Both Twin Mustangs now on display at the NMUSAF

[Brad]

Good post Brad.

I'm still hoping you will find out exactly what was done to this plane beyond putting it back together, washing and painting it. I'm willing to bet that the answer is nothing. I'm not saying that's a bad thing but I'm betting that is the truth.

That may well be true. But why would that be done?

My view is that getting it onto display quickly like this is, IMHO, entirely a reaction to the political situation and as can be seen from other NMUSAF restorations isn't a reflection of their normal restoration or conservation practices.
Yes, it's now likely to be cleaner and kept tidy than for the majority of the CAF's ownership of it. That's not a fair assessment of the CAF's efforts, which we'd all agree were laudable, but likewise the NMUSAF are clearly damned for whatever they did with it now - on show or not. Like the whole saga, there are shortcomings from good intent on both sides.

James,

I too think that it was an expeditious job because of the politics involved. And I'm fine with that. If the plane had been put back together just as it was in Midland and rolled into the museum, it would have been fine as well. After the fight, I just don't think the Air Force Museum would dare throw a tarp over it and leave it in storage.

The plane is on display and that is all the museum wants to do with it.

That's just a presumption, without evidence one way or another.

I'm talking on display versus flying it. I don't see that they really have any other options beyond those two. I guess they could drag it back to the restoration hanger and restore it further but I'd bet that the airplane never moves again except to relocate the display or something. At least not in my lifetime. I'm not complaining about that either. For what I believe the museum's purposes are, that will work fine. Barring the arrival of a radar pod or something like that I figure the P-82 has reached the end of anything being done to it.

[JDK]

Indeed! The good thing is that we should get to see another Twin Mustang fly sometime - dollars and work willing.

[Brad]

Brad If you mean was I there as the truck pulled in no, sorry if that is the impression I gave. I was there shortly after it arrived. It was still all packed up how it came in. And had been in Dayton for only a week or two I think. Not sure.

Thanks Chris. It isn't the impression that you gave. It is what you said in your post. That is all I'm talking about when I have said in the past that you automatically defend the museum without worrying about the facts. What you say and what you mean are sometimes two different animals, the facts go out the window and it completely changes everything. It also makes people look at what you say with a jaundiced eye. I'm not trying to lecture you, just trying to tell what it looks like from the other side.

PM with my address is inbound. No hard feelings I hope.

[mustangdriver]

No hard feelings what so ever man.

[Jesse C.]

For rreis or Jesse or whoever does not like the long discussion on the F82; why not just skip this topic? Why is there any urge to shut down or shut off this topic for those of us who do enjoy reading it? Have a little respect, or a lot of respect for the idea of free speech; and don't be threatened by it. You can hold on to whatever idea you have no matter what anyone else says or you might even learn something that at least influenced your view. And what does length matter, the one on the tanker contract went forever.

WIX is the exchange of information, which also includes facts, opinions and discussion. I and others have found this topic interesting, informative, and I don't have to agree with or have others agree with everything I say. WIX desperately needs something to give it interest; seems to me and some others that it has gotten boring for the most part. Hey, I haven't even received my normal weekly threat to be kicked off in some time.

Sometimes opinions are given very strongly, or the other side not given their due. But in the end I think most of us come to a better understanding of the issues. I'd guess most of us see value in both CAF and NMUSAF and wish there'd been better understanding between the two.

So lets not respect my Freedom to express myself? Did you find it offensive that I should say what I think of this thread? This has been covered numerous times and it always ends in the same way, but, you feel like not enough folks have had their blood pressure raised enough, so lets just keep pouring fuel on something that is said and done with. Have at it, but just don't try to tell other what they can or can't say. Trust me, the last thing I feel is threatened, if at all.

[rreis]

Sometimes opinions are given very strongly, or the other side not given their due. But in the end I think most of us come to a better understanding of the issues. I'd guess most of us see value in both CAF and NMUSAF and wish there'd been better understanding between the two.

ok Bill. Maybe if enough ink will run on this people will come to see the other side (the why they (CAF/NMUSAF) did it and what context would make they do it again or act differently if another similar siutation arised). I can only hope so.

best,

[Pat Carry]

Here is a photo of the plane just after it received its new paint job at the museum www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/shared/media/ ... 4b-001.jpg

[Pat Carry]

Another photo of it in restoration www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/shared/media/ ... 4b-003.jpg

[Obergrafeter]

Not to start another argument, but the only question I had was it a complete strip and paint or a sand and paint. I bet the later. Does anyone have pictures of it naked?

[Bill Greenwood]

Jesse,rries my apology,you have a perfect right to express your opinions of the P-82 topic on WIX. And perhaps I read your post wrong,or you mine. Jesse, your post was a cartoon which might be viewed different ways.
I thought you were indicating that the topic should be stopped, was not useful or interesting, and others may see that it is. If that is your message, ok. I feel like there can be discussion or even debate on a topic that has value even if it does not change the outcome. You may certainly disagree, and have a right to go with etiher side or think that the whole discussion is wrong.
I was trying to back the chance to have such discussion, not to dictate what you can say, and may not have written it clearly.

[Jesse C.]

Bill, the cartoon was mostly as a joke that the thread had "jumped the shark" Folks can keep talking about this plane till they are blue in the face for all I care, but, as most will admit, it is getting rather old now.

I am just glad that this plane still exist and is not a frying pan or sitting on a pole somewhere. I know, the CAF had it indoors, finally, when the NMUSAF got it back, but, it did sit around in pretty poor shape for quite some time around here at Gillespie Field. Now it is at least getting some care and it is on display indoors.

As for a flyer, I have seen some very nice pics of the current resto going on on the former Soplata bird and it is a top notch job from the pics I am seeing. Would the CAF/NMUSAF bird gotten the same care? Not likely. I applaud those that can keep them flying and do so for the sake of history and our enjoyment and are gracious enough to share them with us. But I also believe that if a bird can not be taken care of properly then it is ok to clean them up and put them on display in a good enviorment. There is a place for both kinds and this is one of those moments.

Trust me, I wish they could all be flyers, but, it is also nice to see them in a Museum too.

So, are we done yet?

[Brad]

As for a flyer, I have seen some very nice pics of the current resto going on on the former Soplata bird and it is a top notch job from the pics I am seeing. Would the CAF/NMUSAF bird gotten the same care? Not likely.
So, are we done yet?

I thought I was done but...not yet. The owner of the former Soplata P-82 sent me some pictures a few weeks ago. I have no doubt that it will be the finest flying P-82 in the world when it's done.

As for the old CAF bird, I'm pretty sure it would have been near perfect when it was finished. Prior to the legal problems it was being restored by Ezell Aviation. They haven't turned out anything less than perfect so far. I don't know what the budget was but I'd say yes, it would have gotten the same care.

[Taylor Stevenson]

As for a flyer, I have seen some very nice pics of the current resto going on on the former Soplata bird and it is a top notch job from the pics I am seeing. Would the CAF/NMUSAF bird gotten the same care? Not likely.
So, are we done yet?

I thought I was done but...not yet. The owner of the former Soplata P-82 sent me some pictures a few weeks ago. I have no doubt that it will be the finest flying P-82 in the world when it's done.

As for the old CAF bird, I'm pretty sure it would have been near perfect when it was finished. Prior to the legal problems it was being restored by Ezell Aviation. They haven't turned out anything less than perfect so far. I don't know what the budget was but I'd say yes, it would have gotten the same care.

Had the CAF won the case and kept the bird, she had a party waiting to restore her and do it right.

[kalamazookid]

Can we change the name of this thread to "The Philosophy of Warbirds, According to WIX"? I don't think my honors college course on the philosophy of public affairs was this complicated.

[warbird1]

As for a flyer, I have seen some very nice pics of the current resto going on on the former Soplata bird and it is a top notch job from the pics I am seeing. Would the CAF/NMUSAF bird gotten the same care? Not likely.
So, are we done yet?

I thought I was done but...not yet. The owner of the former Soplata P-82 sent me some pictures a few weeks ago. I have no doubt that it will be the finest flying P-82 in the world when it's done.

As for the old CAF bird, I'm pretty sure it would have been near perfect when it was finished. Prior to the legal problems it was being restored by Ezell Aviation. They haven't turned out anything less than perfect so far. I don't know what the budget was but I'd say yes, it would have gotten the same care.

Had the CAF won the case and kept the bird, she had a party waiting to restore her and do it right.

I'm sad because I will never get to see "Maverick" fly the F-82 or haul rubber dog shlt out of Hong Kong.