Warbird Information Exchange

From the Suffolk Va. Tornado thread I learned about the B-25, Lucky Lady and how it appears to be neglected by its owner(s).

It is a same it has not been taken care of to the level most of us would like.

I'm wondering, is there more information about this airplane, the owner, and his plans with it? As suggested in the original tornado thread.... should we try mobilizing WIX to "save" her? What would be the price tag on a machine like this in its current condition?

I'm interested to hear peoples' thoughts.

Below are the same pictures of the B-25 from the original thread.

[quote="StyrenePilot1970"]Lucky Lady is still there - still unlucky - the fellow at the airport told me she has been there 15 years - Why hasn't someone tried to save her and why was she abandoned in the first place?




Cheers,

David McIntosh

What a beauty of an airplane, why is it just wasting away?

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Probably 'cause the owner doesn't have a $100,000 to overhaul the engine. Somebody should give him some money.

Looks like the Tug needs work too.

If I owned something that cool it would keep me awake at night.

44-31508 N6578D

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Cheers,

Craig

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Maybe true but it doesn't excuse not at least covering engines, props, cockpit, turret, securing the bombbay doors ect. There's no excuse to letting it rot like that for lack of a few easy precautions

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Don't touch my junk!!

I'm with Jack. If you own something like that, you need to take care of it.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

This B-25 used to fly as "Chapter XI", was the first -25 Reilly refurbished. According to scuttlebutt, there are LOTS of liens on the title to the airplane. I know 10 years ago, the price I heard was 400K as it sat. At that time there were 2 B-25's airworthy for sale for ~350K.

I've looked pretty close at this plane, and it's good for static at this point without a LOT of money infused. Lot of corrosion.

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Regards,

Jase
www.b26marauder.com
"I'm having a BLAST!!" 2007 CAF Wing Staff Conference

RIP Gary Austin..always in our hearts

I'd love to see it atleast come indoors for static somewhere.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

I won't repeat what I posted under the Suffolk tornado but Jase is right. The wings would need to be deskinned to get all the birds' nests out. The Franklin airport sits just down the street from a paper factory, so figure that all the skin would need to be replaced (hint- we joke about if we ever got trapped VFR on top, we could always find Franklin by the smell).
Take all the rumors, lies and truths about this B-25, add a measure of salt, and you might have the beginning of the real story.

How about some of the concerned citizens lead a charge to go get it covered up? I'm sure everyone concerned about the aircraft will be more than willing to give their money for tarps and bungees to cover the aircraft. Put me in for $50.

Ryan

That's a good idea Ryan,

But I wouldn't do anything before contacting the owner. It is always best to get the permission of the owner before touching their stuff. Who knows, he might not want to put anything on it, being worried about bungy cords damaging the airframe or something.

Anyways, does anyone know the contact info for the owner; PM if able. I think this airplane is in need of some help, but I wouldn't do anything without permission first.

I wonder what the WIX community could do. I really hope this doesn't lead into the formation of the WIX Aviation Museum... haha.... WIXAM??that would be a little much.

It's been raised on this thread and the tornado thread that it would be nice to save the plane... but what then? What would happen with the plane if we could actually "save/buy" it? Donate it to a museum and everyone who helped gets back a nice tax credit? I know that almost everyone on WIX would like to see this B-25 better taken care of, but who's going to help? Who's going to flip the bill? This isn't a cheap airplane either. As well, Where's it going to go? Is there room on Uncle Gary's AAWRPZVATCR&HR?

Anyways... that was a tangent and a half.... How about we just consider talking with the owner and seeing what we can do to work with him and protect the airframe from further damage/corrosion/etc.

-David McIntosh

P.S. How long before it could be considered "Abandoned"?

I'd like to help as well.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

If it's been like this for has long has stated then the logical
assumption is that the owner doesn't care. I mean if he couldn't
be bothered and has done nothing in all these years there's really no point or hope for any success.
Has you'll get nowhere without a owner who truly cares and you can't screw
with somebodies a/c without there permission and knowledge. There to many out
there that need to be saved. With the meager resources of most of those on WIX,
IMHO we should focus our attention on one a/c at a time. I would suggest that a/c be Bill's Spit

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Don't touch my junk!!

I have to agree with Jack on this one. In a perfect world Chapter XI would be the ideal WIX flagship, but 99% of us couldn't make a dent in what it would cost just to preserve what's already there. If a wealthy individual took a mind to deal with the owner(s) and no deal were made, the results would still be a rotting corpse. I totally agree that it should be preserved and hopefully restored in the future, but I think that helping one of our own if he desires it would be a more fruitful use of our resources.

Scott