Warbird Information Exchange

Can anyone tell me where the P-38 that is being restored by the Flying Heritage Collection came from and how far along is the aircraft at this time.
While on the subject of P-38's how many P-38's are there in the world that are actaully be worked on and being restored to flying status.

I know of these P-38's right now Red Bull's P-38
I think the guys name is Tom Blair down at Kissimmee Florida used to be Bill Ross P-38 plus Flying Heritage Collection and that is all Iam aware of plus the 4 that are now flying.
I think in Dennis Bergstrom's Gallant Warrior there were about 20 plus airframes known in the entire world so not much compared to 10,000 built. Thanks for any information on this.

I've run across some of the aircraft being restored for The Collection, in the past. A common policy is NO PICTURES. I haven't run across the P-38, so I'm no help. I don't HAVE PICTURES OF OTHERS.

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Curtis Block

I've seen too many airplanes destroyed by the term "Static Restoration."

If you did have pictures WHERE might you put them in internetland? Hypothectically speaking of course.

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Jeff

Regarding the FHC P-38, I believe that aircraft is a VERY sensitive topic that few people will talk about on an open forum here for several reasons:

1) It's history and source are or have been the subject of legal issues or concerns regarding it's export out of it's source country.

2) The FHC is VERY secretive regarding it's restorations. Typically speaking, they seem to put NDA clauses in the contracts of people or companies they deal with.

3) FHC like to keep the information and publicity flow VERY tightly controlled with access only coming from a few people within the organization.

AFAIK, I don't believe the P-38 restoration has started yet. There was an article in either "Air and Space" or "Flight Journal", I can't remember which, stating that the P-38 was the last priority in the current queue of aircraft waiting to get restored.

If somebody can prove me wrong, please do, but that's all the info I've been able to get so far.

So there is only one then?

I recall that there was news/info that there was more than one airframe. Whether it was complete or just major components and parts, I thought they had several P-38s.

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Live to fly, Fly to live.....

I am not sure if you would consider them under restoration as of yet, but there is a large cache of components at Precision Aerospace in Australia; from various sources there seems to be components from/for around a dozen aircraft...including some for noted collector Gerald Yagen.

As quoted on pacificwrecks.com "Gerald Yagen adds: "The Lightnings that you saw [at Precision Aerospace] in Australia are mine along with some others that I have.""

I believe that this was mentioned in the last issue of Classic Wings, in the excellent article on PA.

some links:

http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/p ... 12847.html
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/people/restore/yagen.html
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/p ... 66905.html
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/p ... retta.html

greg v.

When they hid the ME-262 in our hanger a few years ago we were asked to keep quiet about it. I kept that up for at least 5 minutes

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Don't touch my junk!!

I could tell you some things but my friends would kick my butt!
I have seen substantial components, in large fixtures, which were completely rebuilt and look beautiful. But they are no longer where I saw them or are in process of being moved.
Yes, their P-38 is being rebuilt in the US. Yes, progress has been made. Yes, it does look great what has been done.
Mr. Phlips, this message will self-destruct in 60 seconds!
As for secrecy, someone I know asked for the color formulation on the paint they were using for FHC and they couldn't give them that info.
Rich