Any other B-25B models flying??

Wed Nov 04, 2009 6:52 pm

Just wondering, aside from Grumpy now at Paine Field, are there any other B models flying?

TIA,

Steve

Wed Nov 04, 2009 6:57 pm

Think Grumpy is a C or D model. There's a B model at Aero Trader that is begging for restoration.

Ryan

Last edited by RyanShort1 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 7:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Wed Nov 04, 2009 7:02 pm

Whoops, you're right. It's a D model.

http://historicflight.org/grumpyreturns/?paged=2

Built in North American Aviation’s Kansas City plant, B-25D-30 Mitchell 433318/N88972 was delivered on October 27, 1943 to the USAAF’s advanced flying school at the 402nd Army Air Force Base Unit at La Junta, Colorado.

Wed Nov 04, 2009 7:22 pm

I'd love to see it done up as the Ruptured Duck

Wed Nov 04, 2009 7:24 pm

Oh, how I wish the LSFM would/could stick a dummy turret on the back of Special Delivery like that, and make a "real" Doolittle Raider out of it. Hey, a guy can daydream, can't he?

Wed Nov 04, 2009 7:27 pm

mustangdriver wrote:I'd love to see it done up as the Ruptured Duck

I'd do it up either as Doolittle's bird, since it's only THREE serial numbers away, or as one of the other aircraft prior to the raid carrying the war-maneuvers markings.

Ryan

Wed Nov 04, 2009 7:54 pm

Hate to see it restored to a static example though. That one needs to be a flyer.

While were on the topic of early B-25's, whats the deal with N3968C at the Milestones of Flight Museum?

Wed Nov 04, 2009 9:32 pm

A few too many painted as ones, that's for sure...

Thu Nov 05, 2009 9:32 am

Yankee Air Museum's is a B-25D and has combat history in the Mediterranean theater. The bomb group escapes me at the moment...

Thu Nov 05, 2009 11:18 am

Warbird Kid wrote:Hate to see it restored to a static example though. That one needs to be a flyer.

While were on the topic of early B-25's, whats the deal with N3968C at the Milestones of Flight Museum?

I am not against flying it at all, but if it were to go to indoor static, than that is cool too. it would be better than how it is now.

Thu Nov 05, 2009 9:09 pm

RyanShort1 wrote:
mustangdriver wrote:I'd love to see it done up as the Ruptured Duck

I'd do it up either as Doolittle's bird, since it's only THREE serial numbers away, or as one of the other aircraft prior to the raid carrying the war-maneuvers markings.

Ryan

As the only B-25B in existence (and it's only a fuselage, where the wings, tail, etc would have to come from a later model, right?), I would think it has enough intrinsic historical value to be finished as ... itself. Including with a real or reproduction Bendix ventral turret.

I've also thought that Miss Hap would be nice if restored (ala Ol'927) as a B-25 or as an RB-25. Much in the same way that Swoose is being restored to her pre-VIP transport days.

Thu Nov 05, 2009 10:49 pm

Garth wrote:As the only B-25B in existence (and it's only a fuselage, where the wings, tail, etc would have to come from a later model, right?), I would think it has enough intrinsic historical value to be finished as ... itself. Including with a real or reproduction Bendix ventral turret.

I've also thought that Miss Hap would be nice if restored (ala Ol'927) as a B-25 or as an RB-25. Much in the same way that Swoose is being restored to her pre-VIP transport days.

I think the guys at Aerotrader indicated that they have all the information to do it up as a "proper" B-model. It would be a fairly major restoration, and since it was a movie bird that probably saw a number of different paint schemes of dubious historical significance, I think it would be a good tribute. If I ever had the money to do it, I'd surely let people know the real serial number, but hey, half of it would be new material anyways... It's the dataplate that's important, right? :wink:

Ryan

Fri Nov 06, 2009 9:59 am

Garth wrote: "I've also thought that Miss Hap would be nice if restored (ala Ol'927) as a B-25 or as an RB-25. Much in the same way that Swoose is being restored to her pre-VIP transport days."

My Question - Was Miss Hap initially in a bomber configuration or was it built in the fast transport configuration for General Arnold?

Thanks for any specific, documented replies.

John

Fri Nov 06, 2009 12:22 pm

I don't think Grumpy is here yet? I work at the north end of the run way (Paine field) and live at the north east end about 2 miles away, and you can bet anytime a round sound comes in or out I run outside to see what it is! I could have missed it?

Fri Nov 06, 2009 12:25 pm

262crew wrote:I don't think Grumpy is here yet? I work at the north end of the run way (Paine field) and live at the north east end about 2 miles away, and you can bet anytime a round sound comes in or out I run outside to see what it is! I could have missed it?

Been there since 11-01

You must be slipping... :shock: