P-40 Found in Sahara - Current Disposition?

[Steve Nelson]

Thanks for the link! On the plus side, it looks like they did a fairly professional job disassembling the aircraft. Even with the post-discovery vandalism, I still think it should be preserved as-is (in a climate-controlled building of course.) There are plenty of beautifully restored P-40s around..it would be great to have an time capsule like this one kept in its original state.

SN

[Dan Jones]

Just to throw a little gas on the fire here... how would you all feel about restoring the damage recently done to make the aircraft appear as it did when first discovered? Preserving it as it is now, imho, would only serve as a monument to the stupidity and destructiveness of vandals.

[Ken]

That's not necessarily a bad idea, Dan. Guess it depends on which damage and how it would be repaired, etc. No gas on the fire for me.

[shepsair]

Thats how I would like to see her.

Made good to how she was found in early 2012. Replace sand blasted plexi and instrument glass and other gouges etc. Not to restore but to keep her as a time capsule. Sure a sand pit can be set up at the RAFM and put next to Black 6. None of the above will be too onerous.

They are missing a few bits and pieces. Master clock in the box, ammunition boxes etc. Perhaps these may return one day.

Mark