Gary ~ What's The Plan For Diamond Lil ? 2006 and Beyond!

[flyingsailor]

Now that the Airshow Season is winding down, what are the next steps in modifying her back to a more original B-24A?

At this point there are no plans for major modifications over the winter. Our focus is to continue to do everything we can to insure she is as reliable as possible. We are looking forward to having our maintenance crew in one location this winter instead of split by more than two hundred miles!

Chris
CAF B-29/B-24 Squadron PIO

[B29B24crewchief]

Plans for any major changes or modifications to "Ol '927" are being talked about but realistically, they can't happen until there is major $$$$ to get it done. I would love to turn her back into the bomber she once was but that is far down on the list at this point.

Find me the money and I'll get it done!!

Dave

[flyingsailor]

A quick video of Aaron Tippin during Ol'927's trip to Colorado including a real neat shot of the Air Force Academy from the tail
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheHangarWo ... 4zoqx1zMDg

[Blackwing]

Plans for any major changes or modifications to "Ol '927" are being talked about but realistically, they can't happen until there is major $$$$ to get it done. I would love to turn her back into the bomber she once was but that is far down on the list at this point.

Find me the money and I'll get it done!!

Dave

How about a list of how much $$ and what that would get. Wix "owns" the guns by targeted donations. This checklist could get the specific funds to make targeted changes. Just a thought....

[coldflyer]

Had an opportunity to fly in Ol' 927 from Addison to Midland on Thursday. What a great ride. For someone whose father was a B-24 flight engineer in the Pacific it was a real privilege. A major THANKS to all who have been involved over the many years in her restoration, Gary, Dave, Rick, and so many, many volunteers.

Also a Big THANKS to the whole crew who flew her on Thursday. It was a pleasure meeting you.

[whistlingdeath77]

thats nice

[Fleet16b]

Hey Guys

I see that Canadian Warplane Heritage has her listed as going to appear at the Hamilton Airshow 2011 in Hamilton Ontario Canada.
Hope she can make it as we have not had a B-24 in this area in some time

[jannypan]

.I've been drilling since 3 this morning, and I'll have pictures for you shortly.

[tulsaboy]

Ol' 927 back to Diamond Lil? Someone I know was sharing that information around town... true or not?

kevin

[Warbird Kid]

Ol' 927 back to Diamond Lil? Someone I know was sharing that information around town... true or not?

kevin

Lets hope thats not true! Shes in a far more accurate scheme now then when she represented a B-24D as Diamond Lil. While I would LOVE to see a B-24D in Ploesti markings, an A model like Ole 927 doesn't feel right. If anything Id love to see the bomber:

1. Receive a full operational Bombay
2. Remove the side cargo entry door (when the bombay is installed of course)
3. Rewire the flight control cables and linkages back to original condition
4. Open and install the top gun hatch (once the flight controls are rewired)
5. Overall detailing and painting of the interior

[Django]

I highly doubt it.

[tulsaboy]

Let me clarify- the person I talked to was at ground school this past weekend, and was told that the airplane was getting a complete repaint with OD upper, light gray lower, and returning to the Diamond Lil name. I was totally shocked (and not in a good way.). Rather than stew, I just figured I would ask the question here out loud to let someone in the know" give us the real scoop.

[Steve Nelson]

Check the calendar....

[tulsaboy]

Calendar aside, it was an honest question- guess I'm not getting an honest answer, or at least thus far no one "in the know" has chosen to respond. That's just fine, I was just curious. Wanted to squish a rumor rather than perpetuate it.

kevin

[Mr Widgeon]

I was going back over this thread (rope ???) looking for a photo of the tunnel gun that I knew was there and sadly found that most of the early pictures are no longer there.
I didn't check all the way back, but it seems that most if not all of the restoration pictures Gary took are gone and a lot of the shots taken by other members have also been deleted.
Seems a shame to me.
I don't know if anyone has access to Garys computer or photo library, but if they do an attempt to restore the missing photos would go a long way in keeping his memory alive and increases the value of this thread.
Maybe a dedicated (free) Photobucket or another photo host account could be established to put the lost images in so they could be seen again, just a thought.