Pima KB-50J restoration started.

[RMAllnutt]

That's great news.... With respect to Lucky Lady, I think the POF do intend on restoring her, although when is a good question. I seem to remember that they acquired a set of KC-97 wings relatively recently, which were common to the B-50 also... so never say never. It will take a lot of money of course, and they probably are prioratizing the restoration of B-17 Picadilly Lilly at present... and for some time.

Cheers,
Richard

[APG85]

Awesome!!! One of my favorites...

[APG85]

Any more info on this restoration? Is this going to be a full restoration inside and out i.e. polish, glass, everything? How cool would it be to restore this plane and put it on display with the B-29 that Pima has...

[jamesintucson]

External restoration only. Cleaned, skin brightened and fresh paint and markings. The plane is staying outdoors since there isn't any room for it indoors anywhere.
James

[APG85]

Is the interior complete?

[Taigh Ramey]

It has been over 20 years since I was inside the KB-50J at Pima. Way back then the inside was pretty torn up and a lot was missing, from what I recall.

I remember that Castle expressed an interest in getting one of the B-50's and they picked the WB-50. I protested at the time as the WB was darn near 100% intact and was in extraordinarily good condition whereas the KB was stripped and a real mess inside. I thought we should have kept the better example but I was just a volunteer and my opinion certainly didn't mean a thing (some things never change!).

This is one of the reasons why it was very straight forward for the Castle crew to get the KB-50 flyable and for them to make the 'last flight of the B-50' from Pima to Castle.

There was another thread about the B-50 at Pima and Castle but I can't find it.

[APG85]

I'd like to see pictures of the interior if anyone has any. I always thought it was a neat plane. To bad theres no plan for an interior restoration.
On another note, is there any word on the move of the B-50 from McDill AFB up to the museum at Dover? I read something about this a few years ago but I'm not sure it ever happened...

[Steve Nelson]

Didn't the KB-50 that used to sit outside the NMUSAF go to Dover? I know it was sent to another facility about ten years ago.

<edit> never mind..the registry shows it as the aircraft currenlty at McDill.

SN

[mustangdriver]

I'd love the ex-NMUSAF KB-50 to go to Dover. Great people there.

[ww2John]

The Castle WB-50 is one a/c available during their Open Cockpit days. The interior needs work.
On another note, the Castle KC-97 interior is spectacular.

[bugazon]

here are some shots I took of the B-50 during the open cockpit day

[Wyvernfan]

Hi all,
Very nice photos, bugazon. I'm currently researching a Boeing B-50D crash site here in the UK and I've already been able to make up a display board in memory of the USAF crew who were onboard. But to help me identify some other parts found I'd appreciate any photos of the B-50 cockpit and its systems.

Thanks in advance,
Rob

[JohnB]

On my first visit to Pima in 1976, I saw a B-50...The museum had just opened and the rudder was stored in a roped off storage area, which, of course, I entered.

Was it this aircraft or did Puma at some stage have two B-50s?

[T J Johansen]

Just wondering having built the Monogram B-29 eons ago. Is the interior much different from the 29 to the 50?

T J

[APG85]

On my first visit to Pima in 1976, I saw a B-50...The museum had just opened and the rudder was stored in a roped off storage area, which, of course, I entered.

Was it this aircraft or did Puma at some stage have two B-50s?

I believe Pima had Two B-50's at one time. I think one of them was transferred to the USAFM...