New in Little Rock

[Flagon]

Hi all.
So the aircraft i definitely a TB-58,there are important differences in the cockpit arrangement,but,at least in some of the photos it looks reasonably complete,it does have the engine pods,albeit probably empty.
When was it damaged ?
Grazie.

[RickH]

When it was at Ft Worth it was allocated to the Southwestern Aerospace Museum just in front of General Dynamics. When I saw it, they had moved it to Meacham and it was all polished up. Looked pretty nice. They also had the B-36 that is now at Pima. Lone Star had asked for the 36 but thankfully NMUSAF decided to give them the 58 and F-100 that is out front of LSFM.

Ike did a pretty good number on the old girl, wave action broke out the wall and it broke the wing splice that was done to cosmetically repair the demil cut. The wheels are magnesium and have dissolved. We were unable to get in the #2 hangar and freshwater wash the 58, Harpoon,and Cat right away as we did the other aircraft that we moved outside. The Lone Star crew has too much to say grace over on their own aircraft and didn't have much time for the Hustler. The folks at L.R. will get her back together but I to am disappointed that it won't be inside.

[andyman64]

i,m a big round engined first inline piston second and kerosene whistle engined plane third kinda person but the hustleris one of the most beautiful planes i have ever seen short life spectacular number of world records and way way ahead of its time!

[maradamx3]

When it was at Ft Worth it was allocated to the Southwestern Aerospace Museum just in front of General Dynamics. When I saw it, they had moved it to Meacham and it was all polished up. Looked pretty nice. They also had the B-36 that is now at Pima. Lone Star had asked for the 36 but thankfully NMUSAF decided to give them the 58 and F-100 that is out front of LSFM.

Ike did a pretty good number on the old girl, wave action broke out the wall and it broke the wing splice that was done to cosmetically repair the demil cut. The wheels are magnesium and have dissolved. We were unable to get in the #2 hangar and freshwater wash the 58, Harpoon,and Cat right away as we did the other aircraft that we moved outside. The Lone Star crew has too much to say grace over on their own aircraft and didn't have much time for the Hustler. The folks at L.R. will get her back together but I to am disappointed that it won't be inside.

Glad to hear she will get some needed attention, but hate to see her leave Galveston. That is one of the planes I really looked forward to seeing every time when visiting LSFM. Don't think I've seen another in person. Oh well, I'll have to look her up in LR come Short Track Nationals time.
Tommy

[steve dickey]

Anybody know how complete the cockpits are? I would
imagine they are gutted?

[P51Mstg]

On the TB-58 issue, I think its interesting that (and this is going from memory) that 3 of the surviving 7 or 8 B-58s are trainer models.....

Mark H

[Django]

That's too bad it will live outside now but I'm sure the folks in Little Rock are excited.

[John Kerr]

My how times change at Little Rock Air Force Base, AR. B-58A, 59-2437 crashed
landed there on 16 Jul 1968. It was then towed to their boneyard and sat there to 1991-1992 when it was recovered and placed on display at Kelly Air Force Base, Texas. I was retired and running a motel in Little Rock from 1985-1993 and despite all efforts on my part to create interest in reparing the aircraft and putting on display all efforts fell on mute ears. Below are are few photos that I took in boneyard in Oct 1989.


http://s145.photobucket.com/albums/r234/JohnMadDogKerr/

[P51Mstg]

John... Glad to see you had a camera and could capture those moments of the past for us in the future. Hope all is well with you.....

Mark H

[Ken]

As far as military bases keeping their air parks inaccessible to visitors, I'm curious. I understand that if someone has pulled over at the fence, Security Forces will ask you to move along. If you have a camera out, they will do the same. I'd like to know how many WIXers have either A) gone to the base Visitor Center and asked for a visitor's pass and were denied ... or B) contacted base Public Affairs (PA) and asked to be assisted in seeing a historic aircraft and were denied.

Seeing this from the blue suit side of the fence, I've seen plenty of folks come through, including PA sponsored tours of our aircraft on the flightline, so the reports of folks being shooed away always puzzles me. I'd like to see you guys and gals get in to see the aircraft too ...

Ken

[Clifford Bossie]

As far as military bases keeping their air parks inaccessible to visitors, I'm curious. I understand that if someone has pulled over at the fence, Security Forces will ask you to move along. If you have a camera out, they will do the same. I'd like to know how many WIXers have either A) gone to the base Visitor Center and asked for a visitor's pass and were denied ... or B) contacted base Public Affairs (PA) and asked to be assisted in seeing a historic aircraft and were denied.

Seeing this from the blue suit side of the fence, I've seen plenty of folks come through, including PA sponsored tours of our aircraft on the flightline, so the reports of folks being shooed away always puzzles me. I'd like to see you guys and gals get in to see the aircraft too ...

Ken

Ken,

Most AF bases require any requests to visit well in advance. Even the museum at Peterson requires 24 hour notice for week days and 72 hours for weekends. Information for all adult visitors must be given at that time and if not, well; no visit.

Some others, like Dyess, are even harder. It can be done, but requires coordination in advance and even then it is not likely. You can work through the musesum at times, but that is not a certainty. It used to be that you just showed up at the gate/visitors center and asked for a pass and provided the needed ID.

In the case of most bases a drop-in visit just ain't gonna happen. Part of the change is due to security concerns and part is due to the lack of staffing.

I need to contact Holloman about a visit, but have not had the time off to arrange a visit, much less actually make a visit.

[Old SAR pilot]

Just as a note for visiting base displays, it helps if you know someone who has access, as in active duty or retired. Most bases, but not all, will allow them to sign you in as a guest.

[Clifford Bossie]

Just as a note for visiting base displays, it helps if you know someone who has access, as in active duty or retired. Most bases, but not all, will allow them to sign you in as a guest.

Bob - that is also a good option. I have a retired USAF friend who lives in Rosamond, CA. He was at TPS for six years. I intend to visit him next month and go back to Edwards. Of course he doesn't know about that part yet!

[adflyer]

A couple more: