Bell XFL-1 Airabonita recovery?

[Nathan]

Back in an old Warbirds mag there is an article on the Bell XFL-1 Airabonita. It's remains currently reside in a river bed. Any chance this thing will ever be recovered? I beleive the location of the dumped aircraft to be at NAS Patuxent?

[TAdan]

Hi Nathan, I asked about the Airabonita and the Arado's that were dumped at Patuxtent a few months back (I think). Maybe if you do a search through my old posts you can find it.

I know someone responded with a few older pics showing remains of the aircraft. There wasnt much but they were still identifiable as Airabonita parts...

It is a real shame they were not/ have not been retrieved...

Last edited by TAdan on Sun Jan 25, 2009 11:41 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Nathan]

Sorry man I could not find your thread. The article(of 2007) stated that the USAF and USN are attempting to retrieve the wreck and other X-plane wrecks for preservation. I haven't heard anything on it since.

[TAdan]

Ok Nathan, here is the thread... http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... nita+arado

And a Pic of the Bonita from someones Flickr album.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/keleivis/2 ... 296839775/

[Nathan]

Ok Nathan, here is the thread... http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... nita+arado

And a Pic of the Bonita from someones Flickr album.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/keleivis/2 ... 296839775/

dang that sucks to see that airplane like that.

[Tailspin Turtle]

At some point after it reappeared, it was offered to the Smithsonian. They declined, as the airframe was in pretty bad shape. I don't know if it was offered to the Pensacola Museum. It was reportedly pulled out of the river and destroyed,along with the Arados that were originally dumped with it.

If you want to know more about the airplane, an XFL-1 monograph is available from Steve Ginter:
http://www.ginterbooks.com/NAVAL/NF81.htm

[Nathan]

wow so they were actually recovered and destroyed!?