richkolasa wrote:
Curtis Block wrote:
IIRC, "How Boot That" has one.
I could have sworn I posted in this thread the other day and asked if it has flown recently.
Queue "Twilight Zone" music!
Rich
Curtis Block wrote:
Unfortunately I couldn't tell you if it has flown recently. I'd be curious to know that as well.
"How Boot That" has not flown in the last 10 years.
A decision was made after it had been restored, and shown to the public as an authentic flyable restoration, that it should be kept safely, in pristine condition, as an historical artifact available for viewing by current and future generations.
That decision was made for a variety of reasons:
1) There are other example of the B-25 "family" of bombers that can be seen on the airshow circuit in flyble condition, so the absence of "How Boot That" on the airshow circuit is not "depriving" the public of the opportunity to see a B-25 in the air.
2) Due to its fully documented and authenticated combat service in Europe in WWII, "How Boot That" is an historically significant aircraft.
3) The quality of the restoration, and the completeness of the equipment fitted to the aircraft, definately make it the "Crown Jewel" of the Cavanaugh Flight Museum collection.
4) The nose art itself is very significant, in that it is the exact nose art the aircraft carried in WWII, reproduced, as part of the restoration, by the same "artist" that painted the original nose art in 1944. Flying the aircraft to/from airshows would endanger that artwork through just normal wear and tear, let alone any unforseen weather damage. Replacing that nose art would now be impossible.
It would be great to see the aircraft fly again, and I am a great advocate for keeping them in flying condition, but with all the things that could/might cause any damage to the aircraft, its contents or its artwork, by flying it around the country, in this case, my preference for retaining history for future generations takes precedence.
Julian
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