuselage under a bulhead 3 or 4 places and well padded" I think I would use 4 and make sure it is on wheels or has a structure that a fork lift can get under. I use a boat makers tool for construction of cradels so it fits snug. I looks like a notched lightning bolt. If it continues to be left it will be no better than those wrecks in the solomons. it 's a wonder that the locals havn't figured out what the project is worth and stole parts off of it.