LSFM PB4Y

[N3Njeff]

Jeff,

Can you beleive they actually find people willing to pay money to fly in a Stearman?
Imagine how much money they will rake in with an N3N.

Ryan

What aircraft that were damaged in the storm were sold???? OK I will not beat around the BIG rudder. Does LSFM still own the N3N??? If yes, how about a update??? IF no, where did she go?

I understand that they still own it and restoration details are being worked out. It is somewhere offsite as far as I know.

... as well as the Stearman used for the historic ride program.

Well in todays economic times, everyone needs to cut back on spending so why not fly the cheaper of the two airplanes. These days instead of calling the escort service, its just easier to head to the street corner for a cheap date

[N3Njeff]

I understand that they still own it and restoration details are being worked out. It is somewhere offsite as far as I know.

Do you know if the museum is going to do the restoration or are they looking to outsource it???

[marine air]

It would be stupid to think I was implying the PB4Y should be an airshow bird, per se.
My point is that the aircraft is a huge idle asset sitting there that will be finished and flying one day. WHy not sooner rather than later? Skilled Labor and materials are as low as they are going to get. Some of the aircraft in the museum are not a very big draw, or don't fit in the collection. WHy not sell them and concentrate on finishing the Privateer?
The Privateer represents the only 4 engine Navy transport /Bomber that will likely ever be on the warbird circuit. It can be set up to do a ride program and be unique from the 12 B-17's out there. It can be used to offer Type Ratings, and currency checkouts. It cand also do paid military airshows and open houses, contract work at Pax River Test Pilots school and NASA, followed by a few public airshows as the location of the aircraft permits. It can do opening flyovers for Nascar, NFL and other events.
It can even be put back to work doing aerial survey work and other contracts. There are hundreds of millions of dollars being let every year in govt. contracts for work this aircraft can do. Economy cruise fuel burn is about 200 to 225 gallons per hour. A steal compared to turbine fuel costs.
I have the financial means to buy a Privateer, B-25 or T-28. I don't make donations or investments that can't fly or have an ROI (Return on Investment.)

[rwdfresno]

I have the financial means to buy a Privateer, B-25 or T-28. I don't make donations or investments that can't fly or have an ROI (Return on Investment

I'd be willing to bet that if you made a healthy "investment" in the Lone Star bird you could likely find support for a contract that made you a beneficiary of much of those "returns" you expect from the contract work.

I think it is easy to talk about what "should" be done when you don't have any skin in the game, but it's certainly a tougher decision when it's your own money as you illustrate in your comments.

Ryan

[warbird1]

It would be stupid to think I was implying the PB4Y should be an airshow bird, per se.
My point is that the aircraft is a huge idle asset sitting there that will be finished and flying one day. WHy not sooner rather than later? Skilled Labor and materials are as low as they are going to get. Some of the aircraft in the museum are not a very big draw, or don't fit in the collection. WHy not sell them and concentrate on finishing the Privateer?
The Privateer represents the only 4 engine Navy transport /Bomber that will likely ever be on the warbird circuit. It can be set up to do a ride program and be unique from the 12 B-17's out there. It can be used to offer Type Ratings, and currency checkouts. It cand also do paid military airshows and open houses, contract work at Pax River Test Pilots school and NASA, followed by a few public airshows as the location of the aircraft permits. It can do opening flyovers for Nascar, NFL and other events.
It can even be put back to work doing aerial survey work and other contracts. There are hundreds of millions of dollars being let every year in govt. contracts for work this aircraft can do. Economy cruise fuel burn is about 200 to 225 gallons per hour. A steal compared to turbine fuel costs.

I think you are SEVERELY overestimating the draw that a PB4Y would have on the airshow market. It doesn't matter that it's rare, it doesn't matter that it's unique or that it would be the only one flying in Naval configuration. The general public at an airshow doesn't care either. Generally whatever the public wants is what gets the money. That means P-51's, Corsairs, Shark-mouthed P-40's, B-17's, B-24's and the B-29 for the most part. Anything else will not draw the money in as much. All your arguments about using the PB4Y for training, currency, military open houses, Pax River, NASA, etc. can also be equally applied to all the airplanes at the LSFM. If there are so many avenues to making money why aren't the B-17 and B-25 doing ALL of the things you mentioned here?

Regarding government contract work. Are you serious? What exactly did you have in mind besides Pax river? I don't exactly see Privateers replicating aerial threats for the government to use for adversarial training or practice shoot-downs for interceptors. If that were the case, the government would use something imminently cheaper like a Bonanza or O-2, etc. If you had a supersonic or tactical jet, I could easily see the aircraft supporting a government contract. Besides a very select few warbirds doing government contract work for the test pilot schools at Pax and Edwards, I've never heard of a civilian-owned W.W.II era plane being paid by the government for work.

I have the financial means to buy a Privateer, B-25 or T-28. I don't make donations or investments that can't fly or have an ROI (Return on Investment.)

Do you write software for a living, by chance?

Marine air, I think you are missing the point entirely. The LSFM are no idiots. You don't get to be the President/CEO of the group by being stupid and making bad financial decisions. Everything is done with much foresight, research and analyzation on how best to spend the museum's assets. They are still recovering from the Hurricane. They have already sold some assets to buy the P-51 which will probably bring more money in rather than an obscure Naval bomber that nobody knows much about. Do you really think that LSFM is that inept?

[Steve S]

Was all set to write another reply but Warbird 1 summed it all up perfectly. Thanks

One thing to reiterate from past threads- we all need to rember that even though all of us educated folks on this board no the history adn true signifcance of these aircraft THAT AINT WHAT THE MAJORITY of the public thinks about. As much as I hate it there are really on 3 or 4 aircraft as mentioned above that Joe Public is willing to pay money to bring his kids out to see. Lets not forget that not to long ago Diamond Lill had to go into a cocoon and get reborn because no one wanted to pay money to see her.

Are there any Collins folks following this thread- can you confirm that what I have heard that the ride intereste on 909 outnumbers the B24 by 3 or 4 times-

just cause we appreciate them -unforintalty doesn't mean the public will


Later and Happy New Year.

Steve S

[Obergrafeter]

If you want the public interest hang noisy kerosene burners on it and let a bunch of idiots jump out of it while playing loud head banger music and blowing smoke as you race a jet powered outhouse for a 1/4 of a mile.

[PinecastleAAF]

Do you write software for a living, by chance?

It's the gift that keeps on giving.

[Jollygreenslugg]

Do you write software for a living, by chance?

Well there goes my coffee; snorted all over my laptop screen!

Thanks for the chuckle.

Cheers,
Matt

[67Cougar]

There is so much that can be said about this thread, but not much of it can be said without Secret Squirrel Security Clearance. Suffice it to say that not much info about the aircraft, its status, or future in this thread will turn out to be correct.

Me personal wish, which has nothing to do with reality, is that this aircraft end up displayed in a museum. I'd like to see it in Pensacola, inside, replacing the one that has been outside for so many years. LSFM has spent so much time and money rebuilding this thing down to every nut and bolt, and returning it to full military configuration, that it shouldn't be risked on an airshow circuit, let alone any type of 'civilian' work contracts. Heck, the Navy could buy it from LSFM for less than they waste on spilled jet fuel each day.

[Ztex]

Any new "news" on the PB4Y?

I only ask because there is a photo of her OUTSIDE!!! on the LSFM ramp taken today over on Fence Check....looks good (and remarkably complete) in the sunshine!

http://www.fencecheck.com/forums/index. ... 494.0.html