MAAM P-61B progress update (August 13th, 2007)

[mustangdriver]

That looks like a great restoration. I can't wait to see it fly.

[mustangdriver]

Wow!! You guys are moving right along now!

[planenutti]

Congrats, y'all are doing a fantastic job with her! Can't wait to see what she will look like by the time the 08 show rolls around.

[Steve Nelson]

Looking great! Can't wait to see her in the air.

Any idea what percentage of the aircraft will be original once she's finished? This is in no way criticism, I'm just curious.


SN

[bax101]

this museum in china has a P-61. Theres a picture but its kinda small. It would be cool to go visit this one. I heard there is another Air museum in China with captured Japanese aircraft as well.

[Nathan]

How does one qualify to fly something like this? Probably the last time someone flew one was in the 50's.

[Ztex]

You call Steve Hinton....he can fly anything!

[Originalboxcar]

Is the MAAM trying to reuse as much original parts as possible or are they just using them for templates? It doesn't matter and I don't want to get into another debate about this, I'm just curious.

thx,

t~

[Mark V]

Is the MAAM trying to reuse as much original parts as possible or are they just using them for templates?

From the shots of the vertical tail (and as far as I can see from the east side of the Atlantic) it looks like they are trying to use as many original parts as possible but supplementing them, where they have to, with new parts patterned from unuseable originals. You can see that there is a high proportion of salvaged parts by looking at the flanges of the various airframe sections (the angled edges that will be in contact with the external skin). Those with lots of fully drilled holes will be the originals, the ones without holes or perhaps with just a few holes are new parts, clearly identical to the original ones. This is pretty normal procedure for restoration to airworthy standard where safety has to be paramount.

The MAAM guys are doing a fantastic job!