PB4Y...

[Neal Nurmi]

Way back at my very first Reno, there was a daily flyby and water drop. This was the only time I've ever seen one fly...

[Warbird Kid]

Still waiting to see one fly. Preferably restored as a Warbird. Any updates on the few out there? Namely where the 3 H&P's went, and how LSFM and Yanks are coming with there's?

What's the difficulty involved with reconfiguring one of these back to the original R-1830 setup?

[gregv]

Still waiting to see one fly. Preferably restored as a Warbird. Any updates on the few out there? Namely where the 3 H&P's went, and how LSFM and Yanks are coming with there's?

What's the difficulty involved with reconfiguring one of these back to the original R-1830 setup?

From what I remember reading somewhere, the overhaul cost on the original powerplants (dash # specific, from my refs R-1830-94) was many fold higher than the B-25 QEC set-up as eventually used; I would imagine that that being said the engines themselves are probably scarcer as well?. Then there's the rest of the firewall forward (mounts/cowlings/ducting etc.), which if you couldn't find them "off-the-shelf" so to speak you'd have to have them made, which I bet would be sickeningly expensive. Not that it couldn't be done of course, but probably an expensive retrofit for engines that make a bit less power than the R-2600's, which is something to consider for an airworthy project. I'd also guess that a higher priority would be getting turrets procured and fitted, especially those huge side blisters and that funky ERCO nose unit, a proper canopy etc. etc.

So I think the short answer would be $$$. Might be cheaper if you got some regular B-24 cowlings and mounted them sideways, if that would even fit mind you, and use a more common dash number R-1830? Still a buttload of work to change something that isn't broken, asthetics aside.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see it happen, but at this point I'd be happy to see one airworthy in any finish anywhere!

greg v.

[tex-fan]

i think LSFM is planning to leave the 2600s on theirs.

[Second Air Force]

Greg,

A couple of years ago we discussed the cowlings etc. (I think on the Lil thread) and it was mentioned that there are PB4Y-2 cowlings and FWF parts still around. Reconversion would be possible, but it's understandable that the dollars be spent on other parts of the restoration.

[Warbird Kid]

It would certainly turn heads at any show if one was restored accurately. Don't forget the resale value. If a PB4Y was restored:

to stock military condition with 2600's (More powerful/less work/less authentic)
or
stock military configuration with 1830's (More authentic/more work/less powerful))

Which one do you guys think would sell at a higher price?

[bdk]

Is there a PB4Y being restored for resale? If not then the resale value difference is not a factor. Money spent on potential resale value enhancements might be better spent on getting the aircraft in a displayable condition where it could start generating revenue.

[Steve Nelson]

Cool pics! I got to see an H&P Super Privateer do a water drop at an airshow back in 1983. Unfortunately I didn't have a camera.

I understand the reasons for retaining the B-25 QECs on flying Privateers, but it would be nice to see the PB4Y at P-cola eventually restored to full stock configuration. Yankee has removed the external oil coolers from their Privateer, which makes it a bit less "modified looking," but it would be cool to see it with original engines eventually (right now I think it's cool that they're getting all the turrets back on her.)

SN