Warbird Information Exchange

In an 'all hands present' meeting this morning in Wichita, Boeing announced it will close the facility in Wichita by the end of 2013 and disperse work done there to other sites. B-52/KC-135 and mod work will move to San Antonio, Engineering will go to Oklahoma City, and KC-46A work will now all be done in Washington State including completion and delivery.
I guess they will by out ATS (formerly BADWRENCH) on the South end of KPAE for tanker completion. Boeing already leases the biggest of ATS' hangers to do 787 Change Incorporation and given the production rate for the tanker, that facility should be more than ample since the hanger was designed to accommodate up to 4 747's inside, plus a huge paint bay. If that scenario happens I have no idea what will happen to the TRAMCONIANS doing MRO work there now.

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

Is "Doc" currently housed on Boeing property or Air Force property and will this decision impact the restoration and engineering support Boeing has provided up to now?

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"They done it, they done it, damned if they ain't flew." December 17, 1903

Doc is wrapped up and looks to be that way for a loooong time!

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S.

Hmmm...

Paul Allen, please pick up the white courtesy phone.

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"They done it, they done it, damned if they ain't flew." December 17, 1903

Would look mighty nice in his collection!!!!

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S.

Why sell it? Silly idea.
It's waiting for a building, same as the Boeing Bee.
Nothing against Mr. Allen, but if the MoF were to sell it, they'd never get another one.
The MoF needs an example to go along with its Boeing-centric collection.

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.
Note political free signature.
I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.

Its waiting for more than a building at this point. The owner wants to make it a flier one day so he needs a large infusion of $$$.

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

Weren't B737 fuselages being built at Wichita? What'll the good ole boys have to shoot at on the trains going to Renton?

All the BCA items like 737 fuselages are still done in ITC by SPIRIT Corp. and have been for several years as Boeing divested itself of 99% of all fabrication work. BMAC/BCA occupy a pretty small part of the facility and SPIRIT is gearing up to produce fuselages for the AIRBUS A-350XWB there.

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

I think you're confusing 'Doc' at Wichita with the MoF example at Seattle.

and confusing Paul Allens (FHC) collection with the MoF's. If Vulcan got it, there is a pretty good chance it would eventually fly again.
What's the fate of the airframes Boeing Wichita has/had stored for what was to be a museum @ Intercontinental? You could just make them out on the horizon from the Boeing ramp when I was last there in the early 2000's

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

You can take the 737 fuselage away from Wichita. The Boeing turn, going and pulling the loaded cars and spotting the emptys is one of the worst jobs we have here.