B-17 My Gal Sal might need a new home...

[george]

Hope Sal is restored to flight. Since the Lady and the Hawk have both been accosted and torn to pieces, would be great to see them returned to flight also. If rescued before all the vandalism, diorama-type exhibits would have been excellent, but sadly that is not the case with either.

[APG85]

Not everything can or needs to be returned to flight. Some of these planes need to tell their stories as museum pieces on the ground...

[Xray]

Riviting is not that difficult, remember they had women building these things!

Good point - Lucky for you, this forum is probably 99% male !
My oldest aunt used to work on the B-24 production line at Willow Run, she could probably give us all pointers on riveting.

[Fouga23]

Riviting is not that difficult, remember they had women building these things!

Welcome to WIX You sound like the oldtimer yesterday that was amazed I could pump up the tires of my aircraft. Me! a woman! Working on an aircraft! Imagine that

[gary1954]

Riviting is not that difficult, remember they had women building these things!

Welcome to WIX You sound like the oldtimer yesterday that was amazed I could pump up the tires of my aircraft. Me! a woman! Working on an aircraft! Imagine that

*High Fives* from far away

[tulsaboy]

Gee whiz, Fouga, I never knew you were a girl... that changes EVERYTHING...

kevin

[cptsmith]

My Grandma worked for Douglas during the war.

[jmkendall]

You only need one person who is "trained" in riveting. My intro to the bucking bar was as a young PVT during my first week at my first unit. My Crew Chief handed me some ear protection, a bucking bar, and told me to climb into the tail of our huey.........

My Grandmother, btw, was a Welder at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, and helped build Submarines, Destroyers, Cruisers, and other ships. She also helped repair battle damaged ships as Mare Island was a battle damage repair center.

A bit off topic I know, but someone opened the door to Rosies, and it IS Mothers Day.

[mustangdriver]

I hope the plane stays with the folks that have done so much hard work on it. Also with all of the B-17E's being restored to flight, it would be nice to have a static example preserved.

[bombadier29]

Not everything can or needs to be returned to flight. Some of these planes need to tell their stories as museum pieces on the ground...

I don't see what story can be told on the ground that can't be told by flying the plane from time to time. A mobile museum might the story to more people than those in fixed locations.

[cooper9411]

In a museum would be a good place for it. Make it airworthy and fly it and you run the risk of having another situation like the one that happened a couple of years ago in Illinois when the B-17 went up in flames! It does not matter how well an aircraft is maintained, accidents can and do happen, unfortunately.

Just my .02

[mustangdriver]

I've always said there is room for both static and flying restorations. They are different and serve different roles. The B-17's out there touring offer the unique chance to fly on board as well as see it in the air. You get to smell, hear, and and see the plane in action. That said the static examples allow all year access, more comprehensive educational displays, and from a restoration side can preserve things the flying ones can't. In my book they both have an important role to play.

[cooper9411]

I agree. My earlier post was in no way favoring one way or another. I am glad that there are examples flying that we can hear the radials as well as being lucky enough to get inside one. And I am glad there are static examples that will be around for future generations to admire/enjoy