Memphis Belle restoration update June 2009

[mustangdriver]

The Belle is really coming along. All repairs to the rear fuselage have been complete, and now equipment is being installed. The engines have been completed and the urrets are almost there as well. Yes both turrets are to be fully operational. Landing gear is complete, new nose is done, inner wing panels being restored, and yes fuel tanks installed!









Wng panel being stripped








Other work going on includes the Swoose



The Douglas O-46. This is why we must restore static aircraft to the highes standard possible. This aircraft was restored many years ago, and upon inspection was found to be heavily corroded due to short cuts taken by some who felt, "it is just static". Now this aircraft will undergo a massive restoration.


And of course the P-82

[Steve Nelson]

Great pics, Chris! Thanks for posting.

I didn't get a chance to examine it closely back in January..is the interior of the Belle's waist section sandblasted bare metal, or painted silver? Bare metal would be the most accurate, but paint or a clearcoat would probably be better for long-term preservation.

Looks like the Swoose fuselage has been moved to the back of the shop, where the P-75 was.

Great to see the O-46 getting some love! When I last took the tour, the guide said it was too far gone to restore, and the only thing holding it together was the paint.

SN

[mustangdriver]

THe Swoose is back where the P-75 was. THe Belle's interior is indeed bare metal, that is treated with a clear preservative to prevent corrosion. As for the O-46, she is really rough, so the guide was no too far off the mark, but they are going to restore it. It will be one heck of a fight.

[warbird1]

I heard a rumor that the NMUSAF was going to scrap the Swoose because the paperwork and transfer of title from the NASM was incorrect.






j/k


Awesome pix Chris, thanks for keeping us informed! It seems like they've done a lot of work on the Belle in the short time that they took her back.

Is it still the plan to start and run up one of the Belle's engines upon completion?

Are those 1820's restored to be able to run, or just static restoration?

[APG85]

Great pictures! Thanks for the update.

[Obergrafeter]

I was wrong looks like the CAF brand is still on the P-82 under the blankets. Mustangdriver why don't you slip over there and pull back those blankets so people can see the cockpit? heh, heh, heh. Just stirring a little.

[B-29 Super Fort]

Great photos thanks for sharing them.

[mustangdriver]

I was wrong looks like the CAF brand is still on the P-82 under the blankets. Mustangdriver why don't you slip over there and pull back those blankets so people can see the cockpit? heh, heh, heh. Just stirring a little.

Because that logo is ugly.

[groundbound]

Well, that logo may indeed be somewhat homely, but at least when you see it in the air, it's not because someone stuck the plane wearing it on top of a 20' pole.

[JDK]

Thanks for the post, Chris.

Is it still the plan to start and run up one of the Belle's engines upon completion?

Are those 1820's restored to be able to run, or just static restoration?

To be honest, I'd hope not run, and I hope not 'just' to static but 'properly' to static.

If you restore an engine to static you can keep a lot of original material that is not usable in a working engine, while to make it run, you'd need to introduce non-prototypical modern equipment (hoses, wiring). That's great and can be replica of original in top level flying restorations, such as HJGB, but is pointless in a 'single-run' static resto.

I don't know in this particular case, but the standard should be to retain as much original material - including engine interior parts conserved, not replaced - as a research tool of originality down the track. Replacing lots of stuff just for one run is (as Jack's touched on) a waste of good airworthy parts and inappropriate for the job here.

Secondly, why would you introduce (what will be-)used oil, petrol and exhaust gases to introduce corrosions and problems in the engine, when it should be either 'clean' and protected internally, or properly inhibited with appropriate preservation 'lay-up' grade inhibitors and oils.

Of course the aircraft should have the fuel tanks put in. It gets interesting when you think of the requirements for piping, control wires etc and wiring for one fuel fill and engine run. You'd be junking a lot of period/original parts for modern substitutes. If the Swoose and Belle still have 1940s engine hoses, those should be conserved and replaced. If they leak, that don't matter - they're what Rosie fitted in 194x, not a modern replacement hose from Aircraft Parts 2009. If they don't have original parts, then as many period NoS (or even OoS!) should be fitted, NOT new stuff for one "Crank her up!"

Flying great; static great; regular ground runs, done properly great; one run? Makes some volunteers happy, but is actually a massive backward step for a top-level static restoration.

Meanwhile, let's just skip the predictoposts re- static/stickers, etc. Please?

Just 2d.

[RickH]

James, I'd bet all of those original hoses and such have long since been replaced anyway. I know that all of the fuel tank plumbing, including some hard lines were cut at the wingroot during the diassembly for one of its many moves. This was done probably 25-30 years ago.

[JDK]

James, I'd bet all of those original hoses and such have long since been replaced anyway. I know that all of the fuel tank plumbing, including some hard lines were cut at the wingroot during the diassembly for one of its many moves. This was done probably 25-30 years ago.

Thanks Rick. I was talking general principles really, as I don't know the hoses in question, Sir. I'd argue that original (albeit cut) hoses would be better refitted (and repaired, but not to usable standard) than modern replacements.

However the principle stands, as does using period equipment ('GFE', hoses parts etc.) rather than new, which is one reason museums are such stockpilers of 'useful stuff' to fit these kind of restorations.

And I'm not in favour of 'one run' restos, as it's an extra work and retrograde step, compromising the preservation. Of course I'll turn up to watch, though!

Cheers

[Holedigger]

Very cool pics! Gotta get up there some day (when I can afford the gas!!!) She is coming along nicely! Great to see these interior pics that once she is on display will probably be less accessible.

[the330thbg]

that ball turret looks clean enough to eat off of .., but then she would not be as clean and NEW!!!

THANKS!!!!

[lmritger]

It's tremendously exciting to see the Belle being brought up to such a fine standard... and I learned something today from your photos, namely how the waist windows slid forward so the gunners had a clear field of fire. Never seen that detail in any other photos before, so thanks!

Lynn