Warbird Information Exchange

i read on another forum that preparations are underway to move the swoose fairly soon. if this is fact is there a chance that some of those close to the action on this board might be able to photo document this exciting event for us all to see?? thanks in advance, sim.

I agree wholeheartedly! Would be very cool to see the preparations, the move itself and then to know whether or not the NMUSAF is going to put her on display soon after they receive her or keep her locked-up like the NASM has for so many years

Would love to see her put on display at the NMUSAF au naturale...if there is enough of her left to assemble into a presentable manner.

Patience is a virtue...I know...but like so many who have seen the pix of her sitting in that dingy building she has been sitting in for so many years, I can't wait to see her in person

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Earn my respect and never lose it.
Demand my respect and never gain it. -Me

...just another plane dreamer.

I don't think she is in a display ready condition. During restoration, she will be able to be viewed on the behind the scenes tour.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

Just when I thought I could skip the behind the scenes tour this year (and do the presidential hanger tour for once)... If she is there by August I'll have to go see her

Mustangdriver...see what you can do and ask them about keeping the museum open 24/7

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Neither was that 123 with like a million patches.

I am not as impressed with the perfectly (over) restored combat aircraft.

The General spoke briefly on the Swoose at our volunteer picnic two days ago. If I heard correctly, a team from the museum will be going down in about two weeks.

I think the plans are that she will be restored along with the Belle at the same time.

While I don't have any factual info yet, I wouldn't count on seeing the Swoose on display for quite a while.

This coming Sunday I will be visiting the Seattle area and hope to take in the Boeing museum.

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Jerry
S/Sgt. - USAF Radio Operator '52-'56
C-119 "Flying Boxcar" - Korea & Japan

Volunteer: National Museum of the US Air Force (2007-2016)
LTM 381st Bomb Group Memorial Association

Hopefully not the same team that picked up the Helldiver.

I was going to say that I think I'd rather not see pictures. That way if something goes bad, I don't have to think about it.

(the other)Ryan

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Aerial Photographer with Red Wing Aerial Photography currently based at KRBD and tailwheel CFI.
Websites: Texas Tailwheel Flight Training, DoolittleRaid.com and Lbirds.com.

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. - Prov. 21:31 - Train, Practice, Trust.

While I would not have done some of the steps that the team used in the Helldiver restoration, it was not hacked apart either. Some would like you to believe that they went out and chain sawed it apart. That was not the case.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

They CUT the longerons, note the word CUT, it does not matter if they used a chainsaw or a butterknife, the fact is they CUT a major structural member, that was not needed to be done for shipping. They ignored the dissassemble insctructions that were giving to them and proceeded to drill out rivits and then CUT the longerons to remove the tail cone.

Sorry to harp on this, but they ruined a plane's structural strength. If they are a true museum concered with preservation, you DO NOT cut a artifact apart, you move it in such a way to cause no damage. When the NASM restored and moved the Enola Gay, they did not cut it apart to make it easier to move, they moved it as it was, dissassembled at the production breaks. Same with the B-36 move to Pima, they did not cut the wing apart, they moved it as 1 piece, and it is a whole lot bigger than a Helldiver.

Sorry, but the AF musuem has gotten a well deserved black eye over this, and other events.
I just hope when they move the Swoose, they use some professionals to do the job, someone that truley cares about the historical artifacts that they are entrusted with.

matt there are facts here that I am not at liberty to put on the forum. But rest assured they will be taking good care of both aircraft.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

I hope so, but the record so far does not look good

You're kidding right. THe NMUSAF has around 400 aircraft on display in the collection at Dayton. To say, it doesn't look good is a bit of a stretch. Just because they moved one aircraft in a manner that you are not a fan of, and do not have all of the details about. The Swoose is already broken up anyway. I think you would be hard pressed to find a place with more B-17 restoration knowledge than the museum. At one level or another this will be the fourth B-17 to be at Dayton for restoration, preservation, and display.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

My baloney has a first name it's O-S-C-A-R blah-blah-blah

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Don't touch my junk!!

Gee Jack you almost made it 24 hours with out making a smart ass comment about Wright Pat.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director