This is the place where the majority of the warbird (aircraft that have survived military service) discussions will take place. Specialized forums may be added in the new future
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Fri Aug 10, 2007 10:11 pm

I love this stuff, thanks!

B

B-17

Sat Aug 11, 2007 4:08 pm

Guys...
I'm new here, but I'm an avid B-17 "guy", and have done numerous articles on them.
Brook's flyer, "Liberty Belle", is now sitting on the ramp here in Oklahoma City, after having one cylinder go bad (cylinder #9 on the #2 engine), as well as having hit the 5-year rebuild limit on ALL FOUR props...so it's now waiting for all of them to be recertified and refitted!
I flew on her twice this past Monday, and I had to help all the media buckle in and answer their questions (I'm media, too...but the only one in this entire state who's also a Flight Instructor and B-17 person!).
Not a bad rebuild, and I watched Tom Reilly over two or three visits redoing her in Kissimmee. Wow, he's good!
The top turret isn't real, like most others except for "Sentimental
Journey", who got hers in a swap with the Oregon gas station guy Art Lacey...and the ball turret doesn't use a real attach yoke to hang it, so
you can't show people where they'd unbolt them to drop....but other than that, not a bad restoration at all, considering what Tom had to work with.

Dan S.

Sat Aug 11, 2007 4:25 pm

Welcome to the site man. Tallichet's B-17 has a real top and ball turret in it, and they both work.

Sun Aug 12, 2007 6:59 am

Nathan wrote:So, she really is going to be a flyer? :D


Yes she will be. It's going to be a long term restoration project.

Currently the fuselage has been drilled apart and is sitting on pallets throughout the hanger. The only part still together is the cockpit, and we're slowly picking that apart when time permits.

Inboard wing seections are due to be moved indoors within the month.

Currently our effort is going to finish Don's P-40E. Painting the bottom of the wing today, the fuselage should go back on the wing shortly.

Chuck

Sun Aug 12, 2007 8:50 am

Chuck

There has been some discussion on another thread http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... &highlight and it got me thinking.
Last time we conversed I saw some good looking parts and assumed the wings and tail in the hangar where from the Labrador B-17. Do you know where the tail came from? Could it be this aircraft N4710C http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=54414&key=0 44-85812?

Steve

Sun Aug 12, 2007 2:51 pm

planeoldsteve wrote:Chuck

There has been some discussion on another thread http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... &highlight and it got me thinking.
Last time we conversed I saw some good looking parts and assumed the wings and tail in the hangar where from the Labrador B-17. Do you know where the tail came from? Could it be this aircraft N4710C http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=54414&key=0 44-85812?

Steve


Steve, the horizontal stab & dorsal fin that are in the hanger are a Reilly project - a rebuild for Kermit. Not sure where Don got the vertical fin & rudder, I'll try to remember to ask him. The inboard trailing edges hanging up over the half-track are from Dyke Lake.
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